Not The Onion. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/15/u...

"We can not have free government without elections; and if the rebellion could force us to forego, or postpone a national election it might fairly claim to have already conquered and ruined us."--Abraham Lincoln (1864) www.nps.gov/liho/learn/h...

Congratulations to the finalists. I've only had a chance to read @rickbell.bsky.social's book and it is fantastic. 🗃️ #booksky

Did y’all know the Smithsonian isn’t doing reproduction services right now?

Be part of We Want More History!, a coordinated national day of history programming taking place September 26. Interested in hosting an event? The recording of last week's informational webinar is now available: https://ow.ly/GPxU50Zoyny

The fallout from the NYTs report about Kerri Greenidge's scholarship has reached the city of Boston, which commissioned the former Tufts professor to help write a report on the history of slavery in Boston and reparations. 🗃️ www.bostonglobe.com/2026/07/16/m...

"By comparing the seven locations with satellite imagery, photos and videos taken during the renovation process, the analysis found that all of the failures occurred at the seams — lines between two areas that were painted at different times." www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...

The history itself has not gone anywhere. The administration is simply betting that if visitors are not asked to confront it, most never will. Proving that bet wrong is now the work in front of all of us. #America250 #publichistory 🗃️ open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

A Reflecting Pool That Finally Reflects #CivilWarMemory 🗃️ open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

Trump's war on history open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle... @civilwarmemory.bsky.social

This seems appropriate for a president who loves to praise Confederate generals. wjla.com/news/local/g...

Ona Judge Didn't Run Away From a House #CivilWarMemory #publichistory #America250 🗃️ open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

"The history itself has not gone anywhere. The administration is simply betting that if visitors are not asked to confront it, most never will. Proving that bet wrong is now the work in front of all of us."💾

Ona Judge Didn't Run Away From a House #CivilWarMemory #publichistory #America250 🗃️ open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

Park rangers fined Sandra Shachar for vandalism this morning at the President’s House, hours after the Trump admin installed its version of history. The 72 year old has been posting news articles on the site’s walls since the slavery exhibit was removed. If she does it again, she’ll be arrested.

The change at the President's House happened overnight, allowing the government to switch out the displays and shutdown the television screens while avoiding public scrutiny during the takedown.

Teaching Civil War Memory in a City Under Construction #CivilWarMemory 🗃️ open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

Pedestal Without a Cause #CivilWarMemory 🗃️ open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

I don't pay much attention to people who lecture me on which social media platforms I can and can't use, but doing so with an anonymous account will get you blocked immediately. Piss off.

These objects do not stop making arguments when they leave the public square. They simply make quieter ones. Whether the cenotaph at St. John’s becomes an occasion for honest history... will depend entirely on what the community chooses to say about it. open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

These objects do not stop making arguments when they leave the public square. They simply make quieter ones. Whether the cenotaph at St. John’s becomes an occasion for honest history... will depend entirely on what the community chooses to say about it. open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

Some good news out of our National Park Service. #NationalParks www.nps.gov/reer/learn/n...

Pedestal Without a Cause #CivilWarMemory 🗃️ open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

Why Lindsey Graham Abandoned the Confederate Flag #CivilWarMemory open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

This short book packed a punch and gave me some great ideas for a presentation that I am putting together about how Americans North and South embraced symbols of the Revolution during and after the Civil War. #CivilWarMemory #booksky 🗃️ www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/natha...

The Lost Cause Can't Draw a Crowd #CivilWarMemory open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

Lindsey Graham died on the same day that protesters gathered on the State House grounds in Columbia to mark the anniversary of the flag’s removal in 2015 and to register their continued opposition to that decision. #CivilWarMemory open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

"One of the members of the Secret Handshake said in an interview Monday that the group is willing to give the trophy statue to Trump if he wants it." www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...

The Lost Cause Can't Draw a Crowd #CivilWarMemory 🗃️ open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

For those of you who are paid subscribers to my newsletter, I have a new date for our discussion of @hcrichardson.bsky.social's book HOW THE SOUTH WON THE CIVIL WAR. We will meet on August 2 at 8PM EST. You will receive an email with a zoom link in advance. kevinmlevin.substack.com

You can’t study the history and memory of the Confederate army without a copy of Southern Bivouac. I got a great deal on a brand new copy.

Why Lindsey Graham Abandoned the Confederate Flag #CivilWarMemory 🗃️ open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

Why Lindsey Graham Abandoned the Confederate Flag #CivilWarMemory 🗃️ open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

The Onion looks back on 250 years of American exceptionalism. Watch now on youtube.com/theonion

Checking out the tall ships in Boston harbor. It’s pretty much just an excuse to drink.

I don’t know what to make of the NYTs piece about Kerri Greenidge’s scholarship. What I do know is that this must be an incredibly painful moment for her. I certainly couldn’t handle this level of scrutiny. I hope she is OK and has support from her friends and family.

The Yankees Who Built the Confederacy's Monuments #CivilWarMemory 🗃️ open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

For those of you who are paid subscribers to my newsletter, I have a new date for our discussion of @hcrichardson.bsky.social's book HOW THE SOUTH WON THE CIVIL WAR. We will meet on August 2 at 8PM EST. You will receive an email with a zoom link in advance. kevinmlevin.substack.com

Here it is, my 284th #ScholarSunday thread of great public scholarly writing & work, podcast episodes, new & forthcoming books from the past week. Add more below, share as widely as possible, & enjoy, all! 🗃️ + blackwhiteandread.com/scholarsunda...

Do Myra Glenn's accusations concerning Kerri Greenidge's Grimke book hold up? The only way we will know is if people, with access to the relevant primary source, follow up on what appear to be vague accusations. Thanks to @caitlindeangelis.bsky.social for doing the work.

The Yankees Who Built the Confederacy's Monuments #CivilWarMemory 🗃️ open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

It may not look like it, but Otis, our Bernese Mountain Dog, is looking forward to cheering on his Swiss brothers tonight against Argentina.

I think it is safe to say that most Americans simply assume that the Smithsonian will continue to do what it has always done and that its doors will be open whenever we choose to walk through them. Recent developments should give us pause. open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

We‘re one executive order away from a chocolate fountain.

Just read this in Lauren Collins's new book about the Wilmington Race Massacre of 1898: "Families are both the incubators and the life-support machines of memory." Nice. 🗃️

"Patriotism is not about deciding who belongs. It is not about intimidation or fear. Patriotism is about widening the circle of liberty, dignity and opportunity so that more people can fully participate in the promise of this country." www.salon.com/2026/07/10/w...

The Last Performance of Steve "Eberhart" Perry #CivilWarMemory open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

I really enjoyed reading both her Grimke and Trotter books. Damn. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/10/b...

The Smithsonian Doesn't Belong to the White House. It Belongs to You. #America250 #CivilWarMemory 🗃️ open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

Earlier this week @tedlieu.bsky.social introduced a bill to establish a “21st Century Federal Writers’ Project” to document American history and culture in commemoration of the 250th anniversary. www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...