When I explain to people why my schedule is exhausting, instead of saying I teach 4 T Th classes, I say that my work days involve six consecutive hours of extemporaneous public speaking

Arrived in New England yesterday for the first fellowship of my sabbatical year. Home base is Salem! Today is for unpacking, errands, and exploring downtown. Would love recs (especially dog-friendly ones!).

For all of the educators trying to deal with AI, I did a deep dive in early June and these are the four articles I decided to assign to my students. 1. This is the longest of the bunch, but so wonderfully comprehensive. www.technologyreview.com/2025/05/20/1...

Digitization fail

Academic pals: I'm starting a shared doc to collect info on exactly why/how AI is indefensible—specifically in humanities classrooms, but also across the board. Please share/add as you see fit. I plan to lecture from this in the first week; many students don't know. docs.google.com/document/d/1...

If, in fact, you would like a history of the American Revolution that does have interpretative points, please consider listening to Worlds Turned Upside Down on your favorite podcast app. www.politico.com/news/magazin...

Thinking of this plaque I came across at the Smithsonian American Art Museum's exhibit on the art and lives of Hisako Hibi and Mine Okubo, two Japanese-American painters detained during World War II

Ready for a year of research travel and fellowships with NERFC, @jcblibrary.bsky.social, GWPL, and @amphilpress.bsky.social!

Just registered!

Sharing this for no special reason: In July 1933, a New York Times reporter toured Dachau and saw the entire camp "except possibly the disciplinary cells." According to the reporter, "it was an almost idyllic picture of a rest camp," though the inmates were "gloomy" (h/t @monospace.com)

Indiana Jones will be played by a rotating cast of three adjuncts who answer to two different associate deans

Thank you, @jrakove.bsky.social, for speaking the truth: We are experiencing constitutional failure-- which means we are no longer living under the Constitution's protection-- which means we are no longer a free state.

I regret to inform you that everything is still gender

We have entered the "caning of Charles Sumner" stage of historical parallels.

All that stands between me and 3 weeks of vacation in the Balkans followed by a full academic year research sabbatical is an Everest-sized pile of grading.

Quick reminder for early Americanist #skystorians: the app for SHEAR's 2025 Junior Mentorship Program is open 'til May 5th! If you know of an advanced grad student, please pass this along to them. It's been a great success in its first two years! forms.gle/p6g6ur43LjJV...

Getting pretty tired of the “future historians will say X about this time.” I promise you, PRESENT historians are saying plenty, and you don’t seem to be listening!

When I left the Washington Post in 2023, my colleagues and I were worried AI would hoover up our work and enable "zombies" to churn out stories based on our reporting and writing styles. Today WaPo announced a partnership with OpenAI. And here it is: Zombie Gillian Brockell. I DID NOT WRITE THIS.

Looking for something to do for Women's History Month? I'll be giving a "Fireside Chat" with LCP on March 21st at 2pm. The event is free and on Zoom! Click here to register: support.librarycompany.org/event/firesi...

It was a pleasure to speak with @jmbeatty.bsky.social about this petition! Whenever anybody tries to characterize enslaved people as "docile" I think of sources like this. Give it a listen! www.r2studios.org/show/your-mo...

In today's episode @jmbeatty.bsky.social joins @katyghistory.bsky.social to discuss the poetic language Belinda Sutton uses when she petitions The Massachusetts General Court for the funds left to her by her enslaver Isaac Royall after he fled during the Rev War. www.r2studios.org/show/your-mo...

Still can’t believe I was interviewed for an NPR (!!!!) piece that was featured on Morning Edition today! (Bucket list level stuff here, folks!) Listen here: one.npr.org/i/nx-s1-5206...

Hello, new followers! If you have long travel days ahead, give *Golden Dreams* a listen. My students' original podcast uncovered the journey of Chinese refugees before, during, and after their voyage on the Golden Venture in the 1990s. Trailer here: open.spotify.com/episode/3syQ...

How to turn off MS Word scraping your writing to train its AI medium.com/illumination...

So everyone, unfortunately, should probably read up on Anthony Comstock and the Comstock Act. To get you started, check out this forum I put together with other historians of the period. This is all forthcoming in the Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. blog.shgape.org/anthony-coms...

My students' original podcast series, *Golden Dreams*, is now available wherever you get your podcasts! They completed original research, wrote, and produced the series themselves (and it's really excellent!). Please share widely! open.spotify.com/show/6aX2Qbm...

My latest for Made By History: time.com/6962381/trad...

Then what happened

We need more STEM folks to write these kinds of pieces. More of this please. www.statnews.com/2024/01/24/h...

lol sob as the kids say (check if the kids still say this) www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/how...

The #SHEAR2024 CFP is making the rounds if you’re interesting in submitting a proposal! www.shear.org/call-for-pap...

Cabin crew: Is there a Dr on board? Me: I am a Dr Cabin crew: Thank God. We have a question about the 18th century textile trade in Northern Africa Me: Ah. I'm afraid my PhD is in the ceramics of Northern Europe, 1672 - 1701

Hey - we're new here! Clemson has a new & innovative Ph.D. Program in Digital History and we're recruiting students for Fall 2024. Our last info session for the year is Nov 20th at 6pm and applications are due December 1st. Please consider telling your students who are thinking about grad school!

The NEH has just announced a major new initiative, "Humanities Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence." It specifically focuses on encouraging humanistic research about the potential ethical, legal, cultural, and societal impacts of AI. www.neh.gov/AI

Greeted by some Halloween decos at my office today (we decided the History Club is responsible). Happy to have my new monocle-clad buddy joining me for office hours!

Got ideas about the histories of the American Revolution? Join us next summer in lovely Ireland for a special symposium. Honored to chair with the terrific @tomcutterham.bsky.social! Share + apply by 11/15! #skystorians 🗃️ www.monticello.org/research-edu...

Two good articles today on the decimation of liberal arts, esp. humanities, at universities (including where I teach, Marymount). Faculty across the country need to advocate for the value of these fields with more urgency. newrepublic.com/article/1762... www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view...

Phillies baseball AND gender analysis? What's not to love? ❤️🤍 www.vogue.com/article/phil...

I am loving the great @lindaholmes.bsky.social's commentary on the postseason #Phillies

I am begging someone, ANYONE, to tell these national announcers how to pronounce “Realmuto.” PLEASE

The replies to this prompt are Monday morning perfection, and many of my favorites are covered. BUT, one is missing. May I present:

The Brennan Center is hosting a terrific panel next week on the Supreme Court’s increasingly problematic use of history. Check out the details/register for this FREE event here: www.eventbrite.com/e/a-supreme-... 🗃️

Reminder that the Speaker of the House does not have to be a Member of Congress

More evidence of links between the British monarchy and the slave trade, which was there all along. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/0...

Took my Am Rev students to the library today for a scavenger hunt and was greeted by this fun surprise (which a few of them noticed)!

BUY SHIRA'S BOOK, Y'ALL