As many of you know, historian Bertram Wyatt-Brown passed away this past Monday. Bert was editor of LSU Press' Southern Biography Series when I submitted my revised dissertation as a book proposal. He was responsible for the title (Old Hickory's Nephew), and his advice about the manuscript made it immeasurably better. I also know from … Continue reading R.I.P. Bertram Wyatt-Brown
Andrew Jackson and the War of 1812 Centennial
The most recent issue of Tennessee Historical Quarterly includes an article, entitled "Forging the 'Hero of New Orleans': Tennessee Looks at the Centennial of the War of 1812," by Dr. Tom Kanon, a TSLA staff member and an expert on Tennessee during the War of 1812. Kanon argues that "much of the reason for the 'success' of … Continue reading Andrew Jackson and the War of 1812 Centennial
The Evolution of a Book, Pt. 9: Post-Manuscript Doldrums
(Previous entries in this series: Pts. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.) You might be asking why I'm talking about the doldrums that set in following submission of the manuscript now instead of after its publication. From my experience, the real emotional letdown occurs once the manuscript is submitted to the editor for copy-editing. There is nothing yet tangible to … Continue reading The Evolution of a Book, Pt. 9: Post-Manuscript Doldrums
Tulip Grove Lawsuit
The lawsuit over Tulip Grove, Andrew Jackson Donelson's Nashville home, has concluded. "A five-year fight over how much money a historic house near The Hermitage should generate for the family that used to own it came closer to its end Friday, with an appeals court ruling in favor of the nonprofit that owns both. Tulip … Continue reading Tulip Grove Lawsuit
Books for Spring 2013 Semester
Time once again to post next semester's readings. I'm doing things a bit differently with my two introductory survey courses. I chose a theme for all of the readings, with the purpose of having the students write a paper that ties all three books together in an end-of-the-semester paper. Early U.S. The theme for this … Continue reading Books for Spring 2013 Semester
BrANCH 2012: Final Thoughts
I thoroughly enjoyed my first experience with BrANCH. The hosts, especially fellow Bulldog David Gleeson, were gracious. I liked conversing with graduate students and senior scholars from the U.K. about history, politics, and culture. The panels were excellent. I can't make the conference every year, but I hope to have the opportunity to present there … Continue reading BrANCH 2012: Final Thoughts
BrANCH 2012: Rethinking Honour and Community
My panel was scheduled for Saturday afternoon. One of my c0-presenters, Ryan Quintana, is from Franklin and is teaching at Wellsley, so we compared notes about our geographic and family similarities. I'll be honest--I find it hard to pay attention during panels on which I am a presenter because I'm thinking about my own presentation. … Continue reading BrANCH 2012: Rethinking Honour and Community
Mitt Romney and the White Horse Prophecy
Recently, I invited three LDS missionaries to speak to my American Presidency students. Considering the possible "Mormon moment" that might arise from a Romney campaign win, I thought it made sense to hear the church's perspective. The three young men, who took time from their personal day to make the visit, were polite and gracious, … Continue reading Mitt Romney and the White Horse Prophecy
BrANCH 2012: Peter Parish Memorial Lecture: Second Slavery and the First (U.S.) Republic
Ed Baptist gave the Peter Parish Memorial Lecture on Friday evening. For someone who flew in shortly before his talk, I thought he did a great job. Baptist opened with a summary of Solomon Northup's life, ending with the observation that overlapping networks and competing claims saved Northup from murder and that financial networks enslaved … Continue reading BrANCH 2012: Peter Parish Memorial Lecture: Second Slavery and the First (U.S.) Republic
BrANCH 2012: Rethinking Honour and Community in the Antebellum South
Saturday's opening session was "Rethinking Honour and Community in the Antebellum South: A Roundtable," chaired by Christopher Olsen and including panelists David Brown, Catherine Clinton, Steven Deyle, Becky Fraser, Lorri Glover, and Emily West. Olsen's introductory remarks focused mostly on Bert Wyatt-Brown and his influence on the field. David Brown was first up. He provided the historical context for the … Continue reading BrANCH 2012: Rethinking Honour and Community in the Antebellum South
Jacksonian America: Society, Personality, and Politics 