(The first three posts in this series are available at the following links: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.) One of the most important parts of completing a book is finding research funding. For historians, there are a number of sources of funding. Unfortunately, I wasn't very successful in obtaining research funding for the Jackson biography. Part … Continue reading The Evolution of a Book, Part 4: Funding Your Research
New Research on the Panic of 1837
While I was in Mississippi honoring John Marszalek recently, Aaron Crawford pointed out a new book on the Panic of 1837 by Alasdair Roberts entitled America's First Great Depression: Economic Crisis and Political Disorder After the Panic of 1837 (Cornell Univ. Press, 2012). It will be interesting to see the perspective that Roberts, a law professor at … Continue reading New Research on the Panic of 1837
Debating a Blog Change
For the past few months, I've been pondering an upgrade for this blog. I'm not sure that I can justify WordPress Pro ($99/year), so I'm thinking that the WordPress domain and mapping option ($17/year) is the direction to go. My major dilemma with this decision is the domain name: Should I go with Jacksonian America … Continue reading Debating a Blog Change
TSLA Adds Online Newspaper Archives
I am super happy about the news that the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) and ProQuest have partnered to provide runs of several early Nashville newspapers online. This database is accessible only within the main TSLA building in Nashville; free access is also being provided to the public libraries in Springfield, Ashland City, Franklin, … Continue reading TSLA Adds Online Newspaper Archives
The Evolution of a Book, Part 3: The Book Outline
(Part 1 and Part 2 of this series) My students will probably think I'm lying, but I actually didn't like or even follow outlines until I was in grad school. I thought they stifled my creativity and the organic development of my writing. In actuality, I set myself up for failure as a writer, something I learned the … Continue reading The Evolution of a Book, Part 3: The Book Outline
A Festschrift for John Marszalek
On Tuesday, I had the honor of helping surprise my doctoral advisor, John Marszalek, with news that several of his former graduate students had produced a festschrift. A group of approximately thirty family, friends, former students, and colleagues gathered in Starkville to unveil a new book, entitled Of Times and Race: Essays Inspired by John … Continue reading A Festschrift for John Marszalek
Update on SHEAR and Social Media
Following last summer's SHEAR conference, several SHEAR members, including me, recommended that the organization embrace social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and blogging. In response, President Drew Cayton and the executive council allowed a working group to draft a proposal recommending steps to be taken. As I understand it, there will be an opportunity to discuss … Continue reading Update on SHEAR and Social Media
The Death of H-Tennessee
On Tuesday, H-Net Associate Director Heather Hawley sent H-Tennessee subscribers the following message: I am writing to you to ask that you help us determine the fate of H-Tennessee. You are well aware that the list has not posted since November 2010. The list editors, labored faithfully to develop the network's potential, and feel that there is … Continue reading The Death of H-Tennessee
The Evolution of a Book, Part 2: The Book Proposal
(Part 1 of this series is here.) The book proposal that I sent to LSU Press in 2006 was modeled on one that I used for Old Hickory's Nephew [1]. I tweaked the focus of the Jackson proposal based on my experience with LSU Press and advice from the 1st edition of William Germano's book, Getting … Continue reading The Evolution of a Book, Part 2: The Book Proposal
The Evolution of a Book, Part 1: Choosing a Topic
I'm currently finishing up a book manuscript for LSU Press tentatively entitled "Andrew Jackson, Southerner." As I'm completing the writing phase and enter the editing process, I wanted to look back and examine how the book developed. This post will be the first in a series that I'll write looking ahead to the book's publication.* … Continue reading The Evolution of a Book, Part 1: Choosing a Topic
Jacksonian America: Society, Personality, and Politics 