Abbey Shimer
@aeshimer.bsky.social
History PhD Candidate researching the beginning of the modern homeschooling movement in the US.
NC ➡️ ND/SD.
Views are my own and do not reflect my employer.
NC ➡️ ND/SD.
Views are my own and do not reflect my employer.
Reposted by Abbey Shimer
A lot of details in here surprised me--cost of college edging lower, overall enrollment numbers holding steady. Definitely a case where the ambient conventional wisdom and the facts are pulling in opposite directions.
Popular discourse attributes falling college enrollments to the rising cost of four-year college.
That story is wrong in multiple ways, as @mattbarnum.bsky.social points out in his latest roundup of the evidence (citing a new working paper of ours):
www.chalkbeat.org/2025/11/11/i...
That story is wrong in multiple ways, as @mattbarnum.bsky.social points out in his latest roundup of the evidence (citing a new working paper of ours):
www.chalkbeat.org/2025/11/11/i...
Is college enrollment plummeting?
Reports of the death of the bachelor’s degree have been greatly exaggerated.
www.chalkbeat.org
November 12, 2025 at 3:05 PM
A lot of details in here surprised me--cost of college edging lower, overall enrollment numbers holding steady. Definitely a case where the ambient conventional wisdom and the facts are pulling in opposite directions.
When my husband is on the farm and sees beautiful lights but I’m in the city and see … the great lights of Target…
November 12, 2025 at 4:36 AM
When my husband is on the farm and sees beautiful lights but I’m in the city and see … the great lights of Target…
I wrote “catch up on my late work” in my planner yesterday and now I have no idea what late work I meant. 🙃
November 4, 2025 at 8:38 PM
I wrote “catch up on my late work” in my planner yesterday and now I have no idea what late work I meant. 🙃
Reorganizing books this lazy Saturday
November 1, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Reorganizing books this lazy Saturday
“If I get though it first I’ll let you know how it is”
"that doesn't sound comfortable"
October 27, 2025 at 3:15 AM
“If I get though it first I’ll let you know how it is”
Farm update: new barn cat and Lou Lou got a hoodie
October 27, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Farm update: new barn cat and Lou Lou got a hoodie
Reposted by Abbey Shimer
THESE ARE OUR MOST READ PIECES EVERY YEAR!
If you are a UP editor or on the ed board of a journal, you can submit everything you published this year written by a contingent historian. Get them in front of people's eyes!
If you are a UP editor or on the ed board of a journal, you can submit everything you published this year written by a contingent historian. Get them in front of people's eyes!
A reminder that we're collecting books, chapters, and journal articles by non-TT historians for publication in our year-end lists. Anything with a 2025 pub date is eligible and you can submit for your friends/colleagues! contingentmagazine.org/yearly-pub-l...
Publications by Non-Tenure-Track Historians
Since we began publishing in 2019, Contingent has published end-of-year lists of books and articles by non-tenure-track historians released in the past calendar year. To submit something for inclusion...
contingentmagazine.org
October 24, 2025 at 1:15 AM
THESE ARE OUR MOST READ PIECES EVERY YEAR!
If you are a UP editor or on the ed board of a journal, you can submit everything you published this year written by a contingent historian. Get them in front of people's eyes!
If you are a UP editor or on the ed board of a journal, you can submit everything you published this year written by a contingent historian. Get them in front of people's eyes!
Typing “cover letter” into my Mac finder is always fun because I get everything from Jo-Ann’s Fabric (RIP), to grad school app, to TT job apps. 😅
October 23, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Typing “cover letter” into my Mac finder is always fun because I get everything from Jo-Ann’s Fabric (RIP), to grad school app, to TT job apps. 😅
With an hour to spare, midterm grades are submitted!
a group of people are jumping in the air with the words yippee in the corner .
ALT: a group of people are jumping in the air with the words yippee in the corner .
media.tenor.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:08 AM
With an hour to spare, midterm grades are submitted!
Today's rabbit trails included the questions of whether the Second Amendment should give you the right to own a tank or a fighter jet and how many people it takes to start a religion.
But hey, everyone was thinking about the Bill of Rights.
But hey, everyone was thinking about the Bill of Rights.
a cartoon character holding a scroll of the u.s. constitution says hello i 'm the u.s. constitution
Alt: a cartoon character holding a scroll of the u.s. constitution says hello i 'm the u.s. constitution
media.tenor.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Today's rabbit trails included the questions of whether the Second Amendment should give you the right to own a tank or a fighter jet and how many people it takes to start a religion.
But hey, everyone was thinking about the Bill of Rights.
But hey, everyone was thinking about the Bill of Rights.
Well, naturally this would happen the week that midterm grades are due…. 😒
October 20, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Well, naturally this would happen the week that midterm grades are due…. 😒
Reposted by Abbey Shimer
It's been a while, but I have exciting news! Our department is hiring a Digital Historian with a specialization in Early America. Help us spread the word by sharing this opportunity within your networks. #DigitalHistory #DH #HigherEdJobs
jobs.uc.edu/job/Cincinna...
jobs.uc.edu/job/Cincinna...
Assistant Professor in Digital and Early American History, Department of History, College of A&S
Assistant Professor in Digital and Early American History, Department of History, College of A&S
jobs.uc.edu
October 19, 2025 at 1:37 PM
It's been a while, but I have exciting news! Our department is hiring a Digital Historian with a specialization in Early America. Help us spread the word by sharing this opportunity within your networks. #DigitalHistory #DH #HigherEdJobs
jobs.uc.edu/job/Cincinna...
jobs.uc.edu/job/Cincinna...
Reposted by Abbey Shimer
The AHA is compiling resources developed by historians in response to recent actions by the federal governments. We welcome submissions from our members about op-eds, media appearances, or other resources they've contributed offering historical context and insight to the public. 🗃️
Historians Respond to Federal Actions - AHA
AHA members are providing important historical context and insight to the public on the recent actions by the federal government.
www.historians.org
October 17, 2025 at 8:01 PM
The AHA is compiling resources developed by historians in response to recent actions by the federal governments. We welcome submissions from our members about op-eds, media appearances, or other resources they've contributed offering historical context and insight to the public. 🗃️
Google turning up little so I'm turning to religious studies bluesky. What did John of Damascus mean when he wrote about the "perfection of manhood" regarding icons? A student asked me in class because Christianity doesn't teach humans are perfect. I have guesses, but wasn't sure the consensus.
October 17, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Google turning up little so I'm turning to religious studies bluesky. What did John of Damascus mean when he wrote about the "perfection of manhood" regarding icons? A student asked me in class because Christianity doesn't teach humans are perfect. I have guesses, but wasn't sure the consensus.
Reposted by Abbey Shimer
I'm determined to be a useful member of the Digital Scholarship committee for the WHA this year, so I need help: what cool new-ish digital humanities projects related to Western US history do you know about?
October 15, 2025 at 5:00 PM
I'm determined to be a useful member of the Digital Scholarship committee for the WHA this year, so I need help: what cool new-ish digital humanities projects related to Western US history do you know about?
Have a cat with a bandaged leg and she hates life at the moment 😭
October 13, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Have a cat with a bandaged leg and she hates life at the moment 😭
Reposted by Abbey Shimer
Religious movements are *always* internally contested. It is not for historians/outsiders to decide which party to the contestation represents the “true“ version or deserves exclusive use of the movement’s name/label. Their job is rather to describe the internal diversity as accurately as possible.
October 12, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Religious movements are *always* internally contested. It is not for historians/outsiders to decide which party to the contestation represents the “true“ version or deserves exclusive use of the movement’s name/label. Their job is rather to describe the internal diversity as accurately as possible.
Farm update: it is officially sweater weather in ND
October 11, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Farm update: it is officially sweater weather in ND
Reposted by Abbey Shimer
This is Clio. She did not study for the test today. Also does not know how to read. 12/10 (IG: paspastotoro)
October 8, 2025 at 4:45 PM
This is Clio. She did not study for the test today. Also does not know how to read. 12/10 (IG: paspastotoro)
Me: (trying not to go on another rabbit trail about the patristic period in my already behind Western Civ class) Can you tell I do religious history?
Students: (while laughing at me) yep.
Students: (while laughing at me) yep.
a black and white photo of a woman wearing a turtleneck sweater and a dress .
Alt: a black and white photo of a woman wearing a turtleneck sweater and a dress .
media.tenor.com
October 6, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Me: (trying not to go on another rabbit trail about the patristic period in my already behind Western Civ class) Can you tell I do religious history?
Students: (while laughing at me) yep.
Students: (while laughing at me) yep.
Reposted by Abbey Shimer
What if your life experiences do not necessarily translate into “good” writing? Christina Larocco describes how her writing is circular, referential, fragmented—all qualities typically identified as weaknesses.
Discovering My Brain’s Native Language | Jane Friedman
An AuDHD writer considers where her mind’s fragmentary and circular style of expression fits in a paradigm of linear storytelling.
janefriedman.com
October 1, 2025 at 6:21 PM
What if your life experiences do not necessarily translate into “good” writing? Christina Larocco describes how her writing is circular, referential, fragmented—all qualities typically identified as weaknesses.
Reposted by Abbey Shimer
Normally our December issue is six mini-essays, but with the support of the Kitchings Family Foundation, we're going to be able to support six shorts--twice the word count, twice the pay!--as well as an amazing feature-length review we've already got lined up.
It’s here! The call for pitches for our deluxe December issue, “A Time of Monsters,” supported by a grant from the Kitchings Family Foundation.
CFP: A Time of Monsters
The monster has been here all along. It is a historical constant that manifests in wildly different ways across time, place, and culture. Whatever form it takes, the monster claws at categories; it un...
contingentmagazine.org
October 1, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Normally our December issue is six mini-essays, but with the support of the Kitchings Family Foundation, we're going to be able to support six shorts--twice the word count, twice the pay!--as well as an amazing feature-length review we've already got lined up.
Reposted by Abbey Shimer
Great news!
JSTOR now have a free account with an Independent Researcher category. You can access 100 documents per month
www.jstor.org/action/showL...
JSTOR now have a free account with an Independent Researcher category. You can access 100 documents per month
www.jstor.org/action/showL...
September 29, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Great news!
JSTOR now have a free account with an Independent Researcher category. You can access 100 documents per month
www.jstor.org/action/showL...
JSTOR now have a free account with an Independent Researcher category. You can access 100 documents per month
www.jstor.org/action/showL...
Did I tell my (mostly from rural South Dakota) class that one reason folks didn’t care for my North Carolina home town was because you had to drive thirty minutes to get to Sam’s Club and Target? Yes. Did they snicker at my east coast self? Also yes.
September 27, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Did I tell my (mostly from rural South Dakota) class that one reason folks didn’t care for my North Carolina home town was because you had to drive thirty minutes to get to Sam’s Club and Target? Yes. Did they snicker at my east coast self? Also yes.