Leon Jackson
@drleonj.bsky.social
Professor @ USC. I write about African American life in early national and antebellum Boston.
My posts are my own opinions and do not reflect those of my employer.
My posts are my own opinions and do not reflect those of my employer.
Pinned
Leon Jackson
@drleonj.bsky.social
· Nov 27
Welcome, new followers! I mostly post about scholarship on nineteenth century American social, cultural, and literary history, print culture, and my dog. My cat too. Expect lots of stuff about archives, and very little about politics, because I keep that offline. Glad you’re here! 🙌
I read a lot of great books in 2025, but these four were probably the most edifying and inspiring. I want to give a special shout out to Ed Bell's meticulously researched volume, which covers significantly more ground than its title would suggest. It deserves to be much better known. On to 2026! 🗃️
December 31, 2025 at 1:53 PM
I read a lot of great books in 2025, but these four were probably the most edifying and inspiring. I want to give a special shout out to Ed Bell's meticulously researched volume, which covers significantly more ground than its title would suggest. It deserves to be much better known. On to 2026! 🗃️
🗃️
Coming out in late May. It is an honor to be sharing the story of James Selkirk, Scottish immigrant and New Yorker who spent over seven years serving in the Continental Army.
December 31, 2025 at 12:37 PM
🗃️
Sleep tight, Skeetlings. Let’s try again tomorrow.
December 31, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Sleep tight, Skeetlings. Let’s try again tomorrow.
Marsupial manuscripts! 🗃️ 🦘
When documents play hide and seek 😄
We thought this was quite sweet when we were looking for something else in the same box.
#SearchroomSurprise
We thought this was quite sweet when we were looking for something else in the same box.
#SearchroomSurprise
December 30, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Marsupial manuscripts! 🗃️ 🦘
I got out some grocery bags to go shopping, turned my back, and . . . well, I guess I’ll just go shopping later!
December 30, 2025 at 7:47 PM
I got out some grocery bags to go shopping, turned my back, and . . . well, I guess I’ll just go shopping later!
The best (and possibly only good) thing about Voyager is the relationship between The Doctor and Seven of Nine. Forget the Muppets’ Pigs in Space; this is Pygmalian in Space, and I’m just so here for it. Bob Picardo and Jeri Ryan are magnificent in their roles! 🖖
December 30, 2025 at 7:04 PM
The best (and possibly only good) thing about Voyager is the relationship between The Doctor and Seven of Nine. Forget the Muppets’ Pigs in Space; this is Pygmalian in Space, and I’m just so here for it. Bob Picardo and Jeri Ryan are magnificent in their roles! 🖖
Both for research, but also as a treat, I bought a first edition of George Henry Moore’s Notes on the History of Slavery in Massachusetts (1866). The title page embossment reveals that it was sold at C S Griggs & Co’s Chicago bookstore probably between 1866 and 1868, when the shop burned down 🗃️
December 30, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Both for research, but also as a treat, I bought a first edition of George Henry Moore’s Notes on the History of Slavery in Massachusetts (1866). The title page embossment reveals that it was sold at C S Griggs & Co’s Chicago bookstore probably between 1866 and 1868, when the shop burned down 🗃️
Saw this and thought of you, @onslies.bsky.social! Maybe you have some crocheting friends who can whip one up for you?
If you know someone who crochets, forward them this pattern link and show them some puppy dog eyes when you ask them to make you one. amiamour.com/cuddly-tiger...
Hobbes Amigurumi - Tiger Crochet Pattern - Free - Ami Amour
A FREE Hobbes amigurumi pattern inspired by Bill Watterson. This tiger crochet pattern features his gold and black stripes, elongated body, snout, and long tail. He is Calvin's best playmate and wise ...
amiamour.com
December 29, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Saw this and thought of you, @onslies.bsky.social! Maybe you have some crocheting friends who can whip one up for you?
TL cleanse from my luminescent pets
💡🐈🐕🦺
💡🐈🐕🦺
December 29, 2025 at 2:39 AM
TL cleanse from my luminescent pets
💡🐈🐕🦺
💡🐈🐕🦺
🗃️
Hey crowdsource question here. What is a really great, highly readable book about the progressive era in US history. Like from 1890-1914 or thereabouts.
December 28, 2025 at 7:43 PM
🗃️
I spent the evening reading the minutes of the Senate Subcommittee on Parks, Recreation, and Renewable Resources as they discussed the establishment of the Boston African American National Historic Site in August 1980. It's not often that I get to nerd out on Congressional testimony. Good stuff! 🗃️
December 28, 2025 at 1:05 AM
I spent the evening reading the minutes of the Senate Subcommittee on Parks, Recreation, and Renewable Resources as they discussed the establishment of the Boston African American National Historic Site in August 1980. It's not often that I get to nerd out on Congressional testimony. Good stuff! 🗃️
I hope all my NYC friends are snug and safe! ❄️❄️❄️❄️
December 27, 2025 at 10:30 PM
I hope all my NYC friends are snug and safe! ❄️❄️❄️❄️
I’ve often read *about* Carl Bridenbaugh’s 1962 @historians.org Presidential Address, ‘The Great Mutation,’ but I had never read the text itself. This morning I did, and I think it may be the most pompous, offensive, cringe-inducing thing I’ve ever laid eyes on in an academic journal. Yeesh 🗃️
December 27, 2025 at 3:16 PM
I’ve often read *about* Carl Bridenbaugh’s 1962 @historians.org Presidential Address, ‘The Great Mutation,’ but I had never read the text itself. This morning I did, and I think it may be the most pompous, offensive, cringe-inducing thing I’ve ever laid eyes on in an academic journal. Yeesh 🗃️
It's little-remembered, but abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison had an older brother, James, who was an absolute hell raiser: he was violent, alcoholic, often impoverished, and just as often jailed, as he bounced around the Atlantic World as a mariner. I read his memoir today, and it's SO dark! 🗃️
December 26, 2025 at 11:36 PM
It's little-remembered, but abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison had an older brother, James, who was an absolute hell raiser: he was violent, alcoholic, often impoverished, and just as often jailed, as he bounced around the Atlantic World as a mariner. I read his memoir today, and it's SO dark! 🗃️
Sleep tight, BlueSky. Let’s try again tomorrow.
December 26, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Sleep tight, BlueSky. Let’s try again tomorrow.
Reposted by Leon Jackson
MELIA is spending her second Christmas at the shelter. Lets end 2025 with a bang! By finding her a forever adult only home with no dogs. Cats are ok. Shes an amazing, smart, beautiful dog. Please adopt her
Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter
(516) 785-5220
3320 Beltagh Avenue , Unit
Wantagh, NY 11793
Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter
(516) 785-5220
3320 Beltagh Avenue , Unit
Wantagh, NY 11793
December 25, 2025 at 11:55 AM
MELIA is spending her second Christmas at the shelter. Lets end 2025 with a bang! By finding her a forever adult only home with no dogs. Cats are ok. Shes an amazing, smart, beautiful dog. Please adopt her
Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter
(516) 785-5220
3320 Beltagh Avenue , Unit
Wantagh, NY 11793
Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter
(516) 785-5220
3320 Beltagh Avenue , Unit
Wantagh, NY 11793
It’s 75 degrees and cloudless here in Columbia today, and this goofy girl just cooled off by rolling around in a manure-filled puddle. Ho, Ho, Ho! 🙄
December 25, 2025 at 6:40 PM
It’s 75 degrees and cloudless here in Columbia today, and this goofy girl just cooled off by rolling around in a manure-filled puddle. Ho, Ho, Ho! 🙄
Muppet Christmas Carol ✅
A wee edible ✅
Festive pets ✅
Happy Leon
A wee edible ✅
Festive pets ✅
Happy Leon
December 25, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Muppet Christmas Carol ✅
A wee edible ✅
Festive pets ✅
Happy Leon
A wee edible ✅
Festive pets ✅
Happy Leon
I think this means that it’s time for bed. Let’s try again tomorrow.
December 24, 2025 at 3:19 AM
I think this means that it’s time for bed. Let’s try again tomorrow.
I'm not saying that there's anything to nominative determinism, but in 1802, defendants tried at the February term of Boston's Municipal Court included Elisha Sly, Nancy Wiley, and Jedidiah Dodge 🤔 🗃️
December 24, 2025 at 1:56 AM
I'm not saying that there's anything to nominative determinism, but in 1802, defendants tried at the February term of Boston's Municipal Court included Elisha Sly, Nancy Wiley, and Jedidiah Dodge 🤔 🗃️
Oh look! It's a 'Trump Class' Destroyer 🙄
a blue dumpster is floating in a flooded area near a sign that says narrows ramp
Alt: a blue dumpster is floating in a flooded area near a sign that says narrows ramp
media.tenor.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Oh look! It's a 'Trump Class' Destroyer 🙄
Reposted by Leon Jackson
The research is the point.
The reading is the point.
The indecipherable handwriting is the point.
The marginalia is the point.
The weird quirks of penmanship are the point.
The finding of the thing you didn’t even know you were looking for is the point
The reading is the point.
The indecipherable handwriting is the point.
The marginalia is the point.
The weird quirks of penmanship are the point.
The finding of the thing you didn’t even know you were looking for is the point
December 22, 2025 at 12:28 AM
The research is the point.
The reading is the point.
The indecipherable handwriting is the point.
The marginalia is the point.
The weird quirks of penmanship are the point.
The finding of the thing you didn’t even know you were looking for is the point
The reading is the point.
The indecipherable handwriting is the point.
The marginalia is the point.
The weird quirks of penmanship are the point.
The finding of the thing you didn’t even know you were looking for is the point
I absolutely love archive.org, and I'm grateful for everything they do, but their PDF/As are almost completely unusable. Acrobat and Chrome have petit mal seizures when I scroll from page to page and sometimes won't load at all. Is there any way to compress or fix these so they scroll smoothly?
December 23, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I absolutely love archive.org, and I'm grateful for everything they do, but their PDF/As are almost completely unusable. Acrobat and Chrome have petit mal seizures when I scroll from page to page and sometimes won't load at all. Is there any way to compress or fix these so they scroll smoothly?
I’m so sad to learn that James Ransone has passed away. His performance as Ziggy Sobotka on Season 2 of The Wire was for the ages. RIP.
youtu.be/nN7JWfQp4rY
youtu.be/nN7JWfQp4rY
The Wire Season 2 Ending Montage
YouTube video by MaroonSoldier
youtu.be
December 23, 2025 at 2:29 AM
I’m so sad to learn that James Ransone has passed away. His performance as Ziggy Sobotka on Season 2 of The Wire was for the ages. RIP.
youtu.be/nN7JWfQp4rY
youtu.be/nN7JWfQp4rY
Visited a regional branch of the National Archives, and the mss I wanted to look at were in a filing cabinet for which no one could find the key. They called a locksmith on the spot, who drilled out the cylinder to get them to me. Archivists are the best! 🗃️
I think we need a mega thread of everyone's craziest archive stories.
December 22, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Visited a regional branch of the National Archives, and the mss I wanted to look at were in a filing cabinet for which no one could find the key. They called a locksmith on the spot, who drilled out the cylinder to get them to me. Archivists are the best! 🗃️