Leon Jackson
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drleonj.bsky.social
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.
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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! 🙌
That sinking feeling, when you realize that the 24pp pdf article you just started to print is going to spit out about one page every hour for the next twenty four hours.
January 1, 2026 at 6:06 PM
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Happy New Year, everyone. Here's a plug for a dear friend's publication. Hilary Wyss's Cambridge Element on the London Foundling Hospital is just out, and you can download a copy for free until Jan. 15, here: doi.org/10.1017/9781.... It's fantastic work!
The London Foundling Hospital and Eighteenth-Century Objects of Charity
Cambridge Core - Evolutionary Biology - The London Foundling Hospital and Eighteenth-Century Objects of Charity
doi.org
January 1, 2026 at 5:34 PM
I want Medium Cheddar so much! For the love of all that’s good, someone in Arizona go adopt this Big Cheese, stat! 🧡🧀
17 pound MEDIUM CHEDDAR would like to wish you a Happy New Year, but also implores you to please adopt him ASAP because his roommate is kinda mean.

😆 🎆
Happy New Year from us at Whiskers N Wishes!
January 1, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Although it was a calamitous year politically, 2025 was a good year for me personally. My years-long clinical depression suddenly lifted; I returned to scholarship in earnest; I taught some amazing students; and I had many adventures with Tulip. I hope I can keep it up . . .
December 31, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Wishing you lap cats and a strong WiFi connection for 2026!
December 31, 2025 at 8:12 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! 🗃️
December 31, 2025 at 1:53 PM
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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
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
December 30, 2025 at 10:44 PM
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
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
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
Saw this and thought of you, @onslies.bsky.social! Maybe you have some crocheting friends who can whip one up for you?
December 29, 2025 at 9:32 PM
TL cleanse from my luminescent pets
💡🐈🐕‍🦺
December 29, 2025 at 2:39 AM
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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 hope all my NYC friends are snug and safe! ❄️❄️❄️❄️
December 27, 2025 at 10:30 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 🗃️
December 27, 2025 at 3:16 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! 🗃️
December 26, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Sleep tight, BlueSky. Let’s try again tomorrow.
December 26, 2025 at 2:36 AM
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
December 25, 2025 at 11:55 AM
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
Muppet Christmas Carol ✅
A wee edible ✅
Festive pets ✅

Happy Leon
December 25, 2025 at 1:25 AM
I think this means that it’s time for bed. Let’s try again tomorrow.
December 24, 2025 at 3:19 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 🤔 🗃️
December 24, 2025 at 1:56 AM