Joseph M. Adelman
@jmadelman.bsky.social
Historian of politics, business, media in early America. Author of Revolutionary Networks. He/him. See https://josephadelman.com for more.
Reposted by Joseph M. Adelman
The Richards Center invites applications for the Mark & Ann Persun Visiting Scholars Program for tenured history faculty at the rank of Assoc Prof. For the 2026-27 academic year, the fellowship is open to scholars of the Civil War Era, broadly conceived, who study military or political history.
February 5, 2026 at 2:25 AM
The Richards Center invites applications for the Mark & Ann Persun Visiting Scholars Program for tenured history faculty at the rank of Assoc Prof. For the 2026-27 academic year, the fellowship is open to scholars of the Civil War Era, broadly conceived, who study military or political history.
Reposted by Joseph M. Adelman
This is my periodic gentle reminder that not all children in Massachusetts have Patriots gear, and special days that require or even encourage such things are going to leave some kids left out and other families scrambling for an expense they cannot afford.
February 4, 2026 at 9:37 PM
This is my periodic gentle reminder that not all children in Massachusetts have Patriots gear, and special days that require or even encourage such things are going to leave some kids left out and other families scrambling for an expense they cannot afford.
At least with Carnegie we got to keep the library buildings.
February 4, 2026 at 9:02 PM
At least with Carnegie we got to keep the library buildings.
Reposted by Joseph M. Adelman
Our founders, though deeply flawed, understood that democracy requires an informed citizenry and a government accountable to it people. That’s why the press is the only profession protected by the Constitution. It’s also why autocrats and oligarchs seek to control and destroy it.
February 4, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Our founders, though deeply flawed, understood that democracy requires an informed citizenry and a government accountable to it people. That’s why the press is the only profession protected by the Constitution. It’s also why autocrats and oligarchs seek to control and destroy it.
Reposted by Joseph M. Adelman
I'm a huge fan of Claudio Saunt's project on land claims and treaties and cessions that is so revelatory in its scope-- pic 1 is 1776, pic 2 is 1876. Blue is Indian homelands, gray is unceded territory, red is reservations. usg.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappv...
February 3, 2026 at 7:32 PM
I'm a huge fan of Claudio Saunt's project on land claims and treaties and cessions that is so revelatory in its scope-- pic 1 is 1776, pic 2 is 1876. Blue is Indian homelands, gray is unceded territory, red is reservations. usg.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappv...
On the Washington Post layoffs: We don't need to do things exactly as the Founders did, but when it comes to news, their philosophy has merit for a healthy society. During the Revolutionary era, most newspaper editors and printers saw themselves as acting in the public interest. Their newspapers /1
February 4, 2026 at 6:31 PM
On the Washington Post layoffs: We don't need to do things exactly as the Founders did, but when it comes to news, their philosophy has merit for a healthy society. During the Revolutionary era, most newspaper editors and printers saw themselves as acting in the public interest. Their newspapers /1
Reposted by Joseph M. Adelman
MacKenzie Scott has the chance to do the funniest thing right now.
February 4, 2026 at 2:47 PM
MacKenzie Scott has the chance to do the funniest thing right now.
Reposted by Joseph M. Adelman
We need more worker-governed news collectives NOW.
I WANT an editor.
I WANT a fact checker.
I NEED an attorney to defend my reporting against the fascist regime.
Freelancing is a nightmare right now, y’all. I can’t make enough to survive and I could have published 3X the news were I on staff.
I WANT an editor.
I WANT a fact checker.
I NEED an attorney to defend my reporting against the fascist regime.
Freelancing is a nightmare right now, y’all. I can’t make enough to survive and I could have published 3X the news were I on staff.
A lot of people cannot just start a paid newsletter or become freelancers to sustain their careers. The sports, metro, and international desks did work that requires *team* resources, like legal checks, documents, access to archives, and long-term beat experience.
February 4, 2026 at 4:49 PM
We need more worker-governed news collectives NOW.
I WANT an editor.
I WANT a fact checker.
I NEED an attorney to defend my reporting against the fascist regime.
Freelancing is a nightmare right now, y’all. I can’t make enough to survive and I could have published 3X the news were I on staff.
I WANT an editor.
I WANT a fact checker.
I NEED an attorney to defend my reporting against the fascist regime.
Freelancing is a nightmare right now, y’all. I can’t make enough to survive and I could have published 3X the news were I on staff.
Reposted by Joseph M. Adelman
In response to the deluge of messages on casting in The Odyssey:
Helen was born from an 🥚 Don’t talk to me about historical veracity.
Helen was born from an 🥚 Don’t talk to me about historical veracity.
February 3, 2026 at 1:13 PM
In response to the deluge of messages on casting in The Odyssey:
Helen was born from an 🥚 Don’t talk to me about historical veracity.
Helen was born from an 🥚 Don’t talk to me about historical veracity.
Reposted by Joseph M. Adelman
Some years ago, I was chatting with a Retropolis reader, a young history student, and I mentioned there were several dozen people enslaved in New Jersey up until the day the 13th Amendment kicked in in December 1865.
Y’all. He identified every one of them.
njs.libraries.rutgers.edu/index.php/nj...
Y’all. He identified every one of them.
njs.libraries.rutgers.edu/index.php/nj...
February 4, 2026 at 2:45 AM
Some years ago, I was chatting with a Retropolis reader, a young history student, and I mentioned there were several dozen people enslaved in New Jersey up until the day the 13th Amendment kicked in in December 1865.
Y’all. He identified every one of them.
njs.libraries.rutgers.edu/index.php/nj...
Y’all. He identified every one of them.
njs.libraries.rutgers.edu/index.php/nj...
Reposted by Joseph M. Adelman
Important read from LaGarrett King on U.S. 250th. "If we restrict our definition to those founders, we ignore the contributions of women, Native Americans, the poor, and Black people who were excluded from these gatherings by racism, sexism, and classism." www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...
Why We Need to Study the Black Founders Who Shaped U.S. Democracy (Opinion)
America’s founders weren’t just old, white men in wigs.
www.edweek.org
February 3, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Important read from LaGarrett King on U.S. 250th. "If we restrict our definition to those founders, we ignore the contributions of women, Native Americans, the poor, and Black people who were excluded from these gatherings by racism, sexism, and classism." www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...
Reposted by Joseph M. Adelman
Cokie Roberts fellowship application is open for anyone researching women's history at the U.S. National Archives -- due April 15 archivesfoundation.org/news/sixth-a...
The National Archives Foundation Opens Sixth-Annual Application for Cokie Roberts Women’s History Fellowship - National Archives Foundation
WASHINGTON, D.C.–The National Archives Foundation, the nonprofit partner of the National Archives and Records Administration, opened applications for the sixth-annual […]
archivesfoundation.org
February 3, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Cokie Roberts fellowship application is open for anyone researching women's history at the U.S. National Archives -- due April 15 archivesfoundation.org/news/sixth-a...
Reposted by Joseph M. Adelman
Unrelated to everything — but relevant to everything — this map is worth spending some time examining and thinking about. We know so little of our own history — and this wasn't that long ago.
Your grandparents' grandparents' grandparents were likely born around the time of this map.
Your grandparents' grandparents' grandparents were likely born around the time of this map.
The Utah Historical Society just produced a new, excellent map of "The Peoples of North America in 1776." Great resource for anyone teaching, writing, presenting about Native peoples as part of their 250th work. america250.utah.gov/power-of-pla...
February 3, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Unrelated to everything — but relevant to everything — this map is worth spending some time examining and thinking about. We know so little of our own history — and this wasn't that long ago.
Your grandparents' grandparents' grandparents were likely born around the time of this map.
Your grandparents' grandparents' grandparents were likely born around the time of this map.
Reposted by Joseph M. Adelman
Today is the paperback release day for my book The Contagion of Liberty! It’s about how Americans demanded that their governments provide inoculations for smallpox to the public as their right and also to affirm that public health is a foremost duty of government. www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/...
The Contagion of Liberty
The Politics of Smallpox in the American Revolution
www.press.jhu.edu
February 3, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Today is the paperback release day for my book The Contagion of Liberty! It’s about how Americans demanded that their governments provide inoculations for smallpox to the public as their right and also to affirm that public health is a foremost duty of government. www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/...
Reposted by Joseph M. Adelman
At the end of 2025 I was able to give the annual lecture @ the Centre for Data, Culture, and Society in Edinburgh. This lecture was an opportunity to share much of what Ive been working on for the past couple of years, in pursuit of archival discovery experiences for the masses
tinyurl.com/mtuutmzr
tinyurl.com/mtuutmzr
CDCS Annual Lecture 2025: Dorothy Berry "How Users Imagine Archival Research: JPCA Explore and Digital Curation at the Smithsonian National African American History and Culture Museum"
Dorothy Berry "How Users Imagine Archival Research: JPCA Explore and Digital Curation at the Smithsonian National African American History and Culture Museum"
media.ed.ac.uk
February 2, 2026 at 3:01 PM
At the end of 2025 I was able to give the annual lecture @ the Centre for Data, Culture, and Society in Edinburgh. This lecture was an opportunity to share much of what Ive been working on for the past couple of years, in pursuit of archival discovery experiences for the masses
tinyurl.com/mtuutmzr
tinyurl.com/mtuutmzr
Reposted by Joseph M. Adelman
I wanted to do an episode that grapples with the fresh horrors our feeds deliver to us and how to balance bearing witness, activism, and not falling into doomerism. @amandalitman.bsky.social is the perfect guest. *highly* recommend her insights to fellow bluesky posters!
I chatted with @cwarzel.bsky.social about the politics & impact of posting in this moment, why virtue signaling is good, and how to say sane in this media environment. A fun convo! youtu.be/DVKWwworess
How to Be a Citizen in the Information War (And Stay Sane)
YouTube video by The Atlantic
youtu.be
January 30, 2026 at 5:47 PM
I wanted to do an episode that grapples with the fresh horrors our feeds deliver to us and how to balance bearing witness, activism, and not falling into doomerism. @amandalitman.bsky.social is the perfect guest. *highly* recommend her insights to fellow bluesky posters!
Reposted by Joseph M. Adelman
Please circulate and share this important resource: thepanorama.shear.org/2025/04/09/t...
The Early Republic Tracker
The Early Republic Tracker documents instances where the federal government is removing facts and stories essential to the public’s understanding American history from public historical sites, muse…
thepanorama.shear.org
February 2, 2026 at 10:39 PM
Please circulate and share this important resource: thepanorama.shear.org/2025/04/09/t...
Reposted by Joseph M. Adelman
For @cnn.com, a story about gambling addiction, gambling sobriety and how that changes many young men’s relationships to friends, family, and sports fandom. www.cnn.com/2026/02/01/s...
February 1, 2026 at 1:37 PM
For @cnn.com, a story about gambling addiction, gambling sobriety and how that changes many young men’s relationships to friends, family, and sports fandom. www.cnn.com/2026/02/01/s...
For the second time in 11 months, I scheduled a research trip to a NARA site that’s been put in jeopardy by a government shutdown. Obviously this means that it’s my fault so I hereby apologize, and will soon go back to just reading my newspapers.
February 2, 2026 at 2:36 PM
For the second time in 11 months, I scheduled a research trip to a NARA site that’s been put in jeopardy by a government shutdown. Obviously this means that it’s my fault so I hereby apologize, and will soon go back to just reading my newspapers.
Reposted by Joseph M. Adelman
Groundhog Day | noun | a situation in which the same usually negative or monotonous experiences occur repeatedly or are felt to occur repeatedly with no change or correction
Groundhog Day | noun | a situation in which the same usually negative or monotonous experiences occur repeatedly or are felt to occur repeatedly with no change or correction
Groundhog Day | noun | a situation in which the same usually negative or monotonous experiences occur repeatedly or are felt to occur repeatedly with no change or correction
February 2, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Groundhog Day | noun | a situation in which the same usually negative or monotonous experiences occur repeatedly or are felt to occur repeatedly with no change or correction
Reposted by Joseph M. Adelman
Access to information about how the govt operates is a fundamental principle of democracy. Obv there are situations. But I flag this along w other on fire urgent concerns about exec branch agencies archiving their materials w NARA.
Jodi Kantor in the NY Times reports that the Chief Justice requested Court employees sign nondisclosure agreements in November 2024 - moving to formal contracts requiring silence/confidentiality after Trump was reelected: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
February 2, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Access to information about how the govt operates is a fundamental principle of democracy. Obv there are situations. But I flag this along w other on fire urgent concerns about exec branch agencies archiving their materials w NARA.
Reposted by Joseph M. Adelman
Donate to the magazine and you'll get early access to all of these new audio versions of our monsters pieces--and a bunch more recordings of classic pieces later in the spring.
Click here to donate *any amount* and then you'll get an email about the private feed: contingentmagazine.org/donate/
Click here to donate *any amount* and then you'll get an email about the private feed: contingentmagazine.org/donate/
This year, we are adding audio versions of many of your favorite articles, and donors to the magazine get early access through our private podcast feed!
Donate today and you’ll get to hear all of our monster series authors over the next few weeks, beginning with Sam Moore.
Donate today and you’ll get to hear all of our monster series authors over the next few weeks, beginning with Sam Moore.
February 1, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Donate to the magazine and you'll get early access to all of these new audio versions of our monsters pieces--and a bunch more recordings of classic pieces later in the spring.
Click here to donate *any amount* and then you'll get an email about the private feed: contingentmagazine.org/donate/
Click here to donate *any amount* and then you'll get an email about the private feed: contingentmagazine.org/donate/
Reposted by Joseph M. Adelman
I agree that more people should be comparing Franco to MAGA.
There’s been a lot of comparisons of ICE tactics to Hitler. But a better historical comparison is the fascist dictatorship of Spain’s Franco, according to a scholar of Spanish culture. buff.ly/Jbo9lA4
What Franco’s fascist regime in Spain can teach us about today’s America
Comparisons of Trump to Hitler have become common. But some of Trump’s policies may more closely resemble those of Francisco Franco of Spain, says a Spanish scholar.
theconversation.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:22 PM
I agree that more people should be comparing Franco to MAGA.
Reposted by Joseph M. Adelman
The Trump administration had another rough day in court trying to defend their removal of the slavery exhibit at the President's House site in Philadelphia. www.inquirer.com/politics/nat...
Judge chastises Trump administration attorney in hearing over dismantled President’s House exhibits
The city wants the judge to order that no more exhibits be removed and that the already-removed exhibits be protected as the litigation continues.
www.inquirer.com
January 31, 2026 at 4:43 PM
The Trump administration had another rough day in court trying to defend their removal of the slavery exhibit at the President's House site in Philadelphia. www.inquirer.com/politics/nat...
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1. Communication in the Early Nation
2. Cicero and Sallust on Catiline
3. Pursuits of Happiness: Ordinary Lives in Revolutionary América
4. The Swing Era
5. Time
1. Communication in the Early Nation
2. Cicero and Sallust on Catiline
3. Pursuits of Happiness: Ordinary Lives in Revolutionary América
4. The Swing Era
5. Time
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1. Modern Japan
2. Philosophy & Literature (Dostoevsky)
3. Vertebrate Biology
4. German Translation
5. Advanced Topics in Music Analysis (this was *a mistake*)
1. Modern Japan
2. Philosophy & Literature (Dostoevsky)
3. Vertebrate Biology
4. German Translation
5. Advanced Topics in Music Analysis (this was *a mistake*)
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1. Marine Biology (we got to go out on a boat!)
2. The History of the Holocaust
3. Logic and Critical Thinking
4. Eastern Religions
5. The French Revolution
1. Marine Biology (we got to go out on a boat!)
2. The History of the Holocaust
3. Logic and Critical Thinking
4. Eastern Religions
5. The French Revolution
January 31, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1. Communication in the Early Nation
2. Cicero and Sallust on Catiline
3. Pursuits of Happiness: Ordinary Lives in Revolutionary América
4. The Swing Era
5. Time
1. Communication in the Early Nation
2. Cicero and Sallust on Catiline
3. Pursuits of Happiness: Ordinary Lives in Revolutionary América
4. The Swing Era
5. Time