Diane Miller Sommerville
@profsommerville.bsky.social
Historian of the 19th-century South. Fond of binders. Fonder still of spicy margaritas.
Former advisee and Binghamton PhD @jonathansjones.bsky.social publishes his amazing book OPIUM SLAVERY on the opioid crisis after the Civil War. A must read for all students of US history.
November 13, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Former advisee and Binghamton PhD @jonathansjones.bsky.social publishes his amazing book OPIUM SLAVERY on the opioid crisis after the Civil War. A must read for all students of US history.
Congratulations to Binghamton University grad student Youngin Jang who received the Holmes Award at the meeting of the Southern Historical Assn for the best paper given by a graduate student or junior faculty member. Her dissertation is on working class children families in antebellum Baltimore.
November 13, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Congratulations to Binghamton University grad student Youngin Jang who received the Holmes Award at the meeting of the Southern Historical Assn for the best paper given by a graduate student or junior faculty member. Her dissertation is on working class children families in antebellum Baltimore.
October 18, 2025 at 9:14 PM
No kings in Binghamton NY. 4000 strong.
October 18, 2025 at 8:44 PM
No kings in Binghamton NY. 4000 strong.
Reposted by Diane Miller Sommerville
Bryan Andrews Music
October 10, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Bryan Andrews Music
I think I'm just as excited as Jonathan!! Congratulations, Jonathan! I can't wait to get a copy in my hands!
Look what came in the mail today, @uncpress.bsky.social @simpsonvos.bsky.social @profsommerville.bsky.social! 🗃️
October 8, 2025 at 11:23 PM
I think I'm just as excited as Jonathan!! Congratulations, Jonathan! I can't wait to get a copy in my hands!
Reposted by Diane Miller Sommerville
We've got a cover and a publication date (April 3, 2026).
October 1, 2025 at 11:03 AM
We've got a cover and a publication date (April 3, 2026).
Reposted by Diane Miller Sommerville
New AP history prompt: Did Father Coughlin do politics right? Discuss.
September 14, 2025 at 2:23 AM
New AP history prompt: Did Father Coughlin do politics right? Discuss.
Reposted by Diane Miller Sommerville
Tis the season to make plans to reclaim and cherish your book-life balance! See my 10-step handout “How to Read a Book” @commonplacejrnl.bsky.social
#skystorians #gradstudents
#howtoreadabook #bibliophiles #selfcare
commonplace.online/article/how-...
#skystorians #gradstudents
#howtoreadabook #bibliophiles #selfcare
commonplace.online/article/how-...
How to Read a Book: The X-Ray Method for Achieving a Sustainable “Book-Life Balance” - Commonplace
This is why you need a plan: to read attentively but efficiently, and sustainably, without surrendering your book-life balance.
commonplace.online
August 22, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Tis the season to make plans to reclaim and cherish your book-life balance! See my 10-step handout “How to Read a Book” @commonplacejrnl.bsky.social
#skystorians #gradstudents
#howtoreadabook #bibliophiles #selfcare
commonplace.online/article/how-...
#skystorians #gradstudents
#howtoreadabook #bibliophiles #selfcare
commonplace.online/article/how-...
Reposted by Diane Miller Sommerville
Here's the map of violent crime rates. Before you ask what the dots are blah blah, just click through and use the interactive version!
August 17, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Here's the map of violent crime rates. Before you ask what the dots are blah blah, just click through and use the interactive version!
Reposted by Diane Miller Sommerville
July 2, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Reposted by Diane Miller Sommerville
MIT study found that AI overuse causes measurable brain damage. “Cognitive atrophy.. like a muscle that’s forgotten how to work” MIT Publication - arxiv.org/pdf/2506.088...
Time Magazine - time.com/7295195/ai-c...
Time Magazine - time.com/7295195/ai-c...
ChatGPT's Impact On Our Brains According to an MIT Study
The study, from MIT Lab scholars, measured the brain activity of subjects writing SAT essays with and without ChatGPT.
time.com
June 21, 2025 at 1:09 AM
MIT study found that AI overuse causes measurable brain damage. “Cognitive atrophy.. like a muscle that’s forgotten how to work” MIT Publication - arxiv.org/pdf/2506.088...
Time Magazine - time.com/7295195/ai-c...
Time Magazine - time.com/7295195/ai-c...
Reposted by Diane Miller Sommerville
100 years ago today a Tennessee grand jury indicted science teacher John Scopes for violating the state’s law making it a crime “to teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.”
May 25, 2025 at 1:06 PM
100 years ago today a Tennessee grand jury indicted science teacher John Scopes for violating the state’s law making it a crime “to teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.”
Reposted by Diane Miller Sommerville
Oklahoma is forcing the Supreme Court to choose: Either the justices can allow more religious control of public schools, or they can respect the wishes of the Founding Fathers, writes Adam Laats.
Oklahoma Is Asking the Supreme Court to Ignore History
The Founders had disagreements about the role of religion in America’s public schools, but there was always one line they would not cross.
bit.ly
April 29, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Oklahoma is forcing the Supreme Court to choose: Either the justices can allow more religious control of public schools, or they can respect the wishes of the Founding Fathers, writes Adam Laats.
Reposted by Diane Miller Sommerville
Your tariff rate is your star sign divided by the number of boys you've kissed, multiplied by one
April 3, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Your tariff rate is your star sign divided by the number of boys you've kissed, multiplied by one
Reposted by Diane Miller Sommerville
DOGE Demands Deep Cuts at Humanities Endowment www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/a...
DOGE Demands Deep Cuts at Humanities Endowment
The National Endowment for the Humanities, which supports museums, scholarship and historical sites, could see grants curtailed and staffing slashed by up to 80 percent.
www.nytimes.com
April 2, 2025 at 2:14 AM
DOGE Demands Deep Cuts at Humanities Endowment www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/a...
Reposted by Diane Miller Sommerville
Do you feel bewildered by the current state of the nation? In a thoughtful new piece in @commonplacejrnl.bsky.social,
@rparkinson.bsky.social provides some historical context from 1770s PA to explain how bewilderment and chaos agents are not new in America. 🗃️
commonplace.online/article/bewi...
@rparkinson.bsky.social provides some historical context from 1770s PA to explain how bewilderment and chaos agents are not new in America. 🗃️
commonplace.online/article/bewi...
Bewilderment as a Way of Understanding America’s Present – and Past - Commonplace
Circumstances in which people are feeling extreme disorientation are potent breeding grounds for people who are willing to exploit it to take advantage in moments of crisis.
commonplace.online
February 18, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Do you feel bewildered by the current state of the nation? In a thoughtful new piece in @commonplacejrnl.bsky.social,
@rparkinson.bsky.social provides some historical context from 1770s PA to explain how bewilderment and chaos agents are not new in America. 🗃️
commonplace.online/article/bewi...
@rparkinson.bsky.social provides some historical context from 1770s PA to explain how bewilderment and chaos agents are not new in America. 🗃️
commonplace.online/article/bewi...
Reposted by Diane Miller Sommerville
Y'all, listen to this glowing review of Last Seen by @jgiesber.bsky.social on @nprfreshair.bsky.social! Congratulations Judy!!! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f... 🗃️
podcasts.apple.com
February 26, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Y'all, listen to this glowing review of Last Seen by @jgiesber.bsky.social on @nprfreshair.bsky.social! Congratulations Judy!!! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f... 🗃️
Reposted by Diane Miller Sommerville
The AHA and the OAH have released a joint statement condemning recent efforts to censor historical content on federal government websites, at many public museums, and across a wide swath of government resources that include essential data. 🗃️
AHA–OAH Joint Statement on Federal Censorship of American History
The American Historical Association (AHA) and the Organization of American Historians (OAH) have released a joint statement condemning federal censorship of American history.
www.historians.org
March 13, 2025 at 6:24 PM
The AHA and the OAH have released a joint statement condemning recent efforts to censor historical content on federal government websites, at many public museums, and across a wide swath of government resources that include essential data. 🗃️
Reposted by Diane Miller Sommerville
The Pentagon has turned Medal of Honor recipient, Sgt. William Carney, who served in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, into a 404-Error. 🗃️ taskandpurpose.com/news/soldier...
Medal of Honor recipient depicted in movie 'Glory' erased from Pentagon website
Denzel Washington reenacted the heroics of Sgt. William Carney in the movie "Glory." The Pentagon removed a story about him for DEI reasons.
taskandpurpose.com
March 20, 2025 at 10:18 PM
The Pentagon has turned Medal of Honor recipient, Sgt. William Carney, who served in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, into a 404-Error. 🗃️ taskandpurpose.com/news/soldier...
Congratulations Jonathan!! This looks amazing. Fantastic cover. Can’t wait to land a copy when it’s out!
I’m so thrilled to share the cover of my first book, Opium Slavery: Civil War Veterans and America's First Opioid Crisis, forthcoming this fall from @uncpress.bsky.social 🗃️
April 1, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Congratulations Jonathan!! This looks amazing. Fantastic cover. Can’t wait to land a copy when it’s out!
Reposted by Diane Miller Sommerville
These rumors have been confirmed, Blueskis.
I am enraged.
I am enraged.
Blueskis, I am hearing rumors that DOGE is at the NEH building.
- They will fire 50-70% of staff.
- Almost all open grants since 2021 will be closed.
- Almost all NEH Grant programs will be eliminated.
Note: this has not yet been confirmed.
What is confirmed: DOGE CAN GO FUCK THEMSELVES.
- They will fire 50-70% of staff.
- Almost all open grants since 2021 will be closed.
- Almost all NEH Grant programs will be eliminated.
Note: this has not yet been confirmed.
What is confirmed: DOGE CAN GO FUCK THEMSELVES.
March 31, 2025 at 8:36 PM
These rumors have been confirmed, Blueskis.
I am enraged.
I am enraged.
Reposted by Diane Miller Sommerville
This is Chuck.
Chuck is selling a book.
Chuck also has a full-time job.
I would consider buying Chuck’s book if he were doing that job, but he’s not.
Don’t be like Chuck.
And don’t buy Chuck’s book.
Chuck is selling a book.
Chuck also has a full-time job.
I would consider buying Chuck’s book if he were doing that job, but he’s not.
Don’t be like Chuck.
And don’t buy Chuck’s book.
It gets worse. Schumer isn’t just going on a book tour—he’s charging for tickets.
Absolute insanity. While Americans are scared and in crisis mode, he’s basically saying, let them eat cake.
@schumer.senate.gov Step Down.
Absolute insanity. While Americans are scared and in crisis mode, he’s basically saying, let them eat cake.
@schumer.senate.gov Step Down.
March 16, 2025 at 2:09 PM
This is Chuck.
Chuck is selling a book.
Chuck also has a full-time job.
I would consider buying Chuck’s book if he were doing that job, but he’s not.
Don’t be like Chuck.
And don’t buy Chuck’s book.
Chuck is selling a book.
Chuck also has a full-time job.
I would consider buying Chuck’s book if he were doing that job, but he’s not.
Don’t be like Chuck.
And don’t buy Chuck’s book.
Reposted by Diane Miller Sommerville
Historian here. Never in all my schooling or PhD training or in my first 30 years of college teaching did it ever once cross my mind that the worst of American history was yet to come. Now I’m consumed by this possibility.
March 15, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Historian here. Never in all my schooling or PhD training or in my first 30 years of college teaching did it ever once cross my mind that the worst of American history was yet to come. Now I’m consumed by this possibility.