Emily Swafford
@elswafford.bsky.social
Historian and administrator. Asst Dean-ing at Rackham Graduate School. Sort-of-sane cat mom and avid reader of not-too-scary murder mysteries. Sometime choral singer. Views my own. Ann Arbor, MI. she/her.
Pinned
Emily Swafford
@elswafford.bsky.social
· Jun 27
Sharing, for no reason, the photo of a child-sized handprint on a brick on the Lawn at UVa. Taken last year at my 20-year reunion. So proud and grateful to the students who looked for it, found it, and made sure others could know about it, too.
Best definition of a lawyer I’ve ever heard.
What happens if they're acting in bad faith. What if they don't deliver. What if they think Clause X means A, and you think it means B.
"How do we avoid a future kablooey" is the point of the lawyer.
"How do we avoid a future kablooey" is the point of the lawyer.
December 29, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Best definition of a lawyer I’ve ever heard.
Reposted by Emily Swafford
The 'kin' of ‘napkin’ means "little."
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
December 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The 'kin' of ‘napkin’ means "little."
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
Reposted by Emily Swafford
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Cardiff couple invited man in for Christmas, he stayed for 45 years
An arrangement Rob and Dianne Parsons thought would last a few days ended up changing their lives.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 25, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Merry Christmas, everyone!
December 24, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Reposted by Emily Swafford
a lot of people don't realize that Christmas carols and traditions are actually folk memories of suppressed pre-Christian events, namely the end of the Third Age and the Fall of Sauron.
December 24, 2025 at 10:05 PM
a lot of people don't realize that Christmas carols and traditions are actually folk memories of suppressed pre-Christian events, namely the end of the Third Age and the Fall of Sauron.
Reposted by Emily Swafford
Thank you for your work to plan the Rosie the Riveter Nat'l Historical Park that memorializes the role of women here at home during WWII & for becoming a park ranger at age 85. We may not have known you otherwise & that would've been a loss for us all.
Goodnight & godspeed, Betty Reid Soskin🕯️
Goodnight & godspeed, Betty Reid Soskin🕯️
December 24, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Thank you for your work to plan the Rosie the Riveter Nat'l Historical Park that memorializes the role of women here at home during WWII & for becoming a park ranger at age 85. We may not have known you otherwise & that would've been a loss for us all.
Goodnight & godspeed, Betty Reid Soskin🕯️
Goodnight & godspeed, Betty Reid Soskin🕯️
Reposted by Emily Swafford
“Pray tell, the Baron, what sort of gentleman is he?”
“Well…”
“Well…”
December 23, 2025 at 9:17 PM
“Pray tell, the Baron, what sort of gentleman is he?”
“Well…”
“Well…”
Can confirm.
But I would argue that many military historians also engage in this wholistic approach to teaching about war!
December 24, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Can confirm.
Reposted by Emily Swafford
2025 has been a shitty, scary, and downright terrible year.
But D.C. is still the same beautiful city, full of resilient, organized, smart, and compassionate people.
Here are five of our favorite stories we published this year, showcasing exactly those people.
But D.C. is still the same beautiful city, full of resilient, organized, smart, and compassionate people.
Here are five of our favorite stories we published this year, showcasing exactly those people.
Our favorite stories we published in 2025
Stories we hope never get lost.
51st.news
December 23, 2025 at 10:11 PM
2025 has been a shitty, scary, and downright terrible year.
But D.C. is still the same beautiful city, full of resilient, organized, smart, and compassionate people.
Here are five of our favorite stories we published this year, showcasing exactly those people.
But D.C. is still the same beautiful city, full of resilient, organized, smart, and compassionate people.
Here are five of our favorite stories we published this year, showcasing exactly those people.
Reposted by Emily Swafford
Gotta give big props to the Downtown D.C. Holiday Market. In the last few years it has gotten *way* better, and proves that people will absolutely come out for well-planned car-free spaces and events. More of this, D.C.!
December 23, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Gotta give big props to the Downtown D.C. Holiday Market. In the last few years it has gotten *way* better, and proves that people will absolutely come out for well-planned car-free spaces and events. More of this, D.C.!
Reposted by Emily Swafford
Check out the summer professional development opportunities funded by the NEH's Institutes and Landmarks of American History programs for K-12 and higher education audiences.
Please share w/ those who might be interested.
www.neh.gov/divisions/ed...
*Yes, I know that it's been a strange year.
Please share w/ those who might be interested.
www.neh.gov/divisions/ed...
*Yes, I know that it's been a strange year.
Division of Education Professional Development Programs
www.neh.gov
December 23, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Check out the summer professional development opportunities funded by the NEH's Institutes and Landmarks of American History programs for K-12 and higher education audiences.
Please share w/ those who might be interested.
www.neh.gov/divisions/ed...
*Yes, I know that it's been a strange year.
Please share w/ those who might be interested.
www.neh.gov/divisions/ed...
*Yes, I know that it's been a strange year.
Reposted by Emily Swafford
Today, the AHA & CREW filed an amicus brief in support of Harvard University’s lawsuit against the federal government over the university’s ability to host foreign scholars and students. The brief conveys the importance of international scholars and students to American higher education. 🗃️
AHA Files Amicus Brief in Support of Foreign Scholars - AHA
The American Historical Association (AHA), in collaboration with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), has filed an amicus brief in support of Harvard University’s lawsuit again...
www.historians.org
December 22, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Today, the AHA & CREW filed an amicus brief in support of Harvard University’s lawsuit against the federal government over the university’s ability to host foreign scholars and students. The brief conveys the importance of international scholars and students to American higher education. 🗃️
Reposted by Emily Swafford
There are so many ways that archival collections and thus histories can be amplified or silenced --including digitization.
This was one of my efforts at describing how that works, and the implications. www.historians.org/perspectives...
This was one of my efforts at describing how that works, and the implications. www.historians.org/perspectives...
Archival Shouting – AHA
Some collections of historical sources have been given a microphone, with profound consequences for the practices of history.
www.historians.org
December 22, 2025 at 4:52 PM
There are so many ways that archival collections and thus histories can be amplified or silenced --including digitization.
This was one of my efforts at describing how that works, and the implications. www.historians.org/perspectives...
This was one of my efforts at describing how that works, and the implications. www.historians.org/perspectives...
Reposted by Emily Swafford
I don't know if you are aware of this, but Rick Steves is the GOAT
It’s the “season of love and giving”…but this year, doesn’t it seem more like a “season of fear and taking”? Like many of you, I’ve been saddened by the human impact of draconian government budget cuts and how angry many housed Americans are at unhoused Americans.
🧵 1 of 9
🧵 1 of 9
December 21, 2025 at 1:51 PM
I don't know if you are aware of this, but Rick Steves is the GOAT
Reposted by Emily Swafford
It's name is National and I will not waver on this
DC residents have been refusing to call that airport anything but National for almost thirty years, we certainly can refuse to call that arts center anything but the Kennedy Center for three
December 21, 2025 at 12:09 AM
It's name is National and I will not waver on this
Reposted by Emily Swafford
Nearly two years of work is coming to fruition with the 2nd edition of Careers for History Majors, coming in January! Includes new and updated essays and fresh data. Preorder your copy now. (AHA members get 30% off—log into MYAHA to access that discount.)
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
December 19, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Nearly two years of work is coming to fruition with the 2nd edition of Careers for History Majors, coming in January! Includes new and updated essays and fresh data. Preorder your copy now. (AHA members get 30% off—log into MYAHA to access that discount.)
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Shout out to @bakerdphd.bsky.social for interpreting UVa news. So glad to hear from fellow alumna who is also a higher ed expert. 💙🧡
Absolutely embarrassing for everyone involved at UVA. Just, on the most basic level, does he not have friends?
December 19, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Shout out to @bakerdphd.bsky.social for interpreting UVa news. So glad to hear from fellow alumna who is also a higher ed expert. 💙🧡
After watching the rain melt the snow yesterday, it is now coming down in fluffy flakes for a healthy dusting and I am ok with it. ❄️❄️
December 19, 2025 at 4:57 PM
After watching the rain melt the snow yesterday, it is now coming down in fluffy flakes for a healthy dusting and I am ok with it. ❄️❄️
Reposted by Emily Swafford
as I've said before, a lot of the root problems with LLMs is that they're bad at the things we think computers should be good at, and good at the things we think computers should be bad at.
For some reason, people struggle to understand that indexing is precisely the sort of task LLMs *can’t do*, for the same reason they can’t solve complex equations - rather like cold-reading mediums, they’re good at vibes but fail when exacting precision and accuracy is required
December 19, 2025 at 3:19 PM
as I've said before, a lot of the root problems with LLMs is that they're bad at the things we think computers should be good at, and good at the things we think computers should be bad at.
Reposted by Emily Swafford
We are accepting applications for our six- to twelve-month Visiting Fellowships, for the 2026-2027 academic year, until January 12. Learn more about our thematic areas and the application process here: www.ghi-dc.org/progr...
December 19, 2025 at 3:25 PM
We are accepting applications for our six- to twelve-month Visiting Fellowships, for the 2026-2027 academic year, until January 12. Learn more about our thematic areas and the application process here: www.ghi-dc.org/progr...
Reposted by Emily Swafford
We are seeking to hire two full-time Research Fellows in the field of modern and contemporary history, with an anticipated start date of June 2026. Applications are due on January 11; for more details visit: www.ghi-dc.org/news-...
December 19, 2025 at 3:40 PM
We are seeking to hire two full-time Research Fellows in the field of modern and contemporary history, with an anticipated start date of June 2026. Applications are due on January 11; for more details visit: www.ghi-dc.org/news-...
Reposted by Emily Swafford
We recently sat down with Visiting Fellow Douwe Schipper to learn more about his postdoctoral research project examining the politics of mass transit in the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970s... read on here: www.ghi-dc.org/news-...
December 19, 2025 at 3:01 PM
We recently sat down with Visiting Fellow Douwe Schipper to learn more about his postdoctoral research project examining the politics of mass transit in the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970s... read on here: www.ghi-dc.org/news-...
Reposted by Emily Swafford
People who aspire to be academics: I wish to live a life of the mind
Actual academics:
Actual academics:
I have a weird question for the #bird people on here. Do you think someone could tell that a book was pooped on specifically by a sparrowhawk (or perhaps hawks generally) just from the feces? I'm looking at a 16th c. case where witnesses claim books were pooped on specifically by sparrowhawks!
December 18, 2025 at 3:34 PM
People who aspire to be academics: I wish to live a life of the mind
Actual academics:
Actual academics:
Reposted by Emily Swafford
OK, I need some help: For anyone who's got a 12-year-old kid, what books are they reading and really loving? Looking for ideas of books to get my daughter. (If you're reading this, kiddo, get off of social media.)
December 18, 2025 at 9:32 PM
OK, I need some help: For anyone who's got a 12-year-old kid, what books are they reading and really loving? Looking for ideas of books to get my daughter. (If you're reading this, kiddo, get off of social media.)
Reposted by Emily Swafford
Next week at Rackham, we hope you'll be finding ways to rest and restore. See you on Monday, January 5!
#UMich #GradSchool
#UMich #GradSchool
December 18, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Next week at Rackham, we hope you'll be finding ways to rest and restore. See you on Monday, January 5!
#UMich #GradSchool
#UMich #GradSchool