Jacob K. Friefeld
@friefeld.bsky.social
Director of the University of Illinois Springfield Center for Lincoln Studies, Historian on HBO Max’s Back to the Frontier, Coauthor of The First Migrants and Homesteading the Plains. Friefeld.com
Public historian and museum educator Ashlee Anderson joins Middle West US to talk about what might be Abraham Lincoln's last decree, currently in the collection at History Nebraska.
Hear the story at middlewest.us/podcasts/
(photo courtesy of History Nebraska)
Hear the story at middlewest.us/podcasts/
(photo courtesy of History Nebraska)
October 7, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Public historian and museum educator Ashlee Anderson joins Middle West US to talk about what might be Abraham Lincoln's last decree, currently in the collection at History Nebraska.
Hear the story at middlewest.us/podcasts/
(photo courtesy of History Nebraska)
Hear the story at middlewest.us/podcasts/
(photo courtesy of History Nebraska)
Hey! Episode 2 of #BackToTheFrontier dropped today—how do ya think our families are doing?
July 18, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Hey! Episode 2 of #BackToTheFrontier dropped today—how do ya think our families are doing?
The first episode of Back to the Frontier dropped—a show available on HBO Max and the Magnolia Network that challenges 3 families to live like 1880s homesteaders. It was an absolute joy to be part of this production!
July 11, 2025 at 6:41 PM
The first episode of Back to the Frontier dropped—a show available on HBO Max and the Magnolia Network that challenges 3 families to live like 1880s homesteaders. It was an absolute joy to be part of this production!
It was a pleasure presenting at the Midwest History Conference on Black Freedom in Illinois with Brian Mitchell and John Lupton.
We lamented not getting a photo of our panel, so I had fun with ai. May I present the bizarro-world Brian, Jake, and John presenting to a large but oddly small audience.
We lamented not getting a photo of our panel, so I had fun with ai. May I present the bizarro-world Brian, Jake, and John presenting to a large but oddly small audience.
May 22, 2025 at 3:33 PM
It was a pleasure presenting at the Midwest History Conference on Black Freedom in Illinois with Brian Mitchell and John Lupton.
We lamented not getting a photo of our panel, so I had fun with ai. May I present the bizarro-world Brian, Jake, and John presenting to a large but oddly small audience.
We lamented not getting a photo of our panel, so I had fun with ai. May I present the bizarro-world Brian, Jake, and John presenting to a large but oddly small audience.
I had a great time presenting on Black Homesteaders in photographs at the South Dakota State Historical Society Conference in Deadwood last week!
I’m terrible at getting photos while I present, so here is a picture of me with Wild Bill Hickok and Jack McCall.
I’m terrible at getting photos while I present, so here is a picture of me with Wild Bill Hickok and Jack McCall.
May 13, 2025 at 7:24 PM
I had a great time presenting on Black Homesteaders in photographs at the South Dakota State Historical Society Conference in Deadwood last week!
I’m terrible at getting photos while I present, so here is a picture of me with Wild Bill Hickok and Jack McCall.
I’m terrible at getting photos while I present, so here is a picture of me with Wild Bill Hickok and Jack McCall.
Last week historian Christian McWhirter and musician Randy Erwin put on a great show, playing Civil War Era music and providing historical context for the songs. The Springfield community is so lucky to have a knowledgeable Lincoln scholar like McWhirter to guide us through the Civil War Era.
November 23, 2024 at 8:12 PM
Last week historian Christian McWhirter and musician Randy Erwin put on a great show, playing Civil War Era music and providing historical context for the songs. The Springfield community is so lucky to have a knowledgeable Lincoln scholar like McWhirter to guide us through the Civil War Era.
Every year I look forward to the Lincoln Forum. The engaging presentations by first-class scholars are a big part of that, but getting to spend time talking about Lincoln, his era, and his legacy with friends and colleagues makes it truly special.
November 19, 2024 at 11:24 PM
Every year I look forward to the Lincoln Forum. The engaging presentations by first-class scholars are a big part of that, but getting to spend time talking about Lincoln, his era, and his legacy with friends and colleagues makes it truly special.
Campus in autumn
November 13, 2024 at 6:46 PM
Campus in autumn
Last month I had the pleasure of attending the Nebraska Celebration of Books and accepting the Nebraska Book Award for Nonfiction History. I had a great time answering audience questions and talking with talented authors! Always a joy to be back on UNL’s campus.
November 8, 2024 at 5:14 PM
Last month I had the pleasure of attending the Nebraska Celebration of Books and accepting the Nebraska Book Award for Nonfiction History. I had a great time answering audience questions and talking with talented authors! Always a joy to be back on UNL’s campus.
Last week I had a wonderful time with good friends and colleagues at the Lincoln Forum in Gettysburg. Thoroughly enjoyed my panel on Black life after emancipation. Here I’m pictured with dear friends at the spot Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address 160 years ago.
November 20, 2023 at 4:52 PM
Last week I had a wonderful time with good friends and colleagues at the Lincoln Forum in Gettysburg. Thoroughly enjoyed my panel on Black life after emancipation. Here I’m pictured with dear friends at the spot Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address 160 years ago.