Andrew Wehrman
@profwehrman.bsky.social
History professor at CMU and author of "The Contagion of Liberty: The Politics of Smallpox in the American Revolution" Vaccination is patriotic.
New book project(!) tentatively titled: Afterlife and Liberty: New York City’s Doctors’ Riot of 1788
New book project(!) tentatively titled: Afterlife and Liberty: New York City’s Doctors’ Riot of 1788
We had a pretty good turnout for night one of Ken Burns’ American Revolution at CMU. I showed it in an auditorium with a second big screen so that students in the room could participate in a live chat while we watched. It worked well!
November 17, 2025 at 4:03 AM
We had a pretty good turnout for night one of Ken Burns’ American Revolution at CMU. I showed it in an auditorium with a second big screen so that students in the room could participate in a live chat while we watched. It worked well!
I’m hosting a watch party for all six nights of Ken Burns’ “American Revolution” at CMU. In all 12 hours how much smallpox will there be? My guess is not enough!
November 12, 2025 at 1:19 AM
I’m hosting a watch party for all six nights of Ken Burns’ “American Revolution” at CMU. In all 12 hours how much smallpox will there be? My guess is not enough!
Our first Razorback game in over a decade! Go hogs!
November 8, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Our first Razorback game in over a decade! Go hogs!
My 11 year-old declared that he's going AImish (eschewing AI in the way that the Amish avoid certain technolgies). He was frustrated that some kids don't know how to use a calculator, even, because they're over-reliant on AI. To course correct, he's been teaching himself to use a slide rule.
November 3, 2025 at 2:47 PM
My 11 year-old declared that he's going AImish (eschewing AI in the way that the Amish avoid certain technolgies). He was frustrated that some kids don't know how to use a calculator, even, because they're over-reliant on AI. To course correct, he's been teaching himself to use a slide rule.
Dargan, Josh Hill (@joshtigerhill.bsky.social) and I piled in my car and drove from Fayetteville to Memphis (5 hours) to tryout for Jeopardy! in 2003. It took a while (and lots more tryouts), but 2/3 of us are now Jeopardy! champions. Still waiting for my turn @kenjennings.bsky.social
October 17, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Dargan, Josh Hill (@joshtigerhill.bsky.social) and I piled in my car and drove from Fayetteville to Memphis (5 hours) to tryout for Jeopardy! in 2003. It took a while (and lots more tryouts), but 2/3 of us are now Jeopardy! champions. Still waiting for my turn @kenjennings.bsky.social
My old college quizbowl teammate at the University of Arkansas Dargan Ware made quite the first impression on Jeopardy! today! Woo Pig Sooie!
October 17, 2025 at 11:35 PM
My old college quizbowl teammate at the University of Arkansas Dargan Ware made quite the first impression on Jeopardy! today! Woo Pig Sooie!
When Sprite is really focused on his game, he sticks out his tongue while still in complete control of the ball. He thinks he’s the Michael Jordan of fetch.
October 16, 2025 at 12:45 AM
When Sprite is really focused on his game, he sticks out his tongue while still in complete control of the ball. He thinks he’s the Michael Jordan of fetch.
“Sir, nobody is buying these John Adams costumes!”
“Ok. Here’s what we’re gonna do. Call ‘em plus size Jeffersons.”
“Ok. Here’s what we’re gonna do. Call ‘em plus size Jeffersons.”
October 12, 2025 at 3:07 PM
“Sir, nobody is buying these John Adams costumes!”
“Ok. Here’s what we’re gonna do. Call ‘em plus size Jeffersons.”
“Ok. Here’s what we’re gonna do. Call ‘em plus size Jeffersons.”
I’m currently reading through the wonderful essays in @theatlantic.com’s “The Unfinished Revolution.” The editors included this image of an inoculation certificate, but there’s no essay on the legacy of the Revolution on vaccination and public health. *ahem
(I did send in a pitch…so we’ll see?)
(I did send in a pitch…so we’ll see?)
October 11, 2025 at 10:24 PM
I’m currently reading through the wonderful essays in @theatlantic.com’s “The Unfinished Revolution.” The editors included this image of an inoculation certificate, but there’s no essay on the legacy of the Revolution on vaccination and public health. *ahem
(I did send in a pitch…so we’ll see?)
(I did send in a pitch…so we’ll see?)
My son turned his “Quaker Life Notes” from his 8th grade U.S. history class into “Quaker Otes” He gets an A in my book.
October 7, 2025 at 10:17 PM
My son turned his “Quaker Life Notes” from his 8th grade U.S. history class into “Quaker Otes” He gets an A in my book.
My book, The Contagion of Liberty is coming out (in January) in paperback, and I got some preview copies of this cheaper, more flexible version with new blurbs on the cover!
For the 250th anniversary, it argues that American independence was only achieved through inoculation and public health.
For the 250th anniversary, it argues that American independence was only achieved through inoculation and public health.
October 5, 2025 at 2:10 PM
My book, The Contagion of Liberty is coming out (in January) in paperback, and I got some preview copies of this cheaper, more flexible version with new blurbs on the cover!
For the 250th anniversary, it argues that American independence was only achieved through inoculation and public health.
For the 250th anniversary, it argues that American independence was only achieved through inoculation and public health.
It's the most measles cases in the U.S. (by far) since 1992 and currently has a 12% hospitalization rate.
September 26, 2025 at 5:30 PM
It's the most measles cases in the U.S. (by far) since 1992 and currently has a 12% hospitalization rate.
First, the school committee called smallpox itself "evil" and "deadly" and says plainly "the best security against the contagion of that loathsome and deadly disease is furnished by a diffusion of cowpock (vaccine) through the community..." Not for each individual but for the whole community.
September 22, 2025 at 4:29 PM
First, the school committee called smallpox itself "evil" and "deadly" and says plainly "the best security against the contagion of that loathsome and deadly disease is furnished by a diffusion of cowpock (vaccine) through the community..." Not for each individual but for the whole community.
Appalling but also fascinating how local news is spinning Trump’s birthday note to Epstein by pinning the blame and the scandal on Democrats and all but absolving Trump. This is a Wichita, KS CBS affiliate on Facebook.
September 9, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Appalling but also fascinating how local news is spinning Trump’s birthday note to Epstein by pinning the blame and the scandal on Democrats and all but absolving Trump. This is a Wichita, KS CBS affiliate on Facebook.
Five years ago on my oldest son’s 9th birthday, my younger son (then just 6 years old) brought some memento mori energy to the birthday party by writing this on his whiteboard. Still a good, grim reminder now that my oldest is now somehow 14!
September 7, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Five years ago on my oldest son’s 9th birthday, my younger son (then just 6 years old) brought some memento mori energy to the birthday party by writing this on his whiteboard. Still a good, grim reminder now that my oldest is now somehow 14!
Starting my 10th year at CMU. Wait, that can’t be right, can it?
August 26, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Starting my 10th year at CMU. Wait, that can’t be right, can it?
A small liberal arts college that cuts history, philosophy, and etc. is no longer a SLAC. It’s a small career institute.
August 15, 2025 at 3:53 PM
A small liberal arts college that cuts history, philosophy, and etc. is no longer a SLAC. It’s a small career institute.
That said, the museum below the Arch is amazing. It’s small among the best early America museum exhibits I’ve been to, which is why the display at the top is so disappointing!
July 19, 2025 at 4:46 PM
That said, the museum below the Arch is amazing. It’s small among the best early America museum exhibits I’ve been to, which is why the display at the top is so disappointing!
Good: A sign at the top of the Gateway Arch mentions that the Old Courthouse below is where Dred Scott sued to win his freedom. Bad: It doesn’t mention that he lost.
July 19, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Good: A sign at the top of the Gateway Arch mentions that the Old Courthouse below is where Dred Scott sued to win his freedom. Bad: It doesn’t mention that he lost.
My 11 year old son after looking over the titles of some of the books i brought to read while he’s in his math camp for two weeks, “Dad are you a historian or a murderer? It’s seriously hard to tell.”
July 19, 2025 at 1:12 PM
My 11 year old son after looking over the titles of some of the books i brought to read while he’s in his math camp for two weeks, “Dad are you a historian or a murderer? It’s seriously hard to tell.”
There are some *very minor* timeline issues but at least the artist recognized that Kool-Aid Man is going to need some help staying on a horse (whose name is apparently Sir Edward)
July 10, 2025 at 6:03 PM
There are some *very minor* timeline issues but at least the artist recognized that Kool-Aid Man is going to need some help staying on a horse (whose name is apparently Sir Edward)
The best $4 I ever spent?
July 10, 2025 at 5:48 PM
The best $4 I ever spent?
Sprite is very excited for this meeting!
July 6, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Sprite is very excited for this meeting!
Enjoy fireworks on the 4th? Thank vaccines for making this (still dangerous) activity safer! Before routine vaccination for tetanus in the 1940s, the patriotic spirit every 4th of July was muted shortly thereafter when newspapers reported deaths from lockjaw (aka tetanus) in the days that followed.
July 4, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Enjoy fireworks on the 4th? Thank vaccines for making this (still dangerous) activity safer! Before routine vaccination for tetanus in the 1940s, the patriotic spirit every 4th of July was muted shortly thereafter when newspapers reported deaths from lockjaw (aka tetanus) in the days that followed.
Today is the 249th anniversary of the mass inoculation of Boston against smallpox on July 3, 1776. The city of Boston was effectively closed to commerce from July through September 1776. The mass immunization effort was cheered as evidence of true independence. Here's how I describe it in my book:
July 3, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Today is the 249th anniversary of the mass inoculation of Boston against smallpox on July 3, 1776. The city of Boston was effectively closed to commerce from July through September 1776. The mass immunization effort was cheered as evidence of true independence. Here's how I describe it in my book: