Joe Borsato
@theecoalchemyst.bsky.social
Research fellow; consultant, grant-writer, and editor from Tsilhqot’in Nen, working in Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe territories; PhD in Indigenous and global history from Queen’s University in Cataraqui (Kingston); Italian-Canadian, Irish (il/he/him)
I am taking the train, making my way up the St. Lawrence River to Montréal for the NACBS, enjoying the in-between fall and winter season that we can currently find in the river valley.
November 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I am taking the train, making my way up the St. Lawrence River to Montréal for the NACBS, enjoying the in-between fall and winter season that we can currently find in the river valley.
Un gatto multo carino
October 31, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Un gatto multo carino
I visited the Tomb of Saint Nicolas in Bari yesterday and can confirm that Santa Clause is in fact dead.
I am not quite sure how I’m going to break the news to my nieces yet.
I am not quite sure how I’m going to break the news to my nieces yet.
October 26, 2025 at 7:58 PM
I visited the Tomb of Saint Nicolas in Bari yesterday and can confirm that Santa Clause is in fact dead.
I am not quite sure how I’m going to break the news to my nieces yet.
I am not quite sure how I’m going to break the news to my nieces yet.
Monopoli, in Puglia, at night:
October 23, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Monopoli, in Puglia, at night:
Quand le train ne marche pas et il est en retard mais il est à Modane, une petite ville dans les Alpes françaises: tu n’est pas triste.
October 19, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Quand le train ne marche pas et il est en retard mais il est à Modane, une petite ville dans les Alpes françaises: tu n’est pas triste.
October 18, 2025 at 9:31 AM
October 15, 2025 at 9:18 PM
The Giants causeway was super fun. It reminded me of the rock formations on Haida Gwaii.
October 12, 2025 at 5:50 AM
The Giants causeway was super fun. It reminded me of the rock formations on Haida Gwaii.
Today, I’m diving into Peter Heylin’s Cosmographie, observing that Mi’kma’ki, which many Europeans regarded as part of Estotiland, inspired no shortage of marginalia by Edward Stillingfleet, one of the major seventeenth century collectors who helped establish Marsh’s Library.
October 9, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Today, I’m diving into Peter Heylin’s Cosmographie, observing that Mi’kma’ki, which many Europeans regarded as part of Estotiland, inspired no shortage of marginalia by Edward Stillingfleet, one of the major seventeenth century collectors who helped establish Marsh’s Library.
Another week plugging away at the rare books in Marsh’s Library, searching for, and finding, Indigenous history:
October 7, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Another week plugging away at the rare books in Marsh’s Library, searching for, and finding, Indigenous history:
The Liffey at night never disappoints - back to Marsh’s Library tomorrow for rare book adventures!
October 6, 2025 at 8:15 AM
The Liffey at night never disappoints - back to Marsh’s Library tomorrow for rare book adventures!
More adventurers in Marsh’s Library today: I believe the phrase is, “yo ho”!
October 2, 2025 at 9:02 AM
More adventurers in Marsh’s Library today: I believe the phrase is, “yo ho”!
Back in Marsh’s Library today working on seventeenth century French geographic accounts of the Indigenous Amazon.
October 1, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Back in Marsh’s Library today working on seventeenth century French geographic accounts of the Indigenous Amazon.
Hiking today in Glendalough, or “the valley of two lakes,” in County Wicklow (Ireland), where I couldn’t be more happy! The valley was formed after the last ice age due to a glacial recession and you can feel the geological timeline all around you. It’s truly spectacular.
September 28, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Hiking today in Glendalough, or “the valley of two lakes,” in County Wicklow (Ireland), where I couldn’t be more happy! The valley was formed after the last ice age due to a glacial recession and you can feel the geological timeline all around you. It’s truly spectacular.
For the next few weeks, I will hold a Maddock Fellowship at Marsh’s Library in Dublin, where I will research Indigenous peoples’ relations with Huguenot colonizers in the seventeenth century. I’ve already very much enjoyed digging into the rare books collection.
September 25, 2025 at 6:58 PM
For the next few weeks, I will hold a Maddock Fellowship at Marsh’s Library in Dublin, where I will research Indigenous peoples’ relations with Huguenot colonizers in the seventeenth century. I’ve already very much enjoyed digging into the rare books collection.
My third peer-reviewed article is now out with the journal Ethnohistory! It is about Powhatan sovereignty in the early 17th century. My thanks go to a number of friends and colleagues who provided feedback on this article over the past three years. It wouldn’t be possible without so much support!
September 22, 2025 at 5:40 PM
My third peer-reviewed article is now out with the journal Ethnohistory! It is about Powhatan sovereignty in the early 17th century. My thanks go to a number of friends and colleagues who provided feedback on this article over the past three years. It wouldn’t be possible without so much support!
Having graduated in the spring, all my books are due back today (!) so I’ve sentimentally parted with many items that I’ve spent long nights pouring over, like the 4 volumes of the Virginia Company Records, which I’ve been reading and analyzing for the past three years.
September 18, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Having graduated in the spring, all my books are due back today (!) so I’ve sentimentally parted with many items that I’ve spent long nights pouring over, like the 4 volumes of the Virginia Company Records, which I’ve been reading and analyzing for the past three years.
Was out for a walk today to decompress after submitting a big postdoc application and got to see the RCAF Snowbirds show off between Kingston Harbour and Wolfe Island. Here’s to good luck!
September 11, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Was out for a walk today to decompress after submitting a big postdoc application and got to see the RCAF Snowbirds show off between Kingston Harbour and Wolfe Island. Here’s to good luck!
It’s national capybara appreciation day! And I do very much appreciate the planet’s largest rodent species!
July 10, 2025 at 1:18 PM
It’s national capybara appreciation day! And I do very much appreciate the planet’s largest rodent species!
19 March 1646 The Last Warning to All the Inhabitants of London:
“Well meaning people, you are ever most lyable to be deceived … some of you have an unreasonable humour in you, for maintenance of a Kingly government … and soon you will perceive Kings are but men.”
#NoKingsDay #ProtestsUSA
“Well meaning people, you are ever most lyable to be deceived … some of you have an unreasonable humour in you, for maintenance of a Kingly government … and soon you will perceive Kings are but men.”
#NoKingsDay #ProtestsUSA
June 14, 2025 at 12:06 PM
19 March 1646 The Last Warning to All the Inhabitants of London:
“Well meaning people, you are ever most lyable to be deceived … some of you have an unreasonable humour in you, for maintenance of a Kingly government … and soon you will perceive Kings are but men.”
#NoKingsDay #ProtestsUSA
“Well meaning people, you are ever most lyable to be deceived … some of you have an unreasonable humour in you, for maintenance of a Kingly government … and soon you will perceive Kings are but men.”
#NoKingsDay #ProtestsUSA
The haze over Queen’s from wildfire smoke makes me think I’m back in BC. I try not to imagine what things would be like if, instead of this, states held energy companies accountable for their carbon-based emissions.
June 6, 2025 at 4:49 PM
The haze over Queen’s from wildfire smoke makes me think I’m back in BC. I try not to imagine what things would be like if, instead of this, states held energy companies accountable for their carbon-based emissions.
“Pope Leo found the pontificate most powerful, and it is to be hoped that, if others made it great in arms, he will make it still greater and more venerated by his goodness and infinite other virtues.”
- Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince, Ch. XI
- Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince, Ch. XI
May 8, 2025 at 6:04 PM
“Pope Leo found the pontificate most powerful, and it is to be hoped that, if others made it great in arms, he will make it still greater and more venerated by his goodness and infinite other virtues.”
- Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince, Ch. XI
- Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince, Ch. XI
What does advocacy for the humanities in higher education actually look like? How about spending hours on the picket line of a precarious-employed academic strike, now in its fifth week, during a snow storm in April?
April 8, 2025 at 8:14 PM
What does advocacy for the humanities in higher education actually look like? How about spending hours on the picket line of a precarious-employed academic strike, now in its fifth week, during a snow storm in April?
We are still on strike at Queen’s, about to begin our second month on the picket line. The resolve of teaching fellows and other non-tenured academic staff remains admirable.
April 4, 2025 at 8:07 PM
We are still on strike at Queen’s, about to begin our second month on the picket line. The resolve of teaching fellows and other non-tenured academic staff remains admirable.