Historians in the News

Yale’s Beverly Gage slams Columbia’s Mark Lilla’s polemic in the New York Times Book Review

by Beverly Gage

"This is a shame, because he identifies some truly important questions that liberals and leftists of all stripes will have to face together.”

NYT’s review of Nancy MacLean’s book, “Democracy in Chains,” ignores the debate about her use of evidence

by Heather Boushey

The review was written by an economist.

Conservatives complain that a "Pro-gay U.S. embassy features ‘art’ by anti-Trump professor”

The Temple University history professor, Ralph Young, specializes in dissent. His work is championed by the “progressive” “resistance” movement opposing Trump.

Is America Headed for a New Kind of Civil War?

The New Yorker surveyed the opinions of these prominent Civil War historians: David Blight, Eric Foner, Judith Giesberg, Gregory Downs.

Ibram X. Kendi asks and answers this question: What would Jefferson say about white supremacists descending upon his university?

by Ibram X. Kendi

"Jefferson’s beloved city and his beloved nation are suffering at the hands of his two warring children: the older child of bigotry and the younger child of equality."

University of Wisconsin (Madison) professor appointed Joint Chiefs of Staff historian

Among the requirements: a Ph.D in history, an Army reservist rank of lieutenant colonel or colonel and the proven ability to produce high-quality historical writing. The candidate also needed Top Secret clearance.

Anti-McMaster campaign is about to get uglier

His foes are going to claim that he has a drinking problem (though reporters say they are unaware of any evidence for the claim).

In a new book Marcus Rediker draws attention to an 18th century ultraradical hunchback dwarf

You never hard of him. You should. His name was Benjamin Lay and he pushed Quakers to adopt abolitionism.

Historian William I. Hitchcock schools policymakers: Ike never threatened to use nukes in North Korea

by William I. Hitchcock

The president privately discussed the possibility, but never issued a threat, not even through back channels.

Two historians claim tyrannophobia has overtaken the U.S.

by Samuel Moyn and David Priestland

"If we continue to act like tyranny is imminent, we will miss what needs fixing most in our society."

Philip Zelikow warns the world is slouching toward a grave systemic crisis

by Philip Zelikow

But we can build a better world if we stop reacting defensively.

Historical myopia is to blame for the attacks on Mary Beard

by Christopher Kissane

Conservatives around the world are embracing myths historians need to combat.

Stanford historian discovers that medical experimentation on slaves in 18th-century took place in the Caribbean colonies

Londa Schiebinger stumbled upon archives documenting a British doctor’s smallpox experiments on 850 slaves in 18th-century rural Jamaica. She writes about this in her new book, "Secret Cures of Slaves: People, Plants, and Medicine in the 18th-century Atlantic World."

Texas historians are pushing to remove Confederate symbols in Dallas

“These statues were put in place in an era when, number one — it was the height of lynching, number two — it was a period of disenfranchisement, poll taxes and literacy tests and number three — it was a period of segregation.”

Descendant of slaves rewrites the history of James Madison

“We assume that president Madison and his family would not have achieved what they did if it were not for the enslaved individuals who lived there. The average American doesn’t understand that.” – Leontyne Peck

Kissinger Warns Trump

ISIS Is Keeping Iran in Check, You Must Not Let Tehran Fill the Void

Three historians say Trump’s victory has given scholars an opportunity to discuss what counts as history and the role it plays in democracy

by Jennifer Evans, Yuliya Komska and Michelle Moyd

"US history is a Pandora's box. There has never been a better moment to open it."

Historians protest Iran's detention and sentencing of Princeton grad student

Historians are being urged to sign a petition of protest.

Deborah Lipstadt went up against one Holocaust denier in a trial, but the death of another – Ernst Zündel – prompted her to say trials might make these figures more sympathetic

Her comment was cited in an obituary of Ernst Zündel, who was tried twice in Canada.

Juan Cole calls out the MSM for failing to brand the attack on a Minnesota mosque terrorism

by Juan Cole

The MN governor did. That drew attention. That’s sad, says Cole.