David Silkenat
@davidsilkenat.bsky.social
Milbauer Chair of Southern History, University of Florida
https://history.ufl.edu/directory/david-silkenat/
https://history.ufl.edu/directory/david-silkenat/
Reposted by David Silkenat
What a life & legacy. “Former North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Willis P. Whichard — the only man in North Carolina’s history to serve in the state House of Representatives, state Senate, Court of Appeals and state Supreme Court — died Tuesday in Chapel Hill.”
www.newsobserver.com/news/state/n...
www.newsobserver.com/news/state/n...
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article313056135.html#storylink=cpy
www.newsobserver.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:15 PM
What a life & legacy. “Former North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Willis P. Whichard — the only man in North Carolina’s history to serve in the state House of Representatives, state Senate, Court of Appeals and state Supreme Court — died Tuesday in Chapel Hill.”
www.newsobserver.com/news/state/n...
www.newsobserver.com/news/state/n...
Reposted by David Silkenat
📣 Our new @uncpress.bsky.social Spring/Summer 2026 catalog is HERE ✨
This season showcases a wide-ranging list of books that dig into history, culture, politics, identity, environment, etc. to make sense of who/where we are now. A few highlights 🧵👇 uncpress.org/spring-summe...
This season showcases a wide-ranging list of books that dig into history, culture, politics, identity, environment, etc. to make sense of who/where we are now. A few highlights 🧵👇 uncpress.org/spring-summe...
November 6, 2025 at 8:46 PM
📣 Our new @uncpress.bsky.social Spring/Summer 2026 catalog is HERE ✨
This season showcases a wide-ranging list of books that dig into history, culture, politics, identity, environment, etc. to make sense of who/where we are now. A few highlights 🧵👇 uncpress.org/spring-summe...
This season showcases a wide-ranging list of books that dig into history, culture, politics, identity, environment, etc. to make sense of who/where we are now. A few highlights 🧵👇 uncpress.org/spring-summe...
Reposted by David Silkenat
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by David Silkenat
Whichard was the only man in North Carolina’s history to serve in the state House, Senate, Court of Appeals and state Supreme Court.
Former NC Supreme Court Justice Willis Whichard, who built rare service record, dies
Whichard was the only man in North Carolina’s history to serve in the state House, Senate, Court of Appeals and state Supreme Court.
bit.ly
November 24, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Whichard was the only man in North Carolina’s history to serve in the state House, Senate, Court of Appeals and state Supreme Court.
Reposted by David Silkenat
Whichard was the only man in North Carolina’s history to serve in the state House, Senate, Court of Appeals and state Supreme Court.
Former NC Supreme Court Justice Willis Whichard, who built rare service record, dies
Whichard was the only man in North Carolina’s history to serve in the state House, Senate, Court of Appeals and state Supreme Court.
bit.ly
November 24, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Whichard was the only man in North Carolina’s history to serve in the state House, Senate, Court of Appeals and state Supreme Court.
Reposted by David Silkenat
For those of you looking to follow up Ken Burn's documentary about the American Revolution with a good read, check out Richard Bell's new book. It's fantastic. 🗃️ www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/752265...
The American Revolution and the Fate of the World by Richard Bell: 9780593719510 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
“American history as if from a barstool, not a lecture podium. Giddy, rollicking, and bold.” —Ilyon Woo, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Master Slave Husband Wife "Accessible and impassioned...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:45 PM
For those of you looking to follow up Ken Burn's documentary about the American Revolution with a good read, check out Richard Bell's new book. It's fantastic. 🗃️ www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/752265...
Reposted by David Silkenat
Want to learn more about Scots in the British Army in North America? #HATM
Matthew P. Dziennik
Fatal Land: War, Empire, and the Highland Soldier in British America
Nicola Martin, The British Army in Scotland and North America 1745-1775: militarisation on the fringes of the empire,
Matthew P. Dziennik
Fatal Land: War, Empire, and the Highland Soldier in British America
Nicola Martin, The British Army in Scotland and North America 1745-1775: militarisation on the fringes of the empire,
November 22, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Want to learn more about Scots in the British Army in North America? #HATM
Matthew P. Dziennik
Fatal Land: War, Empire, and the Highland Soldier in British America
Nicola Martin, The British Army in Scotland and North America 1745-1775: militarisation on the fringes of the empire,
Matthew P. Dziennik
Fatal Land: War, Empire, and the Highland Soldier in British America
Nicola Martin, The British Army in Scotland and North America 1745-1775: militarisation on the fringes of the empire,
Reposted by David Silkenat
Our annual conference is on March 7, 2026 in Inverness at the University of the Highlands and Islands! Click the link below for details on our CFP (due December 5, 2025) and this year's essay prize (due December 5, 2025)! Hope to see you there!
www.scotamstudies.org/sasa-2023-re...
www.scotamstudies.org/sasa-2023-re...
SASA 2026 | SASA
www.scotamstudies.org
November 21, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Our annual conference is on March 7, 2026 in Inverness at the University of the Highlands and Islands! Click the link below for details on our CFP (due December 5, 2025) and this year's essay prize (due December 5, 2025)! Hope to see you there!
www.scotamstudies.org/sasa-2023-re...
www.scotamstudies.org/sasa-2023-re...
Reposted by David Silkenat
Anna and I send our condolences to the family of former NC Supreme Court Justice Willis Whichard. Willis served our state effectively and with humility in so many ways — the State Senate, the Court of Appeals, and the NC Supreme Court. He will be missed. May his memory be a blessing.
November 20, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Anna and I send our condolences to the family of former NC Supreme Court Justice Willis Whichard. Willis served our state effectively and with humility in so many ways — the State Senate, the Court of Appeals, and the NC Supreme Court. He will be missed. May his memory be a blessing.
Reposted by David Silkenat
Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance, which honors transgender lives cut short. For more on trans history, read Abram J. Lewis’s piece “’Free Our Siblings, Free Ourselves:’ Historicizing Trans Activism in the U.S., 1952–1992.” https://www.oah.org/process/historicizing-trans-activism/
November 20, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance, which honors transgender lives cut short. For more on trans history, read Abram J. Lewis’s piece “’Free Our Siblings, Free Ourselves:’ Historicizing Trans Activism in the U.S., 1952–1992.” https://www.oah.org/process/historicizing-trans-activism/
Reposted by David Silkenat
Reposted by David Silkenat
Before the midterms of 1866, President Andrew Johnson called his congressional opponents traitors and said they should be hanged.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
November 20, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Before the midterms of 1866, President Andrew Johnson called his congressional opponents traitors and said they should be hanged.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
Reposted by David Silkenat
I am absolutely over the moon that my book “The Republican House Divided: Civil War Memory, Civil Rights, and the Transformation of the GOP” is officially published TODAY!
After years of hard work, I am incredibly proud. Thank you to everyone who has made this possible 📚🐘🗃️
@uscpress.bsky.social
After years of hard work, I am incredibly proud. Thank you to everyone who has made this possible 📚🐘🗃️
@uscpress.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I am absolutely over the moon that my book “The Republican House Divided: Civil War Memory, Civil Rights, and the Transformation of the GOP” is officially published TODAY!
After years of hard work, I am incredibly proud. Thank you to everyone who has made this possible 📚🐘🗃️
@uscpress.bsky.social
After years of hard work, I am incredibly proud. Thank you to everyone who has made this possible 📚🐘🗃️
@uscpress.bsky.social
Reposted by David Silkenat
Wasn’t too impressed by the first episode of Ken Burns, but episodes 2 and especially 3 are much better.
November 19, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Wasn’t too impressed by the first episode of Ken Burns, but episodes 2 and especially 3 are much better.
Writing a book review always ends up being more work than I anticipated.
November 17, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Writing a book review always ends up being more work than I anticipated.
Reposted by David Silkenat
Barnes & Noble has managed to put together a list of 23 "best" history books of 2025, 4.5 of which are authored by women. www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/the-bes...
#womenalsoknowhistory <-- sometimes I think we don't need this hashtag anymore, and then I realize I'm very wrong.
#womenalsoknowhistory <-- sometimes I think we don't need this hashtag anymore, and then I realize I'm very wrong.
The Best History Books of 2025 - B&N Reads
Remember why history matters and let the past teach you about how people lived, fought for change and evolved. These are the best history books of 2025.
www.barnesandnoble.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Barnes & Noble has managed to put together a list of 23 "best" history books of 2025, 4.5 of which are authored by women. www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/the-bes...
#womenalsoknowhistory <-- sometimes I think we don't need this hashtag anymore, and then I realize I'm very wrong.
#womenalsoknowhistory <-- sometimes I think we don't need this hashtag anymore, and then I realize I'm very wrong.
Reposted by David Silkenat
Pickets all over Edinburgh this morning! From Old College to King's Building, Edinburgh UCU staff are saying NO to job cuts!
November 17, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Pickets all over Edinburgh this morning! From Old College to King's Building, Edinburgh UCU staff are saying NO to job cuts!
Maybe I’m being too critical, but episode one took very few risks. It didn’t seem very different from what KB could have made 20 years ago. #hatm
November 17, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Maybe I’m being too critical, but episode one took very few risks. It didn’t seem very different from what KB could have made 20 years ago. #hatm
Wasn’t expecting to see Bernard Bailyn
November 17, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Wasn’t expecting to see Bernard Bailyn
Reposted by David Silkenat
Where does this “26 colonies” figure come from? Holly Brewer counted around 40 administrative divisions: boston1775.blogspot.com/2021/10/brit... #HATM
Britain’s Forty American Colonies
This month I listened in on some of the sessions of the American Philosophical Society’s “Meanings of Independence” conference . One of ...
boston1775.blogspot.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Where does this “26 colonies” figure come from? Holly Brewer counted around 40 administrative divisions: boston1775.blogspot.com/2021/10/brit... #HATM
Reposted by David Silkenat
reminded of eric williams's observation about britain's relationship to its history with slavery. "British historians wrote almost as if Britain had introduced Negro slavery solely for the satisfaction of abolishing it."
holy shit: “Among the 2,000 UK adults surveyed, 85% were unaware that Britain forcibly transported more than 3 million Africans to the Caribbean, 89% did not know that Britain enslaved people in the Caribbean for more than 300 years” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Caribbean reparations leaders in ‘historic’ first UK visit to press for justice
CRC mission will seek to deepen public understanding of Britain’s colonial legacy and its lasting impact
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 11:11 PM
reminded of eric williams's observation about britain's relationship to its history with slavery. "British historians wrote almost as if Britain had introduced Negro slavery solely for the satisfaction of abolishing it."
Reposted by David Silkenat
Loving Death by Lightning on @Netflix.com. Been obsessed with Garfield for 30+ years. Wrote my high school term paper about Guiteau’s trial. I have a Garfield poster and a newspaper showing Guiteau’s execution in my office. It’s almost as if this show was made for me.
November 16, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Loving Death by Lightning on @Netflix.com. Been obsessed with Garfield for 30+ years. Wrote my high school term paper about Guiteau’s trial. I have a Garfield poster and a newspaper showing Guiteau’s execution in my office. It’s almost as if this show was made for me.