Dr. Jim Downs
@jimdowns.bsky.social
Author of Author of Maladies of Empire & Sick from Freedom; Stand by Me: The Forgotten History of Gay Liberation; Gilder Lehrman NEH Prof at Gettysburg College; Editor of Civil War History; Partenr at History Studio.
Pinned
As the history wars heat up, we’re releasing a new book that brings together some of the nation’s leading voices—Nikole Hannah-Jones, Annette Gordon-Reed, and many others—for an urgent, energizing conversation about the origins of the United States. Preorder is now available.
Big news for the 250th! We at LCP & APS are organizing a conference: BLACK DECLARATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE — Before & After 1776.
Please consider submitting a proposal!
Featuring Annette Gordon-Reed and Nell Painter! Please spread the word! librarycompany.org/academic-pro...
Please consider submitting a proposal!
Featuring Annette Gordon-Reed and Nell Painter! Please spread the word! librarycompany.org/academic-pro...
Call for Proposals: Black Declarations of Independence – The Library Company of Philadelphia
librarycompany.org
November 24, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Big news for the 250th! We at LCP & APS are organizing a conference: BLACK DECLARATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE — Before & After 1776.
Please consider submitting a proposal!
Featuring Annette Gordon-Reed and Nell Painter! Please spread the word! librarycompany.org/academic-pro...
Please consider submitting a proposal!
Featuring Annette Gordon-Reed and Nell Painter! Please spread the word! librarycompany.org/academic-pro...
Big news for the 250th! We at LCP & APS are organizing a conference: BLACK DECLARATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE — Before & After 1776.
Please consider submitting a proposal!
Featuring Annette Gordon-Reed and Nell Painter! Please spread the word!
librarycompany.org/academic-pro...
Please consider submitting a proposal!
Featuring Annette Gordon-Reed and Nell Painter! Please spread the word!
librarycompany.org/academic-pro...
Call for Proposals: Black Declarations of Independence – The Library Company of Philadelphia
librarycompany.org
November 22, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Big news for the 250th! We at LCP & APS are organizing a conference: BLACK DECLARATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE — Before & After 1776.
Please consider submitting a proposal!
Featuring Annette Gordon-Reed and Nell Painter! Please spread the word!
librarycompany.org/academic-pro...
Please consider submitting a proposal!
Featuring Annette Gordon-Reed and Nell Painter! Please spread the word!
librarycompany.org/academic-pro...
Big news for the 250th! We at LCP & APS are organizing a conference: BLACK DECLARATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE — Before & After 1776.
Please consider submitting a proposal!
Featuring Annette Gordon-Reed and Nell Painter! librarycompany.org/academic-pro...
Please consider submitting a proposal!
Featuring Annette Gordon-Reed and Nell Painter! librarycompany.org/academic-pro...
Call for Proposals: Black Declarations of Independence – The Library Company of Philadelphia
librarycompany.org
November 22, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Big news for the 250th! We at LCP & APS are organizing a conference: BLACK DECLARATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE — Before & After 1776.
Please consider submitting a proposal!
Featuring Annette Gordon-Reed and Nell Painter! librarycompany.org/academic-pro...
Please consider submitting a proposal!
Featuring Annette Gordon-Reed and Nell Painter! librarycompany.org/academic-pro...
Deeply grateful to my mentors & friends—David Blight, Drew Gilpin Faust, and Stephanie McCurry—for joining me & Scott Hancock in Gettysburg for an inspiring, riveting conversation about the past, present, and future of Civil War studies. We had 380 people in the room and another 250 tuning in online
November 21, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Deeply grateful to my mentors & friends—David Blight, Drew Gilpin Faust, and Stephanie McCurry—for joining me & Scott Hancock in Gettysburg for an inspiring, riveting conversation about the past, present, and future of Civil War studies. We had 380 people in the room and another 250 tuning in online
I finally caved, and have a website. www.jimdownsofficial.com
Jim Downs
Jim Downs – Historian, Author, & Professor
www.jimdownsofficial.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:52 PM
I finally caved, and have a website. www.jimdownsofficial.com
Reposted by Dr. Jim Downs
#History #Blackademics
New book from @ugapress.bsky.social that brings together some of the nation’s leading voices—
Pulitzer Prize winners Nikole Hannah-Jones and
Prof. Annette Gordon-Reed, and many others—for an urgent, energizing conversation about the origins of the U.S."
Can be pre-ordered.
New book from @ugapress.bsky.social that brings together some of the nation’s leading voices—
Pulitzer Prize winners Nikole Hannah-Jones and
Prof. Annette Gordon-Reed, and many others—for an urgent, energizing conversation about the origins of the U.S."
Can be pre-ordered.
November 16, 2025 at 9:04 PM
#History #Blackademics
New book from @ugapress.bsky.social that brings together some of the nation’s leading voices—
Pulitzer Prize winners Nikole Hannah-Jones and
Prof. Annette Gordon-Reed, and many others—for an urgent, energizing conversation about the origins of the U.S."
Can be pre-ordered.
New book from @ugapress.bsky.social that brings together some of the nation’s leading voices—
Pulitzer Prize winners Nikole Hannah-Jones and
Prof. Annette Gordon-Reed, and many others—for an urgent, energizing conversation about the origins of the U.S."
Can be pre-ordered.
As the history wars heat up, we’re releasing a new book that brings together some of the nation’s leading voices—Nikole Hannah-Jones, Annette Gordon-Reed, and many others—for an urgent, energizing conversation about the origins of the United States. Preorder is now available.
November 16, 2025 at 7:05 PM
As the history wars heat up, we’re releasing a new book that brings together some of the nation’s leading voices—Nikole Hannah-Jones, Annette Gordon-Reed, and many others—for an urgent, energizing conversation about the origins of the United States. Preorder is now available.
Thrilled to receive a Russian copy of my book Maladies of Empire.Even as a supporter of Ukraine, it’s remarkable this translation was completed. I’m glad readers in Russia will have access to this history of transatlantic slave trade, the US Civil War & the origin of epidemiology
November 14, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Thrilled to receive a Russian copy of my book Maladies of Empire.Even as a supporter of Ukraine, it’s remarkable this translation was completed. I’m glad readers in Russia will have access to this history of transatlantic slave trade, the US Civil War & the origin of epidemiology
Historians! If you’re within driving distance of Gettysburg, come to the Fortenbaugh next week with David Blight, Drew Faust & Stephanie McCurry. I pushed to try a panel format this year—excited to see it come to life. www.gettysburg.edu/news/stories...
63rd Fortenbaugh Lecture to feature Blight, Faust, and McCurry
A highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences in historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
www.gettysburg.edu
November 13, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Historians! If you’re within driving distance of Gettysburg, come to the Fortenbaugh next week with David Blight, Drew Faust & Stephanie McCurry. I pushed to try a panel format this year—excited to see it come to life. www.gettysburg.edu/news/stories...
Reposted by Dr. Jim Downs
Look what came in the mail! You can read “Cracks in the Granite: Contested Civil War Memories in the American West” in this year’s December issue of Civil War History. @nielseichhorn.bsky.social. W/great company: @jjacobcalhoun.bsky.social & William S. Kiser. Thanks @jimdowns.bsky.social & staff
November 12, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Look what came in the mail! You can read “Cracks in the Granite: Contested Civil War Memories in the American West” in this year’s December issue of Civil War History. @nielseichhorn.bsky.social. W/great company: @jjacobcalhoun.bsky.social & William S. Kiser. Thanks @jimdowns.bsky.social & staff
Reposted by Dr. Jim Downs
On Nov. 19, our Fortenbaugh Lecture will bring together three of the most influential voices in Civil War history—David Blight, Drew Gilpin Faust, and Stephanie McCurry—for a roundtable discussion moderated by Profs. Jim Downs and Scott Hancock.
🔗 Learn more: bit.ly/4oxDehN
🔗 Learn more: bit.ly/4oxDehN
63rd Fortenbaugh Lecture to feature Blight, Faust, and McCurry
A highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences in historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
bit.ly
October 20, 2025 at 4:18 PM
On Nov. 19, our Fortenbaugh Lecture will bring together three of the most influential voices in Civil War history—David Blight, Drew Gilpin Faust, and Stephanie McCurry—for a roundtable discussion moderated by Profs. Jim Downs and Scott Hancock.
🔗 Learn more: bit.ly/4oxDehN
🔗 Learn more: bit.ly/4oxDehN
Reposted by Dr. Jim Downs
More good news from the journal “Civil War History,” which is pleased to welcome Matthew Fox-Amato to its staff as book review editor. He joins editor @jimdowns.bsky.social and associate editor Crystal N. Feimster.
Historian Matthew Fox-Amato joins “Civil War History” as book review editor
In support of its role as a field-defining venue for scholarship on the Civil War Era, the journal Civil War History is pleased to welcome Matthew Fox-Amato to its editorial staff as book review ed…
kentstatebooks.wordpress.com
October 15, 2025 at 11:37 AM
More good news from the journal “Civil War History,” which is pleased to welcome Matthew Fox-Amato to its staff as book review editor. He joins editor @jimdowns.bsky.social and associate editor Crystal N. Feimster.
Excellent article by John Witt on the virtually unknown history of the Garland Fund that “sponsored research, education and news sources that would be outside the influence of the wealthy few. It supported Black civil rights…” nytimes.com/2025/10/06/opi… via @NYTOpinion
https://nytimes.com/2025/10/06/opi…
October 6, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Excellent article by John Witt on the virtually unknown history of the Garland Fund that “sponsored research, education and news sources that would be outside the influence of the wealthy few. It supported Black civil rights…” nytimes.com/2025/10/06/opi… via @NYTOpinion
Library Company of Philadelphia is hosting an excellent panel on Black photography during Reconstruction on October 21. Please register for this in person event! support.librarycompany.org/event/the-fo...
September 17, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Library Company of Philadelphia is hosting an excellent panel on Black photography during Reconstruction on October 21. Please register for this in person event! support.librarycompany.org/event/the-fo...
Reposted by Dr. Jim Downs
So much efficiency!
Fascinating - and frustrating - read. To change the name of the Department of Defense will mean changing all 700,000 seals, letterhead, signage, etc around the world. At a cost of potentially billions.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
POLITICO Pro: White House to rebrand Pentagon the Department of War
The name change would likely require an act of Congress, although the White House is looking for ways to avoid a vote.
subscriber.politicopro.com
September 6, 2025 at 1:28 PM
So much efficiency!
Trump Admin Removed Rainbow Crosswalk Honoring LGBT Victims Murdered at Pulse Nightclub.
I worried this would vanish from memory when I wrote this op-ed. Thanks to the NYT, for being an archive. We are witnessing an erasure of gay history www.nytimes.com/2016/06/13/o...
I worried this would vanish from memory when I wrote this op-ed. Thanks to the NYT, for being an archive. We are witnessing an erasure of gay history www.nytimes.com/2016/06/13/o...
Opinion | Before Orlando, There Was New Orleans (Published 2016)
www.nytimes.com
August 21, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Trump Admin Removed Rainbow Crosswalk Honoring LGBT Victims Murdered at Pulse Nightclub.
I worried this would vanish from memory when I wrote this op-ed. Thanks to the NYT, for being an archive. We are witnessing an erasure of gay history www.nytimes.com/2016/06/13/o...
I worried this would vanish from memory when I wrote this op-ed. Thanks to the NYT, for being an archive. We are witnessing an erasure of gay history www.nytimes.com/2016/06/13/o...
Reposted by Dr. Jim Downs
NEW ARTICLE: @jimdowns.bsky.social explores the fascinating history of queer history in a recent article for ANCH: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Fellow time travelers: creating queer heritage in the detritus of untold genealogies
The invitation to provide an assessment of the growing, outstanding historiography on nineteenth-century queer sexuality is an honor. I immediately imagined writing an essay that would span from Je...
www.tandfonline.com
August 20, 2025 at 12:29 PM
NEW ARTICLE: @jimdowns.bsky.social explores the fascinating history of queer history in a recent article for ANCH: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Thrilled to publish this article on queer heritage in the 19th Century and beyond
August 14, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Thrilled to publish this article on queer heritage in the 19th Century and beyond
Reposted by Dr. Jim Downs
Making the Medieval Archive: Celebrating Elizabeth A. R. Brown at Penn In-person & online conference Sept. 12 2025 Penn Libraries www.library.upenn.edu/events/makin...
Making the Medieval Archive: Celebrating Elizabeth A. R. Brown at Penn
This day-long symposium will commemorate Elizabeth (Peggy) A. R. Brown’s extraordinary legacy in the field of Medieval Studies and will mark the official launch of the Elizabeth A. R. Brown Medieval H...
www.library.upenn.edu
August 11, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Making the Medieval Archive: Celebrating Elizabeth A. R. Brown at Penn In-person & online conference Sept. 12 2025 Penn Libraries www.library.upenn.edu/events/makin...
Reposted by Dr. Jim Downs
Donald Trump, if you will not stand down, California will be forced to lead an effort to redraw our maps to offset the rigging of maps in red states.
If the other states call off their redistricting efforts, we will do the same. And American democracy will be better for it.
If the other states call off their redistricting efforts, we will do the same. And American democracy will be better for it.
August 11, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Donald Trump, if you will not stand down, California will be forced to lead an effort to redraw our maps to offset the rigging of maps in red states.
If the other states call off their redistricting efforts, we will do the same. And American democracy will be better for it.
If the other states call off their redistricting efforts, we will do the same. And American democracy will be better for it.
An absorbing article by Salamishah Tillet, which features Erica Armstrong Dunbar's brilliant work as a historical consultant who is also my colleague at HISTORY STUIDO.Erica has the inimitable talent to translate a corpus of scholarrship into legible storyline. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/a...
‘The Gilded Age’ Enriches Its Portrait of Black High Society
www.nytimes.com
July 9, 2025 at 10:30 PM
An absorbing article by Salamishah Tillet, which features Erica Armstrong Dunbar's brilliant work as a historical consultant who is also my colleague at HISTORY STUIDO.Erica has the inimitable talent to translate a corpus of scholarrship into legible storyline. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/a...
Thea was born on July 4. I think about her almost every day. I still deeply miss our friendship, her beautiful mind, and her uproarious laughter. www.theatlantic.com/education/ar...
The Death of an Adjunct
Thea Hunter was a promising, brilliant scholar. And then she got trapped in academia’s permanent underclass.
www.theatlantic.com
July 5, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Thea was born on July 4. I think about her almost every day. I still deeply miss our friendship, her beautiful mind, and her uproarious laughter. www.theatlantic.com/education/ar...
For PRIDE, here are some articles that I wrote over the years on queer history. www.newyorker.com/culture/cult...
Rediscovering Eve Adams, the Radical Lesbian Activist
How Jonathan Ned Katz retraced the story of the woman who wrote what might be the first ethnography of American lesbian life.
www.newyorker.com
June 29, 2025 at 5:15 PM
For PRIDE, here are some articles that I wrote over the years on queer history. www.newyorker.com/culture/cult...
Reposted by Dr. Jim Downs
“For 30 or 40 miles…I staggered on, fearing every instant I should be …crushed within the jaws of some disturbed alligator. The dread of them now almost equalled the fear of the pursuing hounds.” -Solomon Northrup, Twelve Years a Slave
June 28, 2025 at 7:53 PM
“For 30 or 40 miles…I staggered on, fearing every instant I should be …crushed within the jaws of some disturbed alligator. The dread of them now almost equalled the fear of the pursuing hounds.” -Solomon Northrup, Twelve Years a Slave