Rachel Shelden
@rachelshelden.bsky.social
Historian & Director of the Richards Civil War Era Center at Penn State. I study U.S. political, legal, & constitutional history. Writing a book about the political activities & political culture of 19th-century Supreme Court justices. rachelshelden.com
Y'all, we got a preview of this book at the @richardscenter.bsky.social and it is going to be *AMAZING*!! @gauthamrao.bsky.social is such a brilliant thinker & writer.
The publication date for my book on the history of policing American slavery has been moved up a month! Now available May 12, 2026! Thanks so much to those who have preordered! The Press is offering 30% off with the code, 01UNCP30
uncpress.org/978146969484...
uncpress.org/978146969484...
White Power
Beginning in the colonial era and growing through the American Revolution and the Southern plantation system, slaveholders’ violent police regime continued...
uncpress.org
November 20, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Y'all, we got a preview of this book at the @richardscenter.bsky.social and it is going to be *AMAZING*!! @gauthamrao.bsky.social is such a brilliant thinker & writer.
💯 these guys were super entertaining, what with their whist games and dinner parties, their legislation-writing, & running for president. The only problem is figuring out which era of the 19th c. would be most fun to watch…
What would actually work great is a TV show about the *nineteenth* century supreme court, where (per @rachelshelden.bsky.social's straight FIRE forthcoming book) all this implausible activity by the Justices was just another day in the Capitol basement ballsandstrikes.substack.com/p/a-brief-hi...
A Brief History Of Awful TV Shows About the Supreme Court
The concept of “The West Wing for the Supreme Court” might be the only thing more upsetting than the actual Supreme Court.
ballsandstrikes.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:47 AM
💯 these guys were super entertaining, what with their whist games and dinner parties, their legislation-writing, & running for president. The only problem is figuring out which era of the 19th c. would be most fun to watch…
Reposted by Rachel Shelden
I think Justice Barrett needs to read @rachelshelden.bsky.social’s forthcoming book.
@mgraber1.bsky.social reviews Justice Barrett’s book:
“By presenting judging as a realm of pure law, insulated from politics, the justices offer a picture so implausible that it makes the opposite claim—that judging is nothing but politics—more credible.”
“By presenting judging as a realm of pure law, insulated from politics, the justices offer a picture so implausible that it makes the opposite claim—that judging is nothing but politics—more credible.”
Justice Barrett’s Campaign Biography
Amy Coney Barrett’s book, "Listening to the Law," claims the Supreme Court is above politics. Its very existence proves otherwise.
washingtonmonthly.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:01 AM
I think Justice Barrett needs to read @rachelshelden.bsky.social’s forthcoming book.
This is a great review by @mgraber1.bsky.social. I love the description of Barrett’s book (and others like it) as “campaign biography.”
@mgraber1.bsky.social reviews Justice Barrett’s book:
“By presenting judging as a realm of pure law, insulated from politics, the justices offer a picture so implausible that it makes the opposite claim—that judging is nothing but politics—more credible.”
“By presenting judging as a realm of pure law, insulated from politics, the justices offer a picture so implausible that it makes the opposite claim—that judging is nothing but politics—more credible.”
Justice Barrett’s Campaign Biography
Amy Coney Barrett’s book, "Listening to the Law," claims the Supreme Court is above politics. Its very existence proves otherwise.
washingtonmonthly.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:44 AM
This is a great review by @mgraber1.bsky.social. I love the description of Barrett’s book (and others like it) as “campaign biography.”
Illinois congressman John Farnsworth comparing the U.S. Supreme Court in Dred Scott to the Bleak House chancery court in 1859 is just *chef's kiss*
[4 weeks out from my book deadline and still finding gems in my own research 🙃]
[4 weeks out from my book deadline and still finding gems in my own research 🙃]
November 2, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Illinois congressman John Farnsworth comparing the U.S. Supreme Court in Dred Scott to the Bleak House chancery court in 1859 is just *chef's kiss*
[4 weeks out from my book deadline and still finding gems in my own research 🙃]
[4 weeks out from my book deadline and still finding gems in my own research 🙃]
Reposted by Rachel Shelden
Deadline Extended Until Nov 15, 2025
We are accepting applications for TWO postdoctoral fellows! Fellowships are for two years and offer competitive wages and travel funds.
Additional information and how to apply can be found here: richardscenter.la.psu.edu/fellowships/...
We are accepting applications for TWO postdoctoral fellows! Fellowships are for two years and offer competitive wages and travel funds.
Additional information and how to apply can be found here: richardscenter.la.psu.edu/fellowships/...
October 31, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Deadline Extended Until Nov 15, 2025
We are accepting applications for TWO postdoctoral fellows! Fellowships are for two years and offer competitive wages and travel funds.
Additional information and how to apply can be found here: richardscenter.la.psu.edu/fellowships/...
We are accepting applications for TWO postdoctoral fellows! Fellowships are for two years and offer competitive wages and travel funds.
Additional information and how to apply can be found here: richardscenter.la.psu.edu/fellowships/...
Reposted by Rachel Shelden
Today we're highlighting former Richards Center postdoc @jonathansjones.bsky.social, whose book Opium Slavery was just published by UNC Press! uncpress.org/978146968953...
Opium Slavery
During the Civil War, the utility and widespread availability of opium and morphine made opiates essential to wartime medicine. After the war ended, thousand...
uncpress.org
October 29, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Today we're highlighting former Richards Center postdoc @jonathansjones.bsky.social, whose book Opium Slavery was just published by UNC Press! uncpress.org/978146968953...
Reposted by Rachel Shelden
New Symposium on my book is out in *American Political Thought*.
Featuring critical essays by James Stoner, Michael McConnell, Calvin TerBeek, and George Thomas.
Followed by my response.
www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/apt/2025...
Featuring critical essays by James Stoner, Michael McConnell, Calvin TerBeek, and George Thomas.
Followed by my response.
www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/apt/2025...
October 28, 2025 at 8:54 PM
New Symposium on my book is out in *American Political Thought*.
Featuring critical essays by James Stoner, Michael McConnell, Calvin TerBeek, and George Thomas.
Followed by my response.
www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/apt/2025...
Featuring critical essays by James Stoner, Michael McConnell, Calvin TerBeek, and George Thomas.
Followed by my response.
www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/apt/2025...
Reposted by Rachel Shelden
APPLICATIONS CLOSE IN TWO WEEKS!
We're looking for TWO postdoctoral scholars in African American history and history of the Civil War era. Fellowships are for two years, and the anticipated start date is July 1, 2026. The deadline to apply is NOVEMBER 1!
Links in the replies below.
We're looking for TWO postdoctoral scholars in African American history and history of the Civil War era. Fellowships are for two years, and the anticipated start date is July 1, 2026. The deadline to apply is NOVEMBER 1!
Links in the replies below.
October 16, 2025 at 3:29 PM
APPLICATIONS CLOSE IN TWO WEEKS!
We're looking for TWO postdoctoral scholars in African American history and history of the Civil War era. Fellowships are for two years, and the anticipated start date is July 1, 2026. The deadline to apply is NOVEMBER 1!
Links in the replies below.
We're looking for TWO postdoctoral scholars in African American history and history of the Civil War era. Fellowships are for two years, and the anticipated start date is July 1, 2026. The deadline to apply is NOVEMBER 1!
Links in the replies below.
In Marbury v. Madison (1803), Chief Justice John Marshall established judicial review, forever enshrining the Supreme Court as the final arbiter of Constitutional meaning*
*sometimes described as a brilliant maneuver to save the judiciary, other times a judicial power grab, either way a myth
*sometimes described as a brilliant maneuver to save the judiciary, other times a judicial power grab, either way a myth
What’s your favorite American history myth—the most beloved, most maddening, most baked-into-our-fractured-sense-of-self?
Washington couldn’t tell a lie? America was born exceptional? We're a Christian nation?
Washington couldn’t tell a lie? America was born exceptional? We're a Christian nation?
October 14, 2025 at 8:47 PM
In Marbury v. Madison (1803), Chief Justice John Marshall established judicial review, forever enshrining the Supreme Court as the final arbiter of Constitutional meaning*
*sometimes described as a brilliant maneuver to save the judiciary, other times a judicial power grab, either way a myth
*sometimes described as a brilliant maneuver to save the judiciary, other times a judicial power grab, either way a myth
Reposted by Rachel Shelden
Happy Indigenous Peoples Day!
Ned Blackhawk - How Native Nations Shaped the Revolution
The Founders were inspired—and threatened—by the independence and self-governance of nations like the Iroquois Confederacy.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
The Founders were inspired—and threatened—by the independence and self-governance of nations like the Iroquois Confederacy.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
How Native Nations Shaped the Revolution
The Founders were inspired—and threatened—by the independence and self-governance of nations like the Iroquois Confederacy.
www.theatlantic.com
October 13, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Happy Indigenous Peoples Day!
Supreme Court-interested friends &/or DC people: does anyone here have a panoramic-style picture of the building with the high protective fence around it from 2021 that they would be willing to share with me? Bonus if it's black & white, though not necessary. Thx in advance!
October 7, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Supreme Court-interested friends &/or DC people: does anyone here have a panoramic-style picture of the building with the high protective fence around it from 2021 that they would be willing to share with me? Bonus if it's black & white, though not necessary. Thx in advance!
Congratulations to Moyra Eaton on a successful defense of her dissertation, "The State in Stone: The U.S. Naval Asylum, Governance, and Nation Building in the Early Republic." (Very proud advisor on the left!) 🎉🎉
September 26, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Congratulations to Moyra Eaton on a successful defense of her dissertation, "The State in Stone: The U.S. Naval Asylum, Governance, and Nation Building in the Early Republic." (Very proud advisor on the left!) 🎉🎉
🗃️ So very excited to host Laura Edwards for the annual Brose Lectures at the @richardscenter.bsky.social this year! The lectures, are free and open to the public. Please join us:
Thursday, October 23 at 5:30pm
Friday, October 24 at 5:30pm
Saturday, October 25 at 11:30am
Thursday, October 23 at 5:30pm
Friday, October 24 at 5:30pm
Saturday, October 25 at 11:30am
Join us on October 23, 24, and 25 for the 2025 Steven and Janice Brose Distinguished Lectures Series. This year our lecturer is Dr. Laura F. Edwards of Princeton University.
Learn more this and more upcoming events at our website: richardscenter.la.psu.edu/events/upcom...
Learn more this and more upcoming events at our website: richardscenter.la.psu.edu/events/upcom...
September 24, 2025 at 1:07 PM
🗃️ So very excited to host Laura Edwards for the annual Brose Lectures at the @richardscenter.bsky.social this year! The lectures, are free and open to the public. Please join us:
Thursday, October 23 at 5:30pm
Friday, October 24 at 5:30pm
Saturday, October 25 at 11:30am
Thursday, October 23 at 5:30pm
Friday, October 24 at 5:30pm
Saturday, October 25 at 11:30am
Can't wait to celebrate this book out in the world, @mmendoza.bsky.social !! 🎉🎉
I’m pleased to announce that my forthcoming book, _Deadly Divide_, will be out in spring 2026 with @uncpress.bsky.social with the help of my fabulous editor Cate Hodorowicz (@catehodorowicz.bsky.social).
September 20, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Can't wait to celebrate this book out in the world, @mmendoza.bsky.social !! 🎉🎉
I’m having intro chats with dissertation students this fortnight, and one of them asked which historians I’d recommend for beautiful writing they could absorb to further develop their own writing style.
So, gang, which are your favourite *writers* among historians, any time, any topic, any place. 🗃️
So, gang, which are your favourite *writers* among historians, any time, any topic, any place. 🗃️
September 19, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Reposted by Rachel Shelden
Please share! We are looking for TWO postdoctoral scholars in African American history and history of the Civil War era. Fellowships are for TWO years, and the anticipated start date is July 1, 2026. The deadline to apply is NOVEMBER 1! Links are in the replies below.
August 24, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Please share! We are looking for TWO postdoctoral scholars in African American history and history of the Civil War era. Fellowships are for TWO years, and the anticipated start date is July 1, 2026. The deadline to apply is NOVEMBER 1! Links are in the replies below.
Reposted by Rachel Shelden
🗃️ The CFA for the @richardscenter.bsky.social AFAM & Civil War Era history postdocs beg. Fall 2026 are live! These fellowships are 2yrs, include no teaching, generous research funds, & a great scholarly community!
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic...
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic...
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic...
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic...
Postdoctoral Scholar, African American History
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, a...
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
August 22, 2025 at 3:01 PM
🗃️ The CFA for the @richardscenter.bsky.social AFAM & Civil War Era history postdocs beg. Fall 2026 are live! These fellowships are 2yrs, include no teaching, generous research funds, & a great scholarly community!
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic...
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic...
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic...
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic...
Reposted by Rachel Shelden
I debated writing this. It can feel tempting, upon encountering yet another instance of this administration’s racism, to let it be. How many ways can you say the same thing over and over again? And yet we have to write it down, if for nothing else, so those who come after us know we were against it.
Actually, Slavery Was Very Bad
The president’s latest criticism of museums is a thinly veiled attempt to erase Black history.
www.theatlantic.com
August 22, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I debated writing this. It can feel tempting, upon encountering yet another instance of this administration’s racism, to let it be. How many ways can you say the same thing over and over again? And yet we have to write it down, if for nothing else, so those who come after us know we were against it.
🗃️ The CFA for the @richardscenter.bsky.social AFAM & Civil War Era history postdocs beg. Fall 2026 are live! These fellowships are 2yrs, include no teaching, generous research funds, & a great scholarly community!
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic...
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic...
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic...
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic...
Postdoctoral Scholar, African American History
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, a...
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
August 22, 2025 at 3:01 PM
🗃️ The CFA for the @richardscenter.bsky.social AFAM & Civil War Era history postdocs beg. Fall 2026 are live! These fellowships are 2yrs, include no teaching, generous research funds, & a great scholarly community!
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic...
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic...
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic...
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic...
It’s a terrific conference! Join us!
This CFP looks so good. The program committee includes
@pastpunditry.bsky.social @gauthamrao.bsky.social @rachelshelden.bsky.social & other luminaries. Via @legalhistoryblog.bsky.social
legalhistoryblog.blogspot.com/2025/08/cfp-...
@pastpunditry.bsky.social @gauthamrao.bsky.social @rachelshelden.bsky.social & other luminaries. Via @legalhistoryblog.bsky.social
legalhistoryblog.blogspot.com/2025/08/cfp-...
CFP: American Political History Conference
[We have the following CFP . DRE] Call for Proposals: American Political History Conference , June 4-6, 2026, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Cente...
legalhistoryblog.blogspot.com
August 21, 2025 at 1:26 AM
It’s a terrific conference! Join us!
This is such a wonderful series! Each symposium is full of insightful gems and models of scholarly engagement, disagreement, and responses from authors. Glad to see them organized all in one place.
Balkinization book symposiums over the years. balkin.blogspot.com/2024/08/balk...
August 15, 2025 at 9:27 PM
This is such a wonderful series! Each symposium is full of insightful gems and models of scholarly engagement, disagreement, and responses from authors. Glad to see them organized all in one place.
Reposted by Rachel Shelden
Justice Sotomayor suggests—implausibly—that justices somehow have a vested property interest in their office. Yet another reason why relying on judges to be reformers is an absolute disaster.
August 9, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Justice Sotomayor suggests—implausibly—that justices somehow have a vested property interest in their office. Yet another reason why relying on judges to be reformers is an absolute disaster.
A bit of good news on a Friday:
My book exists on the OUP website 🙌
When the Declaration of Independence Was News, coming April 15, 2026!
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
My book exists on the OUP website 🙌
When the Declaration of Independence Was News, coming April 15, 2026!
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
August 1, 2025 at 9:59 PM