Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by G. Patrick O'Brien

Congregational Library & Archives @congrelib.bsky.social · 19h

Haven’t been able to visit Sacred Rebellion yet? Live too far from Boston to make it to the exhibition in person? Then mark your calendar for our next virtual exhibition tour on November 13th from 5-6 pm EST.

Learn more and register at congregationallibrary.org/events/sacre...

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The Associated Press @apnews.com · 20h

Pope Leo XIV has blasted how wealthy people live in a “bubble of comfort and luxury” while the poor suffer. In his first teaching document Thursday, Leo confirms that he is in perfect lockstep with Pope Francis on matters of social injustice.

Pope Leo blasts economy that marginalizes poor while wealthy live in bubble of luxury

Pope Leo XIV has blasted how wealthy people live in a “bubble of comfort and luxury” while the poor suffer.

bit.ly

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Tim Bousquet @timbousquet.bsky.social · 3d

The stage is set for the first exoneration of an executed person in Canadian history

Morning File by me

The stage is set for the first exoneration of an executed person in Canadian history - Halifax Examiner

Exonerating Daniel Sampson will honour the truths that the Black Nova Scotia community have been telling for centuries.

www.halifaxexaminer.ca

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G. Patrick O'Brien @gpatrickobrien.bsky.social · 6d

When I’m president, I’m turning his ballroom into a public library.

Trump’s Louis XIV Moment www.nytimes.com/2025/10/03/o...

Opinion | Trump’s Louis XIV Moment

www.nytimes.com

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Jake @ HUBhistory @hubhistory.com · 6d

Liz Covart hosts one of the first and most popular academic history podcasts (Ben Franklin's World) and presented at the first History Camp. You can bet I'll tune in for this talk on early attempts to unify the American colonies, long before 1776.

www.eventbrite.com/e/the-first-...

The First Drafts of the United States: Early Experiments in American Union

Join us on Zoom for a conversation about the forgotten stories of America's "rough drafts": a series of failed experiments with unity.

www.eventbrite.com

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adamxmcneil.bsky.social @adamxmcneil.bsky.social · 6d

The Department of Ethnic Studies at Western Washington University is inviting applications for an Assistant Professor in Black Studies, beginning Fall 2026.

www.indeed.com/m/viewjob?jk...

Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies (Black Studies) - Bellingham, WA 98225 - Indeed.com

Western Washington University

www.indeed.com

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G. Patrick O'Brien @gpatrickobrien.bsky.social · 6d

Today, I got to take part in the “Pie a Professor” fundraiser. We had lots of students join in the fun, but the littlest participant was my favorite!

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 8d

On Oct. 1, 1986, Canadian author Robert Munsch released his book Love You Forever.
It became one of the most successful children's books ever written, selling 38 million copies.
This is the story of how Munsch turned personal tragedy into a book beloved by generations.

🧵 1/10

A young child in a diaper and orange tank top sits on a bathroom floor, surrounded by scattered toilet paper, towels, and toiletries. The child is reaching up toward an open toilet with one hand and holding a piece of paper with the other. The bathroom has blue walls with a floral pattern, a yellow towel with duck designs on a rack, and a sink in the background. The book title "LOVE YOU FOREVER" by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Sheila McGraw, is displayed at the top.

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Congregational Library & Archives @congrelib.bsky.social · 10d

Thanks to everyone who was part of making our Religions of Revolution Symposium such a wonderful day of scholarship and conversation last Saturday. We hope to see you all at 14 Beacon again soon!

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adamxmcneil.bsky.social @adamxmcneil.bsky.social · 12d

Happy to share my New Books Network interview with historian Mary E. Hicks about her new book!

newbooksnetwork.com/captive-cosm...

Mary E. Hicks, "Captive Cosmopolitans: Black Mariners and the World of South Atlantic Slavery" (Omohundro Institute and UNC Press, 2025) - New Books Network

newbooksnetwork.com

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Joseph M. Adelman @jmadelman.bsky.social · 12d

Heading into Boston today for the Religions of Revolution symposium, sponsored by @congrelib.bsky.social and the New England Quarterly. Looking forward to a great day of discussion thanks to @sarageorgini.bsky.social and Lauren Hibbert! #America250 www.congregationallibrary.org/religions-re...

Religions of Revolution Symposium | Congregational Library & Archives

www.congregationallibrary.org

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G. Patrick O'Brien @gpatrickobrien.bsky.social · 15d

Sometimes when researching, you find documents that don't exactly fit your current project, but are worthy of study nonetheless. Thanks to everyone at the Journal of the American Revolution for giving this piece a home.

Alexander Thompson and Declaring Peace in the Borderlands of Western New York, 1783 - Journal of the American Revolution

On April 17, 1783, a dispatch arrived at Fort Rensselaer along the western bank of the Mohawk River, around two miles northwest of modern Canajoharie, New York. The messenger carried directions from G...

allthingsliberty.com

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G. Patrick O'Brien @gpatrickobrien.bsky.social · 19d

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G. Patrick O'Brien @gpatrickobrien.bsky.social · 19d

WFAN’s jingle lives rent free in my head: “Sports Radio 66 the FAN, WFAN, Newwwwww Yorkkkkkk!”

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Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 22d

Incredible photo of yesterday's sunset!

📸 Mike Surette

A photo of the statue of Paul Revere in the North End with the Old North Church and a beautiful pink sunset in the background.

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 26d

On this day in 1759, the Battle of the Plains of Abraham was fought outside Quebec City.
A victory for the British, it left nearly 200 dead including General James Wolfe and General Louis-Joseph, Marquis de Montcalm.
It was a pivotal battle in the Seven Years' War.

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G. Patrick O'Brien @gpatrickobrien.bsky.social · 28d

Kind, generous, and seemingly an endless repository of knowledge. Peter made time to talk with me about a project of mine this summer, providing invaluable recommendations. I hope he has the very best retirement. He’ll be greatly missed.

Jake @ HUBhistory @hubhistory.com · 28d

Whoa.

www.bostonglobe.com/2025/09/11/m...

Chief historian at Mass. Historical Society to retire after 47 years with the institution - The Boston Globe

Duxbury native Peter Drummey will retire in December from the institution where he has worked for nearly five decades.

www.bostonglobe.com

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Reposted by G. Patrick O'Brien

Congregational Library & Archives @congrelib.bsky.social · 28d

Registration for our "Religions of Revolution" symposium closes in two weeks, and limited seats remain, so register soon if you'd like to join us at 14 Beacon on September 27th.

Learn more and get your ticket at congregationallibrary.org/religions-re...

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Massachusetts Historical Society @mhs1791.bsky.social · 28d

Graduate students & faculty: Join us on September 17 for our Graduate Student Reception! Enjoy free refreshments and learn about the resources we offer to support your scholarship, from research fellowships to our seminars. Virtual attendees also welcome.

Register: www.masshist.org/events/gradu...

Graphic says "Graduate Student Reception, September 17, 2025, 2:00-4:00 PM ET, Hybrid." Underneath is a photo of a room full of wooden tables with wooden walls. Men sit at two of the tables doing research.

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Royal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · Sep 10

New in 'Transactions of the Royal Historical Society'

'Irish Catholic Recruitment into the British Army
during the American Revolution: A Case Study
of the 46th Regiment of Foot', by Sadie Sunderland bit.ly/4m80z84

What can Irish recruitment tell us about the complexity of the C18th military? 1/2

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Tim Bousquet @timbousquet.bsky.social · Sep 4

What if we designed communities in Halifax around fun and play?

Morning File by @suzannerent.bsky.social

What if we designed communities in Halifax around fun and play? - Halifax Examiner

Let's ask the same question Jane Jacobs asked about placemaking: “Will it make the city fun?”

www.halifaxexaminer.ca

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Stephen Marche @stephenmarche.bsky.social · Aug 10

I wrote about the state of Canadian rage for @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2025/08/10/o...
The piece is a kind of capstone to all the work of Gloves Off. shows.acast.com/gloves-off

Opinion | ‘Acute, Sustained, Profound and Abiding Rage’: Canada Finds Its Voice

www.nytimes.com

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Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · Sep 3

About this Florida vaccine story:

When they were little - 1 yr and 3 1/2 - my two older boys, who’d had all their shots, got whooping cough.

We asked their pediatrician what would’ve happened if they hadn’t been vaccinated.

“Oh, they’d have died.”

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Andrew Wehrman @profwehrman.bsky.social · Sep 3

The Revolutionary generation (Founders and ordinary folks alike) broadly understood that communicable disease is the tyrant. Disease is the enslaver we can't otherwise escape. Inoculations and vaccines are gifts of liberty.

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · Sep 3

Wow. Florida's Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo just vowed to end all vaccine mandates and compared them with slavery.

"Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery. Who am I to tell you what your child should put in [their] body?"

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