Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · 10h

Just submitted my first academic job application. Kind of surreal to think I’m finally at the point where I am imagining a future beyond the degree!

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Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · 14d

THANK YOU Henry Bouquet for writing Thomas Gage to say that “a connection Seems probable among that Sort of People” when comparing the Black Boys with the frontier inhabitants of Augusta County VA. I agree. A connection DOES seem probable!!! (It’s a good day in the archive 😊)

Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · 20d

Just had a fantastic virtual writing session with some @batw.bsky.social folks. The #BATW community really is the best! Let me know if you’d like to join us for our need writing group meeting on October 16th!

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Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · 21d

There’s nothing quite like ending the day in the archive by finding a fantastic letter talking about “the Paxton & other Rioters” destroying goods at Fort Loudon, PA.

Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · 22d

Our next #BATW2025 writing group session is this Thursday Sept 18th at 12pm ET (5pm BST)! Send me a DM if you’d like the link to join!

Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · Sep 3

What are your favorite monographs (or articles) that either use or push against the fringe-metropole understanding of empire in British North America? For some reason, all I can think of is Shannon Lee Dawdy’s concept of rogue colonialism in French New Orleans

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Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · Aug 29

I just now realized that public history would have been the perfect fourth comps field for me. I passed comps 4 years ago.

(holy smokes I can’t believe it’s been that long)

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Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · Aug 26

I wrote 500 words today! At least 100 of them are crappy half sentences, but like a solid 400 are actually pretty good!

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Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · Aug 20

Thomas Gage complaining that “the pensilvanians have played their old tricks” in this April 1, 1764 letter to William Johnson is such a good line. It’s screaming to be a chapter title about provincial politics

Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · Aug 14

Just a quick reminder that the #BATW2025 writing group is next week August 21st at 12pm ET (5pm BST)! Send me a DM if you’re interested in joining us!

Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · Aug 4

I am so excited to be starting my research at the William L. Clements Library! This trip has been a long time coming and I’m so happy to finally be here!

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Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · Jul 24

Can we start a petition to make every table of contents available for preview, everywhere and always?

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Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · Jul 15

This does help! Thank you so much!

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Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · Jul 14

Does anyone have recommendations on where to find 18th century maps of Ireland? Particularly Munster? #IrishHistory #IrishStudies

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Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · Jun 26

There have been some really fantastic panels so far at #BATW2025! I always enjoy this conference so much!

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Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · Jun 24

En route to BATW 2025 in Liverpool! I’ve been looking forward to this conference!

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Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · Jun 5

My diss writing mantra of the day:
Writing is thinking so it’s ok if it gets messy.

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Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · Jun 3

I was brave today and submitted my very first article for publication. Fingers crossed for a relatively smooth review process. 🤞🏻

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Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · May 30

Doing the citations for this article manuscript just might kill me. 🫠#CitationStation

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Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · May 21

The diss chapter I’m working on is a bit of a throwback to my undergrad thesis and I’m feeling all kinds of nostalgic about it. Man, I was so lucky to go to Lycoming College!

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Reposted by Sarah Donovan

Ethan Healey @ethanhealey.com · May 19

Today I taught my high schoolers the value of historical scholarship. Historians are detectives first, and then storytellers. History known as the topic of just dates and facts is the outcome of textbook commerce.

My students may not become historians, but they need to know why we’re valuable.

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Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · May 19

Trying a new brainstorming/outlining strategy today. I’m writing section topics in purple, themes in pink, and specific pieces of evidence in green. Im moving them around to see how they fit and it seems to be working so far! Does anyone else have any weird/new writing strategies to share?

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Reposted by Sarah Donovan

Hector Diaz @iamhectordiaz.com · May 8

A Chicago Pope implies the existence of an MLA Pope and APA Pope

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Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · Apr 8

Does anyone have any recommendations to make an interactive map? I’ve got everything drafted/plotted on Google Maps, but I’d love to find something more accessible/public facing. Bonus points if I can connect PDF images to the plot points

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Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist.bsky.social · Mar 20

I had a 26 hour travel day on Tuesday and while I was waiting in the airport I went on a rant to my brother about passive voice.

I have a writing center appt today and I’m still very jet lagged, but I guess that doesn’t matter bc turns out I can basically teach about passive voice in my sleep 🤣

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