Andrew Wehrman
@profwehrman.bsky.social
History professor at CMU and author of "The Contagion of Liberty: The Politics of Smallpox in the American Revolution" Vaccination is patriotic.
New book project(!) tentatively titled: Afterlife and Liberty: New York City’s Doctors’ Riot of 1788
New book project(!) tentatively titled: Afterlife and Liberty: New York City’s Doctors’ Riot of 1788
This is what happens when you ask Google if there’s school in our town on Monday.
February 14, 2026 at 2:08 PM
This is what happens when you ask Google if there’s school in our town on Monday.
Leave it to MAGA and MAHA to bring us back to the measles outbreaks of the Roaring 20s.
January 29, 2026 at 2:07 AM
Leave it to MAGA and MAHA to bring us back to the measles outbreaks of the Roaring 20s.
Here's an example of a report from the commission that Gadsden was a part of from 1760. The law required that Gadsden’s committee report all smallpox cases, quarantine them, and keep the public updated on their condition. Gadsden was opposed to arbitrary, lawless government not all government.
January 24, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Here's an example of a report from the commission that Gadsden was a part of from 1760. The law required that Gadsden’s committee report all smallpox cases, quarantine them, and keep the public updated on their condition. Gadsden was opposed to arbitrary, lawless government not all government.
I’m juuust ahead of you! I’m speaking in Alabama next month so that will switch to stayed, and I still haven’t been to Oregon…
January 11, 2026 at 1:31 PM
I’m juuust ahead of you! I’m speaking in Alabama next month so that will switch to stayed, and I still haven’t been to Oregon…
One of my students drew me on the whiteboard before our final exam today. Pretty good dry-erase likeness!
December 9, 2025 at 9:04 PM
One of my students drew me on the whiteboard before our final exam today. Pretty good dry-erase likeness!
Good news! Sprite’s brother Milo (right) is coming to visit us this weekend.
December 4, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Good news! Sprite’s brother Milo (right) is coming to visit us this weekend.
Good morning from Sprite who has decided to take on some light carpentry jobs for extra treats.
December 3, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Good morning from Sprite who has decided to take on some light carpentry jobs for extra treats.
We had a pretty good turnout for night one of Ken Burns’ American Revolution at CMU. I showed it in an auditorium with a second big screen so that students in the room could participate in a live chat while we watched. It worked well!
November 17, 2025 at 4:03 AM
We had a pretty good turnout for night one of Ken Burns’ American Revolution at CMU. I showed it in an auditorium with a second big screen so that students in the room could participate in a live chat while we watched. It worked well!
I’m hosting a watch party for all six nights of Ken Burns’ “American Revolution” at CMU. In all 12 hours how much smallpox will there be? My guess is not enough!
November 12, 2025 at 1:19 AM
I’m hosting a watch party for all six nights of Ken Burns’ “American Revolution” at CMU. In all 12 hours how much smallpox will there be? My guess is not enough!
Our first Razorback game in over a decade! Go hogs!
November 8, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Our first Razorback game in over a decade! Go hogs!
My 11 year-old declared that he's going AImish (eschewing AI in the way that the Amish avoid certain technolgies). He was frustrated that some kids don't know how to use a calculator, even, because they're over-reliant on AI. To course correct, he's been teaching himself to use a slide rule.
November 3, 2025 at 2:47 PM
My 11 year-old declared that he's going AImish (eschewing AI in the way that the Amish avoid certain technolgies). He was frustrated that some kids don't know how to use a calculator, even, because they're over-reliant on AI. To course correct, he's been teaching himself to use a slide rule.
Dargan, Josh Hill (@joshtigerhill.bsky.social) and I piled in my car and drove from Fayetteville to Memphis (5 hours) to tryout for Jeopardy! in 2003. It took a while (and lots more tryouts), but 2/3 of us are now Jeopardy! champions. Still waiting for my turn @kenjennings.bsky.social
October 17, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Dargan, Josh Hill (@joshtigerhill.bsky.social) and I piled in my car and drove from Fayetteville to Memphis (5 hours) to tryout for Jeopardy! in 2003. It took a while (and lots more tryouts), but 2/3 of us are now Jeopardy! champions. Still waiting for my turn @kenjennings.bsky.social
My old college quizbowl teammate at the University of Arkansas Dargan Ware made quite the first impression on Jeopardy! today! Woo Pig Sooie!
October 17, 2025 at 11:35 PM
My old college quizbowl teammate at the University of Arkansas Dargan Ware made quite the first impression on Jeopardy! today! Woo Pig Sooie!
When Sprite is really focused on his game, he sticks out his tongue while still in complete control of the ball. He thinks he’s the Michael Jordan of fetch.
October 16, 2025 at 12:45 AM
When Sprite is really focused on his game, he sticks out his tongue while still in complete control of the ball. He thinks he’s the Michael Jordan of fetch.
“Sir, nobody is buying these John Adams costumes!”
“Ok. Here’s what we’re gonna do. Call ‘em plus size Jeffersons.”
“Ok. Here’s what we’re gonna do. Call ‘em plus size Jeffersons.”
October 12, 2025 at 3:07 PM
“Sir, nobody is buying these John Adams costumes!”
“Ok. Here’s what we’re gonna do. Call ‘em plus size Jeffersons.”
“Ok. Here’s what we’re gonna do. Call ‘em plus size Jeffersons.”
I’m currently reading through the wonderful essays in @theatlantic.com’s “The Unfinished Revolution.” The editors included this image of an inoculation certificate, but there’s no essay on the legacy of the Revolution on vaccination and public health. *ahem
(I did send in a pitch…so we’ll see?)
(I did send in a pitch…so we’ll see?)
October 11, 2025 at 10:24 PM
I’m currently reading through the wonderful essays in @theatlantic.com’s “The Unfinished Revolution.” The editors included this image of an inoculation certificate, but there’s no essay on the legacy of the Revolution on vaccination and public health. *ahem
(I did send in a pitch…so we’ll see?)
(I did send in a pitch…so we’ll see?)
My son turned his “Quaker Life Notes” from his 8th grade U.S. history class into “Quaker Otes” He gets an A in my book.
October 7, 2025 at 10:17 PM
My son turned his “Quaker Life Notes” from his 8th grade U.S. history class into “Quaker Otes” He gets an A in my book.
My book, The Contagion of Liberty is coming out (in January) in paperback, and I got some preview copies of this cheaper, more flexible version with new blurbs on the cover!
For the 250th anniversary, it argues that American independence was only achieved through inoculation and public health.
For the 250th anniversary, it argues that American independence was only achieved through inoculation and public health.
October 5, 2025 at 2:10 PM
My book, The Contagion of Liberty is coming out (in January) in paperback, and I got some preview copies of this cheaper, more flexible version with new blurbs on the cover!
For the 250th anniversary, it argues that American independence was only achieved through inoculation and public health.
For the 250th anniversary, it argues that American independence was only achieved through inoculation and public health.
It's the most measles cases in the U.S. (by far) since 1992 and currently has a 12% hospitalization rate.
September 26, 2025 at 5:30 PM
It's the most measles cases in the U.S. (by far) since 1992 and currently has a 12% hospitalization rate.
First, the school committee called smallpox itself "evil" and "deadly" and says plainly "the best security against the contagion of that loathsome and deadly disease is furnished by a diffusion of cowpock (vaccine) through the community..." Not for each individual but for the whole community.
September 22, 2025 at 4:29 PM
First, the school committee called smallpox itself "evil" and "deadly" and says plainly "the best security against the contagion of that loathsome and deadly disease is furnished by a diffusion of cowpock (vaccine) through the community..." Not for each individual but for the whole community.
Appalling but also fascinating how local news is spinning Trump’s birthday note to Epstein by pinning the blame and the scandal on Democrats and all but absolving Trump. This is a Wichita, KS CBS affiliate on Facebook.
September 9, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Appalling but also fascinating how local news is spinning Trump’s birthday note to Epstein by pinning the blame and the scandal on Democrats and all but absolving Trump. This is a Wichita, KS CBS affiliate on Facebook.
Five years ago on my oldest son’s 9th birthday, my younger son (then just 6 years old) brought some memento mori energy to the birthday party by writing this on his whiteboard. Still a good, grim reminder now that my oldest is now somehow 14!
September 7, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Five years ago on my oldest son’s 9th birthday, my younger son (then just 6 years old) brought some memento mori energy to the birthday party by writing this on his whiteboard. Still a good, grim reminder now that my oldest is now somehow 14!
Starting my 10th year at CMU. Wait, that can’t be right, can it?
August 26, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Starting my 10th year at CMU. Wait, that can’t be right, can it?
A small liberal arts college that cuts history, philosophy, and etc. is no longer a SLAC. It’s a small career institute.
August 15, 2025 at 3:53 PM
A small liberal arts college that cuts history, philosophy, and etc. is no longer a SLAC. It’s a small career institute.