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Rachel Shelden

@rachelshelden.bsky.social

15K followers 1.7K following 690 posts

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

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Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 1h

Paul Beatty is so funny

Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 1h

It’s such a funny book while also being so true to type. I recommend it all the time to academics trying to get into reading novels.

Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 8h

Straight Man

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Reposted by Rachel Shelden

Maggie Blackhawk @maggieblackhawk.bsky.social · 21h

Happy Indigenous Peoples Day!

Jan McVicker @jmcvicker.bsky.social · 3d

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...

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

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Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 1d

😱

Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 1d

I guess this explains why the university couldn’t even spare $3.25 mil for WPSU 🙃

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Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 3d

I am in for any extra inning rule involving Bartolo running

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Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 3d

Totally agree this is so fascinating & much needed! Ryan Quintana at Wellesley College is doing some work in this area, incl. looking at the laborers who built the Panama RR & the various folks living in Panama & Nicaragua as part of US companies & otherwise. But the subject is vast and so important

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Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 3d

jfc

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Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 5d

!!!! Congratulations, Jonathan! Can’t wait to get my copy! 🎉

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Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 6d

This creative commons pic is great, thank you!

Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 6d

Thank you for these links, but I know these kinds of pictures are easy to find on the internet. I'm looking for ones that I don't have to pay for and don't belong to news orgs.

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Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 6d

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!

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Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 13d

Big congratulations Kevin!! 🎉

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Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 14d

!!! So excited!! Big congrats. Can't wait to get my copy. 🎉🎉🎉

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Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 16d

Totally love that book!

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Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 17d

🎉🎉🎉

Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 17d

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!) 🎉🎉

Picture of Rachel Shelden & Moyra Eaton in Weaver Building at Penn State, Friday, September 26, 2025.

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Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 19d

🗃️ 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

Richards Center Penn State @richardscenter.bsky.social · 19d

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...

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Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 20d

👏👏

Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 20d

This is awesome

Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 23d

Can't wait to celebrate this book out in the world, @mmendoza.bsky.social !! 🎉🎉

Mary E. Mendoza @mmendoza.bsky.social · 23d

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).

Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 24d

Some of my favorites are @tiyamiles.bsky.social @marthahodes.bsky.social, & @arikelman.bsky.social

Liesbeth Corens @onslies.bsky.social · 24d

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. 🗃️

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Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 25d

Congratulations, Joanne! 🎉

Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 26d

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻