David Vail
@davidvailphd.bsky.social
Historian of Environment, Agriculture, Science, Medicine. New Project: Vulnerable Harvests: Emergency Conservation in the Cold War Great Plains (Nebraska Press). My posts and views are my own.
One of my life hopes since childhood was to see the northern lights in person. Tonight they found me.
November 12, 2025 at 3:10 AM
One of my life hopes since childhood was to see the northern lights in person. Tonight they found me.
I will be speaking at this NDSU Libraries event on research based on my current monograph project as well as a new project inspired by what I found in NDSU Archives during the trip. Honored for this support from the Gunlogson Award and to join other scholars in this celebration.
September 12, 2025 at 2:04 PM
I will be speaking at this NDSU Libraries event on research based on my current monograph project as well as a new project inspired by what I found in NDSU Archives during the trip. Honored for this support from the Gunlogson Award and to join other scholars in this celebration.
"We cannot understand the problems that concern us in this, our particular moment of time, unless we first understand our environment and the forces that have made us what we are, physically and mentally."
-- Rachel Carson, Introduction in "Good Reading," 1956.
#envhist #envhum #histsci
-- Rachel Carson, Introduction in "Good Reading," 1956.
#envhist #envhum #histsci
September 1, 2025 at 11:10 AM
August 7, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Farewell Fargo, but I'll be back! Had one of the most productive and delightful research trips this week. Many thanks to Tom Isern and Suzzanne Kelley for their hospitality and kindness throughout. I'm so grateful for Institute for Regional Studies research support. #Ndsu #envhist #envhum #histsci
July 26, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Excited to continue my adventures in the NDSU Archives today! The Institute for Regional Studies collections and archival records have revealed much. And I got to use this cool "Light Box" to look at slides of early postwar contour farming and shelterbelts! #envhist #envhum #histsci #Ndsu
July 23, 2025 at 12:27 PM
July 18, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Turkey on a bridge for the AM ride
July 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Turkey on a bridge for the AM ride
Had to adventure out on this nice summer day with Rowdy. New tires are lightning fast (for an MTB). Dr. Crash Mode Activated!
June 19, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Had to adventure out on this nice summer day with Rowdy. New tires are lightning fast (for an MTB). Dr. Crash Mode Activated!
@finnarne.me and @dollyjorgensen.bsky.social New summer Lego creation: Shuttle Enterprise with Boeing Shuttle Carrier.
June 15, 2025 at 4:31 PM
@finnarne.me and @dollyjorgensen.bsky.social New summer Lego creation: Shuttle Enterprise with Boeing Shuttle Carrier.
A most exciting Agricultural History Society meeting in St. Paul! Amazing time to see friends and hear about compelling new scholarship.
June 9, 2025 at 2:01 PM
A most exciting Agricultural History Society meeting in St. Paul! Amazing time to see friends and hear about compelling new scholarship.
Chemical Lands has made it to paperback!
June 2, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Chemical Lands has made it to paperback!
In a year of hardship and rough transition, I'm touched by my department's generosity of awarding me the "Adventure Historian Award" for the adventurous work and spirit of my service and scholarship. This is also the title my students gave me in the pandemic and it has stuck.
May 7, 2025 at 7:22 PM
In a year of hardship and rough transition, I'm touched by my department's generosity of awarding me the "Adventure Historian Award" for the adventurous work and spirit of my service and scholarship. This is also the title my students gave me in the pandemic and it has stuck.
Did you know that you are paying 25 cents a year in taxes to support the National Endowment for the Humanities? The direct Return on Investment (ROI) to you and your community is epic and awesome and key for our democracy. We can't afford to lose this. @nehgov.bsky.social
April 17, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Did you know that you are paying 25 cents a year in taxes to support the National Endowment for the Humanities? The direct Return on Investment (ROI) to you and your community is epic and awesome and key for our democracy. We can't afford to lose this. @nehgov.bsky.social
Sending it on the first ride of 2025 with Send.
February 2, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Sending it on the first ride of 2025 with Send.
Excited to share this amazing ebay find: Ike, Benson, and Seaton discussing the 1957 drought emergency in the Great Plains. This event (and photo) as well as their drought emergency map will make an important appearance in my next monograph Vulnerable Harvests! Will keep you posted!
January 10, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Excited to share this amazing ebay find: Ike, Benson, and Seaton discussing the 1957 drought emergency in the Great Plains. This event (and photo) as well as their drought emergency map will make an important appearance in my next monograph Vulnerable Harvests! Will keep you posted!
Beautiful day to bring my public health history students to learn about University of Nebraska at Kearney's Tuberculosis Hospital at the G.W. Frank Museum of History and Culture!!
May 2, 2024 at 11:50 PM
Beautiful day to bring my public health history students to learn about University of Nebraska at Kearney's Tuberculosis Hospital at the G.W. Frank Museum of History and Culture!!
IT'S OFFICIAL!! I'm promoted to Full Professor at University of Nebraska at Kearney!! I'm immensely grateful to my colleagues in the UNK History Department, on campus, and around the country who have supported me through some of the toughest times and celebratory moments in my life.
April 30, 2024 at 12:34 AM
IT'S OFFICIAL!! I'm promoted to Full Professor at University of Nebraska at Kearney!! I'm immensely grateful to my colleagues in the UNK History Department, on campus, and around the country who have supported me through some of the toughest times and celebratory moments in my life.
I am so very proud of my UNK History Department Social Science Education 7-12 student Katie Cornelio who presented on a her undergraduate research project "Documenting the Lives of Kearney Residents During the 1930s" today!! Katie is an incredible student colleague! Excited for her next adventures!!
April 18, 2024 at 11:48 PM
I am so very proud of my UNK History Department Social Science Education 7-12 student Katie Cornelio who presented on a her undergraduate research project "Documenting the Lives of Kearney Residents During the 1930s" today!! Katie is an incredible student colleague! Excited for her next adventures!!