Joseph M. Adelman
@jmadelman.bsky.social
Historian of politics, business, media in early America. Author of Revolutionary Networks. He/him. See https://josephadelman.com for more.
A box of breakfast sandwiches from a local deli. Westchester Thanksgiving Day 2 is underway.
November 28, 2025 at 1:51 PM
A box of breakfast sandwiches from a local deli. Westchester Thanksgiving Day 2 is underway.
So far this offseason MLB teams have hired more new managers named Craig than managers who are not white.
November 19, 2025 at 1:06 PM
So far this offseason MLB teams have hired more new managers named Craig than managers who are not white.
Coming this afternoon at #USIH2025, a fun session on thinking about public history and #America250, moderated by @sarageorgini.bsky.social and featuring me, @kathrynbrownell.bsky.social @theotherrbg.bsky.social @lizcovart.bsky.social (unfortunately @katejewell.bsky.social can’t be here).
November 7, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Coming this afternoon at #USIH2025, a fun session on thinking about public history and #America250, moderated by @sarageorgini.bsky.social and featuring me, @kathrynbrownell.bsky.social @theotherrbg.bsky.social @lizcovart.bsky.social (unfortunately @katejewell.bsky.social can’t be here).
Kids are home today (schools close here for Election Day) so I figured what the heck and made pumpkin donuts.
November 4, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Kids are home today (schools close here for Election Day) so I figured what the heck and made pumpkin donuts.
The core audience of #TeenVogue, according to its (for now) mission, is young people from pre-teens to twentysomethings (intriguingly, no mention of gender!). As the descendant of Vogue, it has a strong tradition of publishing on fashion, culture, wellness, and sexuality. /2
November 4, 2025 at 12:09 AM
The core audience of #TeenVogue, according to its (for now) mission, is young people from pre-teens to twentysomethings (intriguingly, no mention of gender!). As the descendant of Vogue, it has a strong tradition of publishing on fashion, culture, wellness, and sexuality. /2
Weirdest Connections yet.
October 16, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Weirdest Connections yet.
Today in weird and unexpected research finds, 19c free love advocate Ezra Heywood deputized Adams, Jefferson, and habeas corpus into his argument about sexual freedom. (From Cupid's Yoke, the pamphlet that prompted Anthony Comstock to arrest Heywood in 1877.)
October 9, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Today in weird and unexpected research finds, 19c free love advocate Ezra Heywood deputized Adams, Jefferson, and habeas corpus into his argument about sexual freedom. (From Cupid's Yoke, the pamphlet that prompted Anthony Comstock to arrest Heywood in 1877.)
You can play the conference sock game, but when @benjaminepark.bsky.social is present, you’re playing for second place.
September 27, 2025 at 1:37 PM
You can play the conference sock game, but when @benjaminepark.bsky.social is present, you’re playing for second place.
Spending some of my Saturday morning doing a little editing for an upcoming #BFW interview with Michelle McDonald about coffee. With the requisite accessory, of course. #VastEarlyAmerica #coffee #podcasts
September 20, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Spending some of my Saturday morning doing a little editing for an upcoming #BFW interview with Michelle McDonald about coffee. With the requisite accessory, of course. #VastEarlyAmerica #coffee #podcasts
“The right of free public expression does include the right to be in error.”
From A Free and Responsible Press (1947), the report of the Commission on Freedom of the Press, which was sponsored by Henry Luce and Time Inc.
From A Free and Responsible Press (1947), the report of the Commission on Freedom of the Press, which was sponsored by Henry Luce and Time Inc.
September 19, 2025 at 4:13 PM
“The right of free public expression does include the right to be in error.”
From A Free and Responsible Press (1947), the report of the Commission on Freedom of the Press, which was sponsored by Henry Luce and Time Inc.
From A Free and Responsible Press (1947), the report of the Commission on Freedom of the Press, which was sponsored by Henry Luce and Time Inc.
My only comment, via @onthemedia.bsky.social.
![[ ]
BREAKING NEWS CONSUMER’S HANDBOOK
1. In the immediate aftermath, news outlets will get it wrong.
2. Don't trust anonymous sources.
3. Don't trust stories that cite another news outlet as the source of the information.
4. There's almost never a second shooter.
5. Pay attention to the language the media uses.
• “We are getting reports” … could mean anything.
• “We are seeking confirmation” … means they don’t have it.
• “[News outlet] has learned” … means it has a scoop or is going out on limb.
6. Look for news outlets close to the incident.
7. Compare multiple sources.
8. Big news brings out the fakers. And photoshoppers.
9. Beware reflexive retweeting. Some of this is on you.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:sc4lluoyzn2kbz4ue2be5ubh/bafkreifbpgtjz54sv6ypvli3w5eydt5ceb7q36lwxcshaxlowfud4glmua@jpeg)
September 10, 2025 at 8:29 PM
My only comment, via @onthemedia.bsky.social.
As @sethrockman.bsky.social notes eloquently in the conclusion to Plantation Goods, the work of history isn’t about building up or tearing down heroes. It’s about understanding the world in all of its messiness and humanity.
August 26, 2025 at 11:33 AM
As @sethrockman.bsky.social notes eloquently in the conclusion to Plantation Goods, the work of history isn’t about building up or tearing down heroes. It’s about understanding the world in all of its messiness and humanity.
Each speaker gets one slide and three minutes to address one issue. Love this format. #SHEAR2025
July 18, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Each speaker gets one slide and three minutes to address one issue. Love this format. #SHEAR2025
So looking forward to this session, Ten Things to Know about the American Revolution. #SHEAR2025 @kawulf.bsky.social @unlawfulentries.bsky.social @joycechaplin.bsky.social @jimambuske.bsky.social @zacharyconn.bsky.social @samsnyder8.bsky.social @profmsinha.bsky.social
July 18, 2025 at 5:06 PM
So looking forward to this session, Ten Things to Know about the American Revolution. #SHEAR2025 @kawulf.bsky.social @unlawfulentries.bsky.social @joycechaplin.bsky.social @jimambuske.bsky.social @zacharyconn.bsky.social @samsnyder8.bsky.social @profmsinha.bsky.social
First time in a long time that I’m taking a commuter train to a conference. But I’ll be at #SHEAR2025 in barely an hour of travel time!
July 17, 2025 at 2:21 PM
First time in a long time that I’m taking a commuter train to a conference. But I’ll be at #SHEAR2025 in barely an hour of travel time!
I’m not a big film-watcher so I’m kind of amazed I’ve seen as many of the NYT Top 100 as I apparently have.
June 27, 2025 at 11:48 PM
I’m not a big film-watcher so I’m kind of amazed I’ve seen as many of the NYT Top 100 as I apparently have.
Well this stopped me in my tracks. I called up the AAS’s copy of the annual reports of the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice. Opened to the first page and gasped. Look who donated the volume.
June 25, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Well this stopped me in my tracks. I called up the AAS’s copy of the annual reports of the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice. Opened to the first page and gasped. Look who donated the volume.
Kudos to @jgiesber.bsky.social for my new favorite book dedication. (It’s in Sex and the Civil War, which is also a fantastic book title.)
June 24, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Kudos to @jgiesber.bsky.social for my new favorite book dedication. (It’s in Sex and the Civil War, which is also a fantastic book title.)
I’ve had the lyrics to White Christmas in my head all morning.
June 24, 2025 at 1:17 PM
I’ve had the lyrics to White Christmas in my head all morning.
Today is the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, which makes it an excellent time to share my personal favorite Far Side cartoon of all time. #America250
June 17, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Today is the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, which makes it an excellent time to share my personal favorite Far Side cartoon of all time. #America250
There’s a longer thread or essay to be written, but for the moment I want to share Washington did not think the Boston Tea Party was a good idea until after he found out how much Parliament had (to his mind) overreacted in return. #VastEarlyAmerica #America250 founders.archives.gov/documents/Wa...
![Letter from George Washington to George William Fairfax, highlighted text says: “in short the Ministry may rely on it that Americans will never be tax’d without their own consent that the cause of Boston the despotick Measures in respect to it I mean now is and ever will be considerd as the cause of America (not that we approve their cond[uc]t in destroyg the Tea) & that we shall not suffer ourselves to be sacrificed by piecemeal though god only knows what is to become of us, threatned as we are with so many hoverg evils as hang over us at present.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:sc4lluoyzn2kbz4ue2be5ubh/bafkreie5rfq55kji5zsovpo6eluw3em4wparv4vj7egnsltyhij6pl7lye@jpeg)
June 9, 2025 at 3:33 PM
There’s a longer thread or essay to be written, but for the moment I want to share Washington did not think the Boston Tea Party was a good idea until after he found out how much Parliament had (to his mind) overreacted in return. #VastEarlyAmerica #America250 founders.archives.gov/documents/Wa...