Karin Wulf
@kawulf.bsky.social
Historian of #VastEarlyAmerica, gender, family & politics | Director & Librarian @ JCBLibrary | History Prof @ Brown U
#LineageTheBook OUP July, 2025 | On some other platforms and also @ karinwulf.com | Opinions here just mine.
#LineageTheBook OUP July, 2025 | On some other platforms and also @ karinwulf.com | Opinions here just mine.
Am reading Sarah Mesle's new book and one of her points, as in this essay, is that writing when compelled is hard --even joyless. Her comment on academic writing (which I find a joyful genre to read + write 🤓) was that it felt like a grind. Whereas public writing was freeing --now maybe less so. 2/
November 21, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Am reading Sarah Mesle's new book and one of her points, as in this essay, is that writing when compelled is hard --even joyless. Her comment on academic writing (which I find a joyful genre to read + write 🤓) was that it felt like a grind. Whereas public writing was freeing --now maybe less so. 2/
Super excited to be @ the AAS on December 4th! The AAS gave me a fellowship a long time ago, when I was juggling babies that's how long ago, to start working on the project that through many iterations became _Lineage_. www.americanantiquarian.org/programs-eve...
November 20, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Super excited to be @ the AAS on December 4th! The AAS gave me a fellowship a long time ago, when I was juggling babies that's how long ago, to start working on the project that through many iterations became _Lineage_. www.americanantiquarian.org/programs-eve...
No I’m sorry there is only one Blaskowitz of consequence. 😁
November 19, 2025 at 1:46 AM
No I’m sorry there is only one Blaskowitz of consequence. 😁
Not immune to this commercial/ representational art. Hello, Baltimore oh so briefly.
November 18, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Not immune to this commercial/ representational art. Hello, Baltimore oh so briefly.
Lots of folks not familiar w these histories are intrigued by Mercy Otis Warren - even those who know well the great MOW - @jcblibrary.bsky.social copy of her 1775 play The Group skewering the Mass. royal govt has helpfully annotated dramatis personae. “Court sycophants,” anyone?
November 17, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Lots of folks not familiar w these histories are intrigued by Mercy Otis Warren - even those who know well the great MOW - @jcblibrary.bsky.social copy of her 1775 play The Group skewering the Mass. royal govt has helpfully annotated dramatis personae. “Court sycophants,” anyone?
One of my points in this thread is that the Burns/ Botstein/ Schmidt (v impt not to forget this isn’t just KB!) documentary is helping get things moving on 2026 *now*. For reasons that had become harder. And it’ll let more happen fr now to July and beyond. Case in pt my local paper w much to add!
November 16, 2025 at 11:09 PM
One of my points in this thread is that the Burns/ Botstein/ Schmidt (v impt not to forget this isn’t just KB!) documentary is helping get things moving on 2026 *now*. For reasons that had become harder. And it’ll let more happen fr now to July and beyond. Case in pt my local paper w much to add!
Many of us have seen previews, to prep for an event I watched all 12 hours. Is it everything I'd do? Per above, no. Are there major wow moments that will surprise folks who have read serious history for years? Also no. (Here's me quoted in a July 4,2000 WaPo editorial on the "civil war" aspect). 3/
November 16, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Many of us have seen previews, to prep for an event I watched all 12 hours. Is it everything I'd do? Per above, no. Are there major wow moments that will surprise folks who have read serious history for years? Also no. (Here's me quoted in a July 4,2000 WaPo editorial on the "civil war" aspect). 3/
It was a good day to revisit a crazily rewarding 2025 experience: #readingthewhale, published in the US this day 1851. 🐋
November 14, 2025 at 10:44 PM
It was a good day to revisit a crazily rewarding 2025 experience: #readingthewhale, published in the US this day 1851. 🐋
Hey this is today. 😊
November 11, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Hey this is today. 😊
I am appreciating this book of powerhouse essays so much. And not just because it vibes with my orange glitter pen. 🤓
November 3, 2025 at 6:49 PM
I am appreciating this book of powerhouse essays so much. And not just because it vibes with my orange glitter pen. 🤓
This cheerful little fella wishing you a funtastic All Hallows Eve.
(From an account of Cooke's voyage, 1712. @jcblibrary.bsky.social ofc)
(From an account of Cooke's voyage, 1712. @jcblibrary.bsky.social ofc)
October 31, 2025 at 10:24 AM
This cheerful little fella wishing you a funtastic All Hallows Eve.
(From an account of Cooke's voyage, 1712. @jcblibrary.bsky.social ofc)
(From an account of Cooke's voyage, 1712. @jcblibrary.bsky.social ofc)
Just pondering Charles Thomson, the secretary of the Continental Congress, who served from 1774 through the adoption of the Constitution in 1789. His choices about recording proceedings were immensely important. This is his signature on an edition of the journals of congress for 1774.
October 23, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Just pondering Charles Thomson, the secretary of the Continental Congress, who served from 1774 through the adoption of the Constitution in 1789. His choices about recording proceedings were immensely important. This is his signature on an edition of the journals of congress for 1774.
I think this is the National Trust for Historical Preservation version of same. savingplaces.org/press-center...
October 22, 2025 at 12:13 PM
I think this is the National Trust for Historical Preservation version of same. savingplaces.org/press-center...
October 22, 1774. The First Continental Congress concludes, resolves to meet again "on the tenth of May next." But first, printing the Journals of the Proceedings is affirmed. From one of the @jcblibrary.bsky.social's dozens of copies of those journals, printed across the colonies and in London.
October 22, 2025 at 9:50 AM
October 22, 1774. The First Continental Congress concludes, resolves to meet again "on the tenth of May next." But first, printing the Journals of the Proceedings is affirmed. From one of the @jcblibrary.bsky.social's dozens of copies of those journals, printed across the colonies and in London.
"In America the Law is King." It's only Common Sense.
October 18, 2025 at 10:30 AM
"In America the Law is King." It's only Common Sense.
If things had gone differently I guess.
October 15, 2025 at 11:38 AM
If things had gone differently I guess.
Building a federal government -- totally fascinating. And Peter Kastor's website/ investigative tool is very cool and may wreck your morning commitment to processing email just saying.
creatingafederalgovernment.wustl.edu
creatingafederalgovernment.wustl.edu
October 15, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Building a federal government -- totally fascinating. And Peter Kastor's website/ investigative tool is very cool and may wreck your morning commitment to processing email just saying.
creatingafederalgovernment.wustl.edu
creatingafederalgovernment.wustl.edu
I've long been obsessed with government documents. What do they communicate and to whom, how and when and by whom were they printed and circulated? The @jcblibrary.bsky.social has a terrific collection of the many printed journals of Congress, fr 1774. Started a weekly series on IG to discuss. 🤓
October 7, 2025 at 10:29 PM
I've long been obsessed with government documents. What do they communicate and to whom, how and when and by whom were they printed and circulated? The @jcblibrary.bsky.social has a terrific collection of the many printed journals of Congress, fr 1774. Started a weekly series on IG to discuss. 🤓
Yesterday was gorgeous. See that little hint of fall at the top of the tree? You could feel it.
October 1, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Yesterday was gorgeous. See that little hint of fall at the top of the tree? You could feel it.
A weekend pleasure is walking to the bookstore to pick up books I've ordered. So excited to read these new editions from the brilliant @triciamatthew.bsky.social! Wonderful introductions, rich and learned and: "I have a soft spot for Northanger Abbey. Its first line is hilarious." So. True. 😄
September 30, 2025 at 9:46 AM
A weekend pleasure is walking to the bookstore to pick up books I've ordered. So excited to read these new editions from the brilliant @triciamatthew.bsky.social! Wonderful introductions, rich and learned and: "I have a soft spot for Northanger Abbey. Its first line is hilarious." So. True. 😄
Some days you're just keen to locate a
September 22, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Some days you're just keen to locate a
V glad to be in DC for a conversation at Politics &Prose w Kate Haulman at 3 today about her new book on the politics of motherhood and commemoration. Changing leverage around both framed the mother of the father of the country as the 19thc wanted specific remembrance of the 18thc revolution.
September 20, 2025 at 12:20 PM
V glad to be in DC for a conversation at Politics &Prose w Kate Haulman at 3 today about her new book on the politics of motherhood and commemoration. Changing leverage around both framed the mother of the father of the country as the 19thc wanted specific remembrance of the 18thc revolution.
Very beautiful day to be very briefly in DC. Between things, stopped in at the National Archives to see the display of amendments in the Rotunda, w obligatory look at the signed parchment copy of the Constitution. Still a booster for Article 1.
September 19, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Very beautiful day to be very briefly in DC. Between things, stopped in at the National Archives to see the display of amendments in the Rotunda, w obligatory look at the signed parchment copy of the Constitution. Still a booster for Article 1.
Hmmm I might have chosen a few other misconceptions about the Constitution... but I do hear these among young adults. Also, one of the best ways to spend #ConstitutionDay is at a Naturalization Ceremony. Moving and affirming.
September 17, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Hmmm I might have chosen a few other misconceptions about the Constitution... but I do hear these among young adults. Also, one of the best ways to spend #ConstitutionDay is at a Naturalization Ceremony. Moving and affirming.