Sharon Ann Murphy
@sharonannmurphy.bsky.social
Financial historian. Mom. Soccer player. Spouse. Wahoo. Mets fan. Archive rat. Avid reader. Wino. Jersey girl. Runner. World traveler. A wee bit batty.
Reposted by Sharon Ann Murphy
I spent October traveling to schools throughout the South talking to students about American history. What I found were young people who understand we can tell a story that includes both the positive and the negative. As one 8th grader in Memphis said, “Doesn’t seem that hard, just say both things.”
Tell Students the Truth About American History
We owe it to Americans of all ages to be honest about the country’s past, including its contradictions.
www.theatlantic.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:57 PM
I spent October traveling to schools throughout the South talking to students about American history. What I found were young people who understand we can tell a story that includes both the positive and the negative. As one 8th grader in Memphis said, “Doesn’t seem that hard, just say both things.”
Reposted by Sharon Ann Murphy
We need a critique of AI in academic publishing. Following my decision not to sign an AI addendum to my contract with Cambridge University Press, I wrote this short essay which is now out in the Dublin Review of Books.
👇
drb.ie/move-over-fo...
👇
drb.ie/move-over-fo...
Move over for AI - DRB
Katja Bruisch writes: I recently completed a scholarly monograph – an environmental, economic and energy history of peat in imperial and Soviet Russia. After years of thinking and writing, I approache...
drb.ie
October 30, 2025 at 11:01 AM
We need a critique of AI in academic publishing. Following my decision not to sign an AI addendum to my contract with Cambridge University Press, I wrote this short essay which is now out in the Dublin Review of Books.
👇
drb.ie/move-over-fo...
👇
drb.ie/move-over-fo...
Join me Tuesday for a virtual book talk at the AAS.
www.americanantiquarian.org/node/13335
www.americanantiquarian.org/node/13335
Banking on Slavery: Financing Southern Expansion in the Antebellum United States | American Antiquarian Society
www.americanantiquarian.org
September 23, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Join me Tuesday for a virtual book talk at the AAS.
www.americanantiquarian.org/node/13335
www.americanantiquarian.org/node/13335
Reposted by Sharon Ann Murphy
Luckily, Sinclair has a helpful database of all their stations, so you can see if they're operating in your area and respond accordingly.
sbgi.net/tv-stations/
sbgi.net/tv-stations/
September 18, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Luckily, Sinclair has a helpful database of all their stations, so you can see if they're operating in your area and respond accordingly.
sbgi.net/tv-stations/
sbgi.net/tv-stations/
Come join me for a virtual book talk at the American Antiquarian Society next Tuesday 9/23 at 7pm. Book talk will be followed by Q&A with Mark Peterson and the audience.
www.americanantiquarian.org/node/13335
www.americanantiquarian.org/node/13335
Banking on Slavery: Financing Southern Expansion in the Antebellum United States | American Antiquarian Society
www.americanantiquarian.org
September 17, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Come join me for a virtual book talk at the American Antiquarian Society next Tuesday 9/23 at 7pm. Book talk will be followed by Q&A with Mark Peterson and the audience.
www.americanantiquarian.org/node/13335
www.americanantiquarian.org/node/13335
Reposted by Sharon Ann Murphy
My new book, Mending the Nation: Reclaiming "We the People" in a Populist Age, is now available for pre-order!
In a time of cynicism and despair, Mending the Nation uses lessons from the past to chart a new way forward.
kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700640638/
In a time of cynicism and despair, Mending the Nation uses lessons from the past to chart a new way forward.
kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700640638/
Mending the Nation
A bold message of political hope in a time of cynicism and despair, Mending the Nation uses lessons from the past to chart a new way forward.The United State...
kansaspress.ku.edu
September 3, 2025 at 2:38 PM
My new book, Mending the Nation: Reclaiming "We the People" in a Populist Age, is now available for pre-order!
In a time of cynicism and despair, Mending the Nation uses lessons from the past to chart a new way forward.
kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700640638/
In a time of cynicism and despair, Mending the Nation uses lessons from the past to chart a new way forward.
kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700640638/
AI update (especially relevant for JHUP authors): I just zoomed with the rep from JHUP & she capitulated. She will remove my books from the LLM license w/o me signing their ridiculous statement.
August 15, 2025 at 4:57 PM
AI update (especially relevant for JHUP authors): I just zoomed with the rep from JHUP & she capitulated. She will remove my books from the LLM license w/o me signing their ridiculous statement.
Fave US history myth that needs to die sudden & quick death, GO:
myth: self-made man; ppl pulling selves up by own bootstraps; meritocracy
reality: behind every US success story is tangled web of opportunity from family wealth/connections, community support, govt-supported educ. & infrastructure...
myth: self-made man; ppl pulling selves up by own bootstraps; meritocracy
reality: behind every US success story is tangled web of opportunity from family wealth/connections, community support, govt-supported educ. & infrastructure...
Favorite US history myth that needs to die a sudden and quick death, GO:
Myth:
Plantations were genteel spaces.
Reality:
Coercion defined their every inch.
Negotiation and resistance was the norm.
Myth:
Plantations were genteel spaces.
Reality:
Coercion defined their every inch.
Negotiation and resistance was the norm.
Favorite US history myth that needs to die a sudden and quick death, GO:
I’ll start
Betsy Ross didn’t sew the first fucking flag.
There was no ‘first’ flag.
Her name wasn’t Betsy Ross
I’ll start
Betsy Ross didn’t sew the first fucking flag.
There was no ‘first’ flag.
Her name wasn’t Betsy Ross
August 13, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Fave US history myth that needs to die sudden & quick death, GO:
myth: self-made man; ppl pulling selves up by own bootstraps; meritocracy
reality: behind every US success story is tangled web of opportunity from family wealth/connections, community support, govt-supported educ. & infrastructure...
myth: self-made man; ppl pulling selves up by own bootstraps; meritocracy
reality: behind every US success story is tangled web of opportunity from family wealth/connections, community support, govt-supported educ. & infrastructure...
Reposted by Sharon Ann Murphy
The volume of Canadians taking road trips into the U.S.—the way most Canadians visit—dropped by 37% last month compared to July 2024, according to new data from Statistics Canada, following a 33% drop in June.
There was also a 26% decline in air travelers from Canada year-over-year.
There was also a 26% decline in air travelers from Canada year-over-year.
Canada’s Travel Boycott Grows: Car Travel To U.S. Drops 37%
Steep year-over-year drop in car and air travel solidifies steep economic losses for U.S. tourism this year.
www.forbes.com
August 12, 2025 at 11:34 AM
The volume of Canadians taking road trips into the U.S.—the way most Canadians visit—dropped by 37% last month compared to July 2024, according to new data from Statistics Canada, following a 33% drop in June.
There was also a 26% decline in air travelers from Canada year-over-year.
There was also a 26% decline in air travelers from Canada year-over-year.
Reposted by Sharon Ann Murphy
Thoughts from an American traveling in Europe in 2025:
I have spent time abroad (mostly in Europe) almost every year for 30 years, and almost always in the summer. I just returned from 2 weeks in Southern France. Some observations...
I have spent time abroad (mostly in Europe) almost every year for 30 years, and almost always in the summer. I just returned from 2 weeks in Southern France. Some observations...
August 12, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Thoughts from an American traveling in Europe in 2025:
I have spent time abroad (mostly in Europe) almost every year for 30 years, and almost always in the summer. I just returned from 2 weeks in Southern France. Some observations...
I have spent time abroad (mostly in Europe) almost every year for 30 years, and almost always in the summer. I just returned from 2 weeks in Southern France. Some observations...
Reposted by Sharon Ann Murphy
Exactly right.
They simply want the end product — whether it’s an actual production of art or music or the end result of hard work like a PhD — without doing the work.
It’s cheat codes all the way down.
They simply want the end product — whether it’s an actual production of art or music or the end result of hard work like a PhD — without doing the work.
It’s cheat codes all the way down.
Something that I have been thinking about with attribution of "PhD level intelligence" or "PhD level expertise" to a machine is that it reflects an increasing trend among these AI bros and their sycophants to want the products of highly skilled training without actually doing any of the work.
August 9, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Exactly right.
They simply want the end product — whether it’s an actual production of art or music or the end result of hard work like a PhD — without doing the work.
It’s cheat codes all the way down.
They simply want the end product — whether it’s an actual production of art or music or the end result of hard work like a PhD — without doing the work.
It’s cheat codes all the way down.
Reposted by Sharon Ann Murphy
The CHIPS Act set off a manufacturing boom, creating jobs and ensuring the technologies of the future are made here at home.
By rolling back this law, Trump is weakening American leadership and letting our adversaries get ahead.
By rolling back this law, Trump is weakening American leadership and letting our adversaries get ahead.
Trump’s Call to Scrap ‘Horrible’ Chip Program Spreads Panic
www.nytimes.com
August 10, 2025 at 1:34 AM
The CHIPS Act set off a manufacturing boom, creating jobs and ensuring the technologies of the future are made here at home.
By rolling back this law, Trump is weakening American leadership and letting our adversaries get ahead.
By rolling back this law, Trump is weakening American leadership and letting our adversaries get ahead.
Reposted by Sharon Ann Murphy
There is just no precedent in recent world history of an advanced industrialized country sabotaging its own scientific establishment, and destroying the base of scientific knowledge necessary for basic policymaking. An avowedly, actively anti-knowledge regime.
Head of NASA Sean Duffy intends to destroy a satellite that collects key data on carbon dioxide and plant health, by causing it to burn up in the atmosphere. The U.S. Dept of Agriculture and private agriculture firms use the data to forecast crop yield, drought conditions and more.
Why a NASA satellite that scientists and farmers rely on may be destroyed on purpose
The Trump administration has asked NASA staffers to draw up plans to end at least two satellite missions that measure carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, according to current and former NASA employees.
www.npr.org
August 8, 2025 at 11:24 AM
There is just no precedent in recent world history of an advanced industrialized country sabotaging its own scientific establishment, and destroying the base of scientific knowledge necessary for basic policymaking. An avowedly, actively anti-knowledge regime.
Reposted by Sharon Ann Murphy
Don’t let this die. Keep elevating this.
Pete Hegseth shares a clip saying women shouldn’t have the right to vote, the 19th Amendment should be “repealed,” and women should “submit” to their husbands: “All of Christ for All of Life”
August 9, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Don’t let this die. Keep elevating this.
Reposted by Sharon Ann Murphy
This is why Donald is crying about Elizabeth Warren.
August 4, 2025 at 4:22 PM
This is why Donald is crying about Elizabeth Warren.
Reposted by Sharon Ann Murphy
Over the course of their career history majors out earn engineers and comp sci.
“American Academy of Arts&Sciences reports 96.3% of humanities grads age 23-32 fully employed. Earnings in humanitiess comparable to social/life sciences, job satisfaction levels too. A serious mismatch bw actual employment for hum grads +general perception."
www.mellon.org/voices/human...
www.mellon.org/voices/human...
Mellon Foundation
The Mellon Foundation makes grants to actively unlock the power in the arts and humanities that helps connect us all.
www.mellon.org
August 2, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Over the course of their career history majors out earn engineers and comp sci.
My personal fave from Tom Lehrer--for the Catholic crowd. youtu.be/pvhYqeGp_Do?...
Tom Lehrer - The Vatican Rag - fabulous version - LIVE FILM From Copenhagen in 1967
YouTube video by The Tom Lehrer Wisdom Channel
youtu.be
July 27, 2025 at 9:28 PM
My personal fave from Tom Lehrer--for the Catholic crowd. youtu.be/pvhYqeGp_Do?...
Reposted by Sharon Ann Murphy
“Univ. of Illinois report shows that a large humanities department like English produces substantial net profit; units like engineering and agriculture run at a loss. The widely respected Delaware Study of Instructional Costs and Productivity shows the same pattern.” /7 thi.ucsc.edu/the-humaniti...
The Humanities Really Do Produce a Profit – The Humanities Institute
thi.ucsc.edu
July 24, 2025 at 10:37 PM
“Univ. of Illinois report shows that a large humanities department like English produces substantial net profit; units like engineering and agriculture run at a loss. The widely respected Delaware Study of Instructional Costs and Productivity shows the same pattern.” /7 thi.ucsc.edu/the-humaniti...
Just received an email from publisher of one of my books trying to strongarm me into granting permission for it to be licensed for AI LLM use. My knee-jerk is "hell no." They want me to sign this disclaimer (copied in comments). Should I not be pissed at publisher for caving like this?
July 22, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Just received an email from publisher of one of my books trying to strongarm me into granting permission for it to be licensed for AI LLM use. My knee-jerk is "hell no." They want me to sign this disclaimer (copied in comments). Should I not be pissed at publisher for caving like this?
Reposted by Sharon Ann Murphy
@entandsoc.bsky.social is delighted to announce that Prof. Ai Hisano has been chosen as incoming Editor-in-Chief. This is a truly exciting appointment that promises a bright new phase in the journal's history. More about Ai and her fascinating work can be found here:
www.aihisano.com
www.aihisano.com
Ai Hisano | Historian
www.aihisano.com
July 22, 2025 at 4:44 AM
@entandsoc.bsky.social is delighted to announce that Prof. Ai Hisano has been chosen as incoming Editor-in-Chief. This is a truly exciting appointment that promises a bright new phase in the journal's history. More about Ai and her fascinating work can be found here:
www.aihisano.com
www.aihisano.com
Reposted by Sharon Ann Murphy
As I always say: there are plenty of people who want to study history, but from high school forward, they are told not to. And the same as true with the other liberal arts. We’re lucky that any students refuse to listen.
"The tragedy of the contemporary academy is that even when traditional liberal learning clearly wins with students and donors, it loses with those in power."
Students Want the Liberal Arts. Administrators, Not So Much. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/17/o...
Students Want the Liberal Arts. Administrators, Not So Much. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/17/o...
Opinion | Students Want the Liberal Arts. Administrators, Not So Much.
www.nytimes.com
July 17, 2025 at 1:34 PM
As I always say: there are plenty of people who want to study history, but from high school forward, they are told not to. And the same as true with the other liberal arts. We’re lucky that any students refuse to listen.
Reposted by Sharon Ann Murphy
Spotted in South Station, Boston.
July 17, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Spotted in South Station, Boston.