Daniel Woolf 🇨🇦
woolf-atthedoor.bsky.social
Daniel Woolf 🇨🇦
@woolf-atthedoor.bsky.social
History professor & Principal Emeritus, Queen's University. Interests include historiography/theory, and early modern Britain. Also woolfd1958 on 'Threads'. Dog servant to Layla and occasional practitioner of several hobbies; part time radio show host.
Layla takes a cuddle break and fully ‘enhounds’ me which is always delightful but does somewhat inhibit my grading of papers for which 2 free hands and the computer, all of which she’s leaning on, are required.
November 25, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Happy birthday to my lovely wife @jagwoolf.bsky.social. And to devotees of medieval English history, it's the 905th anniversary of the White Ship Disaster that killed the sole male heir to king Henry I's throne and gave rise 15 years later to the infamous "Anarchy". But of course you all knew that.
November 25, 2025 at 2:57 PM
I'm pleased to announce another new title in @universitypress.cambridge.org 's series Elements in Historical Study and practice is out and downloadable for free till Dec. 5. Chiel van den Akker, Knowledge and Narrative. doi.org/10.1017/9781...
Knowledge and Narrative
Cambridge Core - Global History - Knowledge and Narrative
doi.org
November 21, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Born OTD 100 years ago, US Attorney General and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, assassinated in 1968 during run for the Dem presidential nomination. On his televised funeral in 1968 I watched his teenaged son Bobby approach and touch the casket. I hear RFKSr's shade shrieking at what his son has become.
November 20, 2025 at 5:07 PM
On today's @cfrcradio.bsky.social Dark Glasses, pt 2 of our series on Joni Mitchell and Jazz: first half, several cuts from the new box set "Joni's Jazz"; 2nd half, jazz covers of Mitchell compositions by Herbie Hancock w Norah Jones, pianist David Lahm, and Canadians Diana Krall and Eniid. Tune in!
November 17, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Born OTD 100 years ago, actor Rock Hudson (b. Roy Scherer Jr, d 1985). A closeted gay man playing hetero roles (incl comedy,w. Doris Day), he would be an early celebrity victim of the AIDS crisis. Apart from roles in films such as Giant, he had a long running TV role in 70s series McMillan and Wife.
November 17, 2025 at 1:39 PM
I'm pleased to announce "Race, Genetics, History"- the latest title in the @universitypress.cambridge.org series Elements in Historical Study and Practice is out this morning and available to download free till Dec 1. DOI: 10.1017/9781009635363.
www.cambridge.org/core/element...
Race, Genetics, History
Cambridge Core - Global History - Race, Genetics, History
www.cambridge.org
November 17, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Reposted by Daniel Woolf 🇨🇦
And then think of what a cornered psychopathic human being with the morals and instincts of a rat and control of over five thousand nuclear warheads would do.
This is a very dangerous moment for the country and the world. A cornered rat will do anything to escape.
November 16, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Attending my NACBS in Montreal today (my first of this conference since 2004), and shortly chairing session on Historical Writing in 19th C Britain and Ireland.
November 14, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Reposted by Daniel Woolf 🇨🇦
Last chance for free download today!
My book, Things of the Past: A Modern Yearning, is now available for free download from CUP, until November 13.

It offers a short global history of our longing for historical artefacts, discussing Asia, Africa, Europe, South- and North America.

Please share and comment!
Things of the Past
Cambridge Core - Global History - Things of the Past
www.cambridge.org
November 13, 2025 at 9:25 AM
A peculiar question coming from someone with this surname! (unless it's a social media pseudonym)
wow writing sucks why does anyone do this
November 12, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Born OTD 100 years ago, actor Richard Burton (d 1984). As well known for his tempestuous private life as for his performances. Some of his many notable roles include The Robe, Where Eagles Dare, Becket, and The Spy who Came in from the Cold.
November 10, 2025 at 6:23 PM
OTD 50 years ago the Great Lakes Freighter Edmund Fitzgerald foundered and sank with all 29 crew lost; Gordon Lightfoot immortalized the tragedy in his 1976 song The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, two versions of which are featured on today's @cfrcradio.bsky.social Dark Glasses at 2 pm.
November 10, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Reposted by Daniel Woolf 🇨🇦
Loving today's news that the mysterious "fedora man" outside the Louvre heist was actually a 15-year-old museum visitor who dresses like a 1940s French detective all the time, just because. apnews.com/article/louv...
Fedora man unmasked: Meet the teen behind the Louvre mystery photo
Fifteen-year-old Pedro Elias Garzon Delvaux has become an internet sensation after an Associated Press photo captured him outside the Louvre on the day of a crown jewels heist.
apnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Two students from my rather good 4th year seminar (where we are doing a role play about statues and naming controversies) just Bcced me on their in-role emails as a concerned board member and the university head of advancement. If I didn't know better I'd swear they were pros!
November 8, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Born OTD 100 years ago, American actress Doris Roberts (d 2016); best known for tv roles on Remington Steele and, latterly, Everybody Loves Raymond. In a 7-decade career she earned 5 Emmy Awards.
November 4, 2025 at 3:08 PM
RIP Diane Ladd. A long career as far back as the 50s and some bravura performances such as in Alice Doesn't Live here Anymore. I once saw 24 year old Ladd in a 1958 episode of the classic tv cop show "Naked City" and was staggered how much she resembled her daughter Laura Dern at that age.
November 3, 2025 at 11:53 PM
On today's @cfrcradio.bsky.social Dark Glasses at 2 EST, we pay tributes to 2 departed jazz giants, electric bassist Anthony Jackson and drummer Jack de Johnette. Plus Oscar Peterson, a long track from Miles Davis's classic Bitches Brew, and new music from Ontario roots musician Kate Weekes.Tune in!
November 3, 2025 at 1:25 PM
[thread] Some upcoming titles in the @universitypress.cambridge.org series Elements in Historical Theory and Practice:
1."Knowledge and Narrative"-Chiel van den Akker.
2."The History of Contingency and Future Oriented Thought"-Thomas Moynihan.
3."Gender, Theory and History"-Maria Ines La Greca
November 2, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Left: the Artist Formerly Known as Prince
Right: the Prince Formerly Known as Prince
October 31, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Happy 100th birthday to actress/director Lee Grant (née Lyova Haskell Rosenthal) whose long career saw her in film, theatre and TV from 1951 to 2020 (career interrupted for 12 years by refusing to name names to HUAC). 1/2
October 31, 2025 at 12:02 PM
The Department of History at Queen’s University seeks a postdoctoral fellow to start July 1, 2026. Applications are due on January 15, 2026 for the Marjorie McLean Oliver Post-Doctoral Fellowship. The full position description can be found here: www.queensu.ca/history/abou...
Employment | Department of History, Queen's University
The Department of History is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful work environment.
www.queensu.ca
October 30, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Congratulations to @kreskildsen.bsky.social on the publication of his @universitypress.cambridge.org THINGS OF THE PAST: a modern yearning, in the Elements in Historical Theory and Practice series. Free to download till 13 November at DOI: 10.1017/9781009342988. www.cambridge.org/core/element...
Things of the Past
Cambridge Core - Global History - Things of the Past
www.cambridge.org
October 30, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Born OTD 100 years ago, British actor Robert Hardy (d 2017). Familiar to Millennials from Harry Potter films, his varied roles included Leicester in Elizabeth R, Prince Albert in Edward VII, Churchill, FDR and perhaps most belovedly, vet Siegfried Farnon in 70s series All Creatures Great and Small.
October 29, 2025 at 11:56 AM
BOO! It's Hallowe'en Week and time for the annual scary music themed episode of Dark Glasses on @cfrcradio.bsky.social at 2. Tunes from Lennie Tristano, Bill Evans, Lou Donaldson, Ahmad Jamal, Philly Joe Jones, Jackie McLean, plus Canadian acts Jane Bunnett, and Murley Bickert and Wallace. Tune in!
a cartoon drawing of a vampire playing a piano keyboard
ALT: a cartoon drawing of a vampire playing a piano keyboard
media.tenor.com
October 27, 2025 at 12:34 PM