In recent news, two historians are among the 10 new fellows at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, the Supreme Court of the United States blog is looking for student interns, the AASLH has a new online community, Kafka’s papers are unearthed but not made public, and workers at the World Trade Center site have uncovered an 18th-century boat. Then read on for two teaching-related articles: first, students and scholarship online, then, teaching about the Bush presidency. Also, take a look at historians in public, the writing process, George Washington’s 101 rules, William Faulkner audio recordings, and more.
News
- CASBS 2009-10 Fellows
The Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (CASBS) at Stanford University’s 2009-10 Fellows include historians Estelle Freedman (Stanford Univ.) and Pekka Hamalainen (UC Santa Barbara). See the full list of fellows online. - OT10 internship opportunities at SCOTUSblog
Students who have an interest in blogging and the Supreme Court should consider applying for an unpaid internship at the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) Blog. Applications accepted until August 15, 2010. Hat tip. - AASLH Launches History News Online Community!
The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) has created a new online space where visitors can discuss topics from History News Online. - Fate of Franz Kafka’s literary heritage turns into nightmare ruled on by judge
Writings by Kafka have been unearthed in a bank vault, but may remain unseen by the public for who knows how long. - Ship Buried in 18th Century Unearthed at WTC Site
Workers find 18th-century boat at World Trade Center dig site. Apparently the hull was used as fill to extend Manhattan into the Hudson River. Relatedly, see this article about excavation also revealing a 19th-century river wall at the same site. Unfortunately, the rebuilding plans require tunneling through it.
Teaching
- When Students Assess Scholars
What happens when students engage with academic scholarship online? Mills Kelly assesses the issues at edwired. - Teaching ‘W’ as History
Writing for The Chronicle Review, Sean Wilentz and Julian E. Zelizer reflect on their experiences teaching an undergraduate seminar on the Bush presidency.
Viewpoints
- Historians in Public
This essay from Thomas Bender is part of the Transformations of the Public Sphere forum, put together by the Social Science Research Council and NYU’s Institute for Public Knowledge. - Writing is Thinking
More advice from Kerry Ann Rockquemore on how to combat writer’s block and “debilitating perfectionism,” and take control of your writing process.
Historic Figures
- George Washington’s Rules of Civility
Look back to a 2003 article from NPR on Washington’s 101 “Rules of Civility” and then read about a guy who tries to live by them. Hat tip. - Faulkner at Virginia: An Audio Archive
Listen to audio recordings of William Faulkner’s lessons at the University of Virginia in 1957 and 1958.
More
- Rivers of Ice: Vanishing Glaciers of the Greater Himalaya
The Asia Society’s Rivers of Ice site uses comparative photography to show the differences in glaciers now and 80 years ago. See also the New York Times look at the same issues. - Lifestyles of Mad Men
Scott McLemee at Inside Higher Ed takes a look at the popular show Mad Men and puts it in historical context. - National Museum Home To Black Heroes And Foes
Although the National Museum of African American History and Culture is still five years from completion, Lonnie Bunch, the museum’s founding director, shares recent discoveries with NPR’s Guy Raz, such as an early 18th-century button that was one of many placed on Thomas Porter’s slaves during auction, representing a larger theme of domestic slave trade.
Fun
- I Write Like
Who do you write like? David Foster Wallace, H.P. Lovecraft, Dan Brown? Just for fun, input some text (paragraphs from your latest article, blog post, or e-mail) or another writer’s text and analyze it through this site to see which famous writer it sounds like. - Wagon ruts from Oregon Trail still visible today
Boing boing has posted a photo showing wagon ruts still visible from the Oregon Trail.
Contributors: David Darlington, Elisabeth Grant, Vernon Horn, Jessica Pritchard, and Robert B. Townsend
This post first appeared on AHA Today.
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