Today’s What We’re Reading features early southern cooking recipes, a discussion of Monuments Men with historian Astrid Eckert, free Amtrak rides for writers, and much more!

History Links

The Bedroom Where Lincoln Slept with Another Man

New Orleans based artist Skylar Fein’s new work “The Lincoln Bedroom” recreates the bedroom Lincoln once called home in a new exhibit at the C24 Gallery in New York City.

Soul Food Redefined: Early African-American Cooks

Historian Amanda Moniz reveals how early African American cookbook authors are changing our views of southern cooking. Bonus: Moniz comes armed with recipes for readers to try at home.

Preservation and the Archives

The Monuments Men—Culture as Collateral

The online video series “Emory Looks at Hollywood” features historian Astrid Eckert talking about Monuments Men.

Red List of Syrian Cultural Objects at Risk

The International Council of Museums has published a booklet listing the categories of historical artifacts at risk because of the civil war in Syria.

A “Desire for History”: Building Queer Archives at UChicago

The University of Chicago is building an archive to document the lives of queer and LGBT people. A lecture entitled “Desire for History” about this archive is on the university’s website.

Writing

Why Is Academic Writing So Academic?

Joshua Rothman argues academic writing has become “knotty and strange, remote and insular, technical and specialized, forbidding and clannish…”

Amtrak Offering Free Trips to Writers

John Fea posted an interesting opportunity from Amtrak for writers looking for free rides.

This post first appeared on AHA Today.