This blog offers SHRA associates a less formal place to write about the intersection of current events, academia and history. We will also share "finds" from the various primary sources we examine. We post both Features, our long form pieces, and Vignettes, fun, interesting and notable shorts that we think would be of interest to our readers but that don’t warrant a longer analysis. To see some of our longer analytical pieces, click on Features. For shorter reads, click on Vignettes.

9/7/16 – Historic Cookbooks

As a historian, I read a lot of books. And as a foodie, I read a lot of cookbooks. While many of the history books I read are newly published within the last few years, others date back decades. Typically, these books fall into the category of a secondary source, meaning that they reveal what… Read the Rest »

7/6/16 – Chronicling the Sinking of the Titanic

You’ve heard it screeched on playgrounds, bellowed at parties, and parodied all over the internet. “I’ll never let go, Jack!” It’s the iconic line Rose (played by Kate Winslet) calls out to her beloved Jack (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) in James Cameron’s 1997 movie Titanic. Almost 20 years on, the line — and the movie… Read the Rest »

5/25/16 – The Thompson Writing Awards

The Center of the American West held its 17th Annual Thompson Writing Awards last month in Boulder, Colorado. Having been involved with the organization since enrolling in the Center’s certificate program in 2008, I was thrilled to be asked to judge in the poetry category of this year’s contest and then attend the awards ceremony…. Read the Rest »

5/18/16 -Traveling Through the Mountains…on Camel Back?

I have always found the history of transportation in the West exciting, but as a historian, I find this subject increasingly relevant not only because it tells a story about changing technology and regional development, but because it also speaks to the power of individual ingenuity and innovation. While I was conducting research for an… Read the Rest »

5/11/16 – The Continuing Business of History

Long-time followers of this blog will recognize several recurring themes. In addition to a passion for history, our historians have a passion for the business of history.   Many people outside the profession don’t know the full gamut of career opportunities outside of academia that are available to students of history – or the humanities in… Read the Rest »

5/4/16 – History PhD Alum Invites Students to Consider “What’s Next?”

On April 22, 2016, Jennifer Stevens was invited to speak to a group of graduate students at the UC Davis Humanities Institute on professions outside of academia.  The event was co-sponsored by the History Department.  Dr. Stevens received her PhD in History from UC Davis in 2008. Dr. Stevens discussed her path to focusing on public… Read the Rest »

4/6/16 – Santa Anita in the 1940s

Recently, the SHRA research team had the opportunity to visit Santa Anita Park, a horse racing venue in Arcadia, CA.  They saw a statue of Seabiscuit, an unlikely champion thoroughbred whose last triumphant race was run there on March 2, 1940.  The race, the Santa Anita Handicap, had a purse of $125,000 and Seabiscuit had… Read the Rest »

3/30/16 – Jennifer Stevens answers “Ask a Consulting Historian”

This week on History@Work, the National Council on Public History’s blog, SHRA’s own Jennifer Stevens is profiled in their “Ask a Consulting Historian” series.  If you’ve ever wondered what a career in entrepreneurial history looks like, thought about pursuing history as a career, or just wanted to know more about SHRA, you can do so… Read the Rest »

3/7/16 – The History of the U.S. Botanic Garden

It’s been mighty cold here in Boise and in an attempt to warm up I swiped through cell phone pictures from spring and summer. While doing so, I stumbled upon photographs I’d taken while at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington D.C. My sister, mother, and I vacationed in our nation’s capital over Memorial Day… Read the Rest »

2/17/16 – Comets

For thousands of years the night sky has elicited awe and inspiration. Cultures from around the world have drawn spiritual connections to the twinkling stars and the various shapes of the moon, but perhaps nothing has captivated the human population as much as comets. Last month I came across 19th-century sketches of comets while conducting… Read the Rest »

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