An "Other" Historian's Diary

S ummer is around the corner. Yesterday was my sons' last day of school (for this spring). My sons' school district, Saint Louis County Library, and Saint Louis Public Library all have launched their summer reading programs, so we have a lot of "reading logs" attached to our small white board. While I need to work on my dissertation and will thus have less time to read other books, I have also been thinking, out of curiosity, what I would like to read if I have time to read this summer. Looking at my bookshelf, it is very easy to find some books that I could not find time to read in the spring semester since I needed to write and teach. Some of them came from my book-shopping at AHA, and some from my earlier purchases, and some others came from library. I have read some of the books in this list, but would like to revisit them. And some other books are just published lately and I wish I would have a chance to read it sometime in the future. Books About Ear...

I have been searching for job opportunities lately. While I search for job postings, the real question for me is what I really want to do and what skill sets I have that can make meaningful contribution to this world. I have to consider what advantage I have and how I can apply those advantage in getting a job. As I read those job posting, I have found some of them asking for "international" or "intercultural" experiences. Since it might be my advantage, I find it interesting to dig a little bit deeper into this idea. W hat do they mean when they ask for international/intercultural experiences? Are they looking for an American who has experiences working abroad or working with people of different cultures? Or are they looking for someone who is from a different culture and has been immersed in American culture? People from different cultures reason distinctively, so it is valuable for a group or team to include people from diverse cultures that can offer...

I published an article on the Journal of the American Revolution. As JAR just launched their own podcast , I was invited to be interviewed for my article. I felt extremely honored for this invitation. The interview has been done last Thursday, and I was told that it will be out in two months. You will have to listen to it to get the full content, but I would like to offer a teaser here. Q: Tell us about your background. A: I am a PhD candidate at Saint Louis University. I am originally from Taiwan. I received my bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in Taiwan. My master’s thesis was about Edmund Burke’s American policy. After that, I went to Utah State University to study U.S. history. After receiving a master’s degree at Utah State, I came to Saint Louis University for PhD degree. I am here with my wife and three kids. Q: What first drew your interest into this topic? A: First of all, I had great interest in eighteenth century ever since I was in college. I thought I want...

I took Amtrak train to Chicago for AHA 2019. It was my first time taking Amtrak, and also my first time taking train from Saint Louis. I took this photo when the train was crossing Mississippi River.   This year's annual meeting of the American Historical Association (AHA) was held at Chicago. I took Amtrak for the first time since I came to U.S. It took a little bit longer than driving and, of course, flying. However, it is much cheaper than flying and much easier than driving. I even finished reading a book, What is Intellectual History , which I have meant to read for years. I have three major purposes to attend this meeting. First, this year's theme was loyalty. As a historian researching New York Loyalists, the conversations surrounding loyalty would benefit my thinking of this subject as I am writing my dissertation. Second, I was interested in the panels about intellectual history. I used to identify myself as an intellectual historian for many years until I met...

It has been a while since I updated this blog. What have I done in the past few months? First of all, my wife and I have a new baby boy. Academically, I have finalized a dissertation chapter, written a new chapter draft on the historical memory of New York Loyalists, and I am teaching my own class of world history from 1500 to present. I am writing another new dissertation chapter now on the Anglican Loyalists in New York. Writing dissertation, like many people have said, is a hell-like experience. It is like being "cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone." (Rev. 19:20) But, fire could also refine us, as long as we can stand through it. Let's hope that I will stand through it. So far, I really enjoy my first experience teaching my own class. I will be lying if I said I don't feel good when students call me "professor." (Sometimes they called me "Dr.", and I had to correct them, which made me even more eager to become one.)   But...

What do you do on Independence Day? BBQ? Parade? Fireworks? The Continental Congress passed the resolution to declare independence on July 2, 1776, and accepted and signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4. On July 3, the day after they signed the resolution to be independent,  John Adams wrote a letter to his wife, Abigail Adams, saying,  Yesterday the greatest Question was decided, which ever was de­bated in America, and a greater perhaps, never was or will be decided among Men. A Resolution was passed without one dissenting Colony ' that these united Colonies, are, and of right ought to be free and independent States, and as such, they have, and of Right ought to have full Power to make War, conclude Peace, establish Commerce, and to do all the other Acts and Things, which other States may rightfully do. ' You will see in a few days a Declaration setting forth the Causes, which have impell’d Us to this mighty Revolution, and the Reasons which will justif...

Studying Loyalism unfolds an alternative understanding of the American Revolution. In the traditional standard narrative of the American Revolution, most attention has been given to the revolutionary side; however, the intense focus on the revolutionary side neglects the fact that most people were not militant enough to be revolutionaries. In eighteenth century North American colonies, most people cared more about how to maintain their daily life than about the abstract theory of rights. Even among those who cared about politics, the numbers of Loyalists and Patriots were close. As John Adams recalled in 1813, “N. York and Pensilvania were so nearly divided, if their propensity was not against it, that if New England on one Side and Virginia on the other had not kept them in Awe, they would have joined the British.” Adams also quoted John Marshall saying that the southern states were also nearly equally divided. He then pointed out that, “Look into the Journals of Congress and you will...