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100 Great Twitter Feeds for History Geeks

admin — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:59:12 +0000

Although one doesn’t often associate history with up-to-date information, finding out the latest in history developments from Twitter is both fun and useful. With the help of a variety of Twitter feeds, you can stay on top of what’s going on in the history world, today and yesterday. Check out our collection of Twitter feeds for history geeks to find the best.

General

From news to history blogs, you’ll find it all from these history Tweeters.

@historytweeter: This Twitter feed is all about history.
@GentlemanAdmn: This gentleman is a history blogger and academic administrator.
@PocketHistory: Check out @PocketHistory to find random facts from world history.
@mnhs: Read this Twitter feed to find facts in Minnesota history.
@Historyday: See what happened on this day in history with @Historyday.
@greathistory_: Great History highlights the best in history blogging.
@katrinagulliver: Katrina Gulliver is an urban historian, writer, and photographer in Munich.
@gcolliasuzuki: Gina Collia-Suzuki is a historian, novelist, and friend of Charles Darwin.
@HistoryOfAll: Here you’ll find the official Twitter page of Everything is History.
@HeritageTwit: @HeritageTwit has the latest news and thinking on heritage policy.
@Linc4Justice: This man is geocaching through history.
@timelines: Use @timelines to discover, record, and share history.
@VHStudio: @VHStudio shares history through visual art and imagery.

Media

See the historic media at work on Twitter.

@historynetwork: This network specializes in history podcasts.
@HistoryChannel: @HistoryChannel has a variety of non-fiction series and specials.
@TimesArchive: Rose Wild is the Archive Editor for the Times, sharing weird history.
@MilitaryChannel: Check out this feed for tweets from the Military Channel.
@ArchaeologyDN: Archaeology Daily shares news, headlines, and more in archaeology and related disciplines.
@BBCHistoryMag: Dave Musgrove is the editor of BBC History.
@HistoryTimes: Through this account, you can learn from the editors of the History Times.
@Discovery_News: @Discovery_News has a variety of programs on history and beyond.
@HistoryToday: On @HistoryToday, you’ll find news and thoughts from Paul Lay of History Today magazine.

Periods & Regions

These Twitter feeds have a concentrated focus on specific periods or regions.

@lucyinglis: This historian covers Georgian London on her blog.
@jntribolo: Through @jntribolo’s tweets, you’ll find news about Roman archaeology.
@WichitaHistory: Wichita History is a world class local history museum.
@kyhistory: This Twitter feed shares tidbits from Kentucky history.
@HouseHistorian: Melanie Backe-Hansen specializes in the history of houses in London and the UK.
@VanArchives: @VanArchives will give you access to Vancouver’s city archives.
@HistoryLink: @HistoryLink is the online encyclopedia of Washington state history.
@MarquetteMuseum: Read tweets from the Marquette County History Museum here.
@NZHistorydotnet: This Twitter account makes New Zealand history fun.
@brooklynhistory: This center is dedicated to the history of Brooklyn.
@Medievalists: Read this Twitter feed about the Middle Ages and Medieval history.
@GeorgianGroup: @GeorgianGroup works to protect Georgian buildings in England and Wales.

Educators & Students

Check out these feeds for the educational side of history tweeting.

@MisterHistory: David Hilton uses online resources to teach history.
@nchsucla: This organization brings historians and teachers together.
@martice: @martice is an MA History student.
@hadleyjf: Hadley Ferguson is a history teacher and tech enthusiast.
@history_geek: Holly Tucker is a college professor in the history of medicine.
@titzel: Art Titzel teachers American cultures in Pennsylvania.
@clioweb: Jeremy studies history and works at the Center for History and New Media.
@tanya_roth: Tanya is a PhD candidate in American and women’s history.
@historying: Cameron Blevins studies digital American history.
@jmcclurken: Jeff McClurken’s work lives at the intersection of teaching, history, and technology.
@dancohen: You’ll learn about history and new media from this professor of history.
@hist_enthusiast: Check out this history professor’s tweets.
@PrivateTeacher: Elivan Souza Usque is a teacher of Mediaeval English Literature and American History.
@Adam_Crymble: Read tweets from Adam Crymble, a history PhD candidate at King’s College.
@rguimaslima: Read tweets from Rui Lima to learn about history.
@mcohen00: Melissa Cohen tweets about high school history and film.
@jsmummert: Jeff Mummert shares technology integration in high school history.
@thinkbigbebig09: Waldemar Rollan is an economy and history professor.
@jaheppler: Jason Heppler is a PhD student in history.

Documents & Publications

These feeds specialize in maps, documents, books, and more.

@TheHistoryPress: This publisher specializes in history texts.
@TimeMaps: TimeMaps works to visualize history and chronology.
@OspreyBooks: Osprey Publishers are the leading publishers of illustrated military history.
@kevinmccann: Kevin is an author of books on Tennessee, Civil War, and more.
@LookBackMaps: Jon Voss shares history through maps.
@archivesinfo: Melissa Mannon is a professional archivist.
@UAarchives: The UA Archives follows the library’s digital library initiative.
@tannerritchie: Here you’ll find a publisher of daily historical sources.
@history_book: @history_book shares new history book releases.
@historycellar: This blog has unseen documents and more.
@RagLinen: @RagLinin is an online museum of rare newspapers.
@footnote: Check out @footnote to find original documents online.
@NS_Archives: Lauren shares the history of Nova Scotia one tweet at a time.

Museums

Keep in touch with history museums all over the world through these accounts.

@TheWomensMuseum: @TheWomensMuseum highlights heroines from the 1500s to the present.
@MesaHistoricalMuseum: This is the museum of Mesa’s history.
@NYHistory: This is Twitter feed of New York’s oldest museum.
@Culture24: @Culture24 has news, listings, and more from thousands of historical resources.
@ShelburneMuseum: The Shelburne celebrates art and design.
@amhistorymuseum: Find real stories and real stuff from the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian.
@RAFMUSEUM: This museum shares the history of the RAF.
@neiltyson: Neil Tyson is an astrophysicist with the American Museum of Natural History.
@mohistorymuseum: Find treasures from St. Louis history in this museum.
@tenementmuseum: Check out this museum to learn about tenements.
@museumnerd: This museum nerd posts about museum exhibits and more.
@NatHistoryWhale: This is the whale on the ceiling of New York’s Natural History Museum.
@halfspoon_com: Halfspoon has a variety of historical exhibits and programs.
@CapitolHistory: This organization educates the public about the history of the US Capitol and Congress.
@Gozaic: This travel community explores heritage sites and culture rich places.
@fordstheatre: Read tweets from America’s most famous theater here.
@bletchleypark: See what’s happening at this British heritage site.

Military

These accounts specialize in military history.

@wceberly: Here you’ll find a historian, author, and oil painter.
@WWIIToday: AT Nelson tweets about news and ideas from WWII.
@OspreyRich: Richard Sullivan is a military history nut.

Genealogy

Interested in finding out about your family background? Follow these accounts.

@bobbitt: Calvin is the Toombs County History and Genealogy Project volunteer.
@Familytreeman: Richard Brashier researches family trees.
@HicksShauna: Shauna is an Australian genealogist and family historian.
@megansmolenyak: Megan is a genealogical adventurer.
@Herstoryan: @Herstoryan discusses genealogy and family history.
@webduck: Carol Wilkerson is a Facebook geneablogger and genealogist.
@Luxegen: Joan Miller studies genealogy and family history.

Historical Tweets

Read these accounts to see what Twitter would have sounded like throughout history.

@HistoricTwits: @HistoricTwits has a collection of the best tweets that might have been in history.
@historicaltweet: You’ll find funny Twitter messages from history on @historicaltweet.
@Wendell_Howe: Wendell Howe is a temporal anthropologist from the Victorian Age.
@TwtsFromHistory: Here you’ll find a Twitter study of history.

Miscellaneous

Sports history, technology, and more can be found on these Twitter accounts.

@Peter_R_Casey: Check out Peter’s Twitter feed to find college basketball history.
@alexismadrigal: Alexis Madrigal is wrapping up a book about the history of American green technology.
@OccultSecrets: Read @OccultSecrets to learn about the history of secret and occult societies.

Job Prospects for an English Major

admin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:48:08 +0000

Someone with an English degree has demonstrated that they possess strong communication skills. In order to earn this degree, the individual needs to have an impeccable command of the language. Accordingly, there are many different avenues an individual with a degree in English can pursue when it comes time to searching for a job. Employers in a wide range of fields are looking for people who can communicate well with others, work independently, and understand what is expected of them. Individuals who major in English are going to possess these skills, making them a valuable commodity in the work force.

One of the most traditional jobs that English degree holders pursue is teaching. If you walk out of college with an English degree, you are going to have an excellent literary background. Schools are looking for potential teachers that have studied many different periods and genres of literature. Couple this with a strong language skills and it is evident why so many English majors turn to teaching. Another reason why this is such a popular trend is that to major in English you need to love reading and discussing what you’ve read. This is a natural trait in anyone who majors in this discipline.

Many English majors pursue a career in writing. There are so many avenues for someone to consider under the umbrella of professional writing. While we would all love to write the next great American novel, this is not a realistic goal. Many individuals will go on to write for newspapers or magazines. Nowadays, however, writing for websites is overtaking the traditional reporting. This has also led to a bigger job market. Writing for television is an exciting pursuit for creative thinkers. These are the glamorous writing jobs available, but there are many other options. Businesses hire writers to help with advertising and for technical writing.

Many English majors will also consider going on to law school. Having a mastery of the English language, makes these individuals excellent fits for this profession. Being a lawyer isn’t exactly like what we see on television or in the movies. A lot of their work is analyzing and writing legal briefs. This comes naturally to the English major. A big part of being a lawyer is being persuasive with words to affect the outcome of a trial or hearing. It is no wonder why so the profession is such a draw for people coming out of the English discipline.

Majors for Students Who Want to Go Into Politics

admin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:48:15 +0000

If you have a strong interest in politics, excellent debate skills, and desire to serve the public, you might be considering a career in politics. Politics is a diverse field and there is no specific educational path to get you there, but you can start by pursuing one of these majors.

Political Science is the study of political systems and government operations. This is an ideal major because students will learn everything they need to know about the government and how it is run. They also learn about legislative processes, the justice system, and political theories and affiliations. Most importantly, students will learn how to crtically evaluate politics, develop their own ideas about it, and learn how to contribute to it. They take courses that help them to understand American government, such as U.S. intelligence and policy making, public policy analysis, U.S. foreign policy, and contemporary political ideologies. They also take courses that focus specifically on politics like politics of ecological crisis, politics of developing areas, and ethnic and racial politics.

History is the study of past events, people, and cultures for the purpose of understanding the world and how it is effected by change. Since the history of America and the development of its government are so closely related, this major will benefit students interested in politics. As it is a broad subject, students will have many choices when it comes to the courses they can take. It is important that they choose courses that focus on American history, such as U.S. constitutional history, U.S. economic history, and civil war and reconstruction. Courses can also address topics in a historical context, such as socialism, race relations and gender roles, all important issues for anyone going into politics. Also relevant, are the analytical skills students will develop as they learn how to evaluate historical events, ideas, and politics, through reading historical documents and critical writing.

Public administration is the study of administrators and how they carry out policy at local, state, and Federal levels. Public administration is an ideal major, as students will not only learn about the government, but about the people the government serves. These majors study how policy is made and acted upon, how policy makers recognize the needs of different groups, and about issues policy makers face, such as health care, environmental quality, crime, and welfare. The most important thing that majors will learn are how to find the middle ground when it comes to opposing viewpoints, the ability to bring diverse groups together, and the desire to change communities in a positive way.

Professor Rating Websites

admin — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 14:48:36 +0000

During college, one of the hardest parts of each new semester is picking your classes and making your schedule. With five English classes and seven Biology I classes to pick from, how do you choose? Well, with the advent of professor rating websites, your hard decision just got easier. These websites are designed to let students rate, review and essentially grade their past professors. They can write a critique, give them a number ranking on a scale and essentially let their peers know what to expect if they were to take this class.

The benefits of these websites are obvious. If you are required to take a class to satisfy your degree plan, wouldn’t you rather take the class from a professor that is reviewed well, funny, a fair grader or an interesting lecturer? The answer is yes! No student wants to be stuck in a class with a professor that is boring, unsympathetic, unwilling to help his/her students, and unavailable for student meetings. This is the type of information that gets shared between students. Just remember to take each of the critiques lightly. Remember, what one person sees as excessive homework, another student might see as interesting additional work that is essential to the overall class.

But there are also deterrents to this website as well. Every student is different and experiences things in different and unique ways. They also have unique learning styles. If one student is an auditory learner, having a professor that is an engaging speaker is essential to them. Another student may be a visual learner and require great notes or slideshows in class. Unfortunately, sometimes students rate their professors on likeability alone. They can leave out valuable information concerning their teaching and grading style and focus solely on their character. While having a nice teacher is great, having an informative teacher that you can effectively learn from is even better.

Popular professor rating sites include: pickaprof.com, ratemyprofessor.com, professorperformance.com and more. There are a lot of website available today, so check with your university and friends to see which one is most popular at your campus. Overall, these professor rating sites are very popular and provide a beneficial service to most students. Just remember that when you rate your own past professors, be truthful, objective and honest. And at the end of the day, the majority of university professors are good at their jobs, or else they wouldn’t be there in the first place!

How Colleges Are Pairing up Roommates

admin — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 06:47:11 +0000

Many colleges these days have a way of pairing up roommates based as much as possible on the incoming students’ personal preferences. How this works is that the college will send each incoming student a lifestyle and preferences sheet to fill out. They can jot down information about themselves, as well as what they would like to see in their future roommate. People can write whether or not they are a smoker, if they are a messy person, if they are a certain religion, their sleep patterns, and if they prefer to room with someone who is quiet and shy, or loud and boisterous. The sheet will read somewhat like a questionnaire and is often called a Roommate Compatibility Survey.

It is important to be as specific and honest as possible when filling out these roommate preference forms. The more your university knows about you and your preferences, the better they’ll be able to pair you up with a roommate you will have something in common with. While colleges have gotten very good at this process, your roommate selection may still not be ideal. Even so, you can at least rest assured that effort was put into pairing you with someone who meets at least a couple of your criteria. You may not end up being best friends with your roommate, but at least you will have something to talk about during the times you’re both in the dorm.

Another good thing colleges are doing is letting you know who your roommate is before you actually move in. This means you can typically call or e-mail your future roommate and get to know them somewhat so it won’t seem like you’re moving in with a complete stranger. It’s also handy to coordinate with your roommate what stuff to bring to the dorm. For instance, if your roommate plans to bring a rug, microwave or mini-fridge, you won’t need to bring one.

Roommate Compatibility Surveys are a great way colleges are making the process of getting a roommate slightly less random. However, some colleges take the process a step further than a vague survey and perform much more in-depth profiles of their students. Using software very much akin to that used by dating websites, they match roommates at many, many levels of compatibility, giving you a much higher chance of finding the perfect roommate. Some colleges even allow their students to choose their own roommates. You should check with your college ahead of time to see what steps they take to foster roommate compatibility.

Art and Music Education in College

admin — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 06:46:46 +0000

For years, experts have been touting the benefits of studying the arts, including music and theatre. For example, arts education has been linked to academic achievement, social and emotional development, civic engagement and equitable opportunities. These benefits are exactly what most parents hope to cultivate in their school aged children. By studying arts related topics, students can improve their grades, mature and become generally well-rounded while also learning. Experts also claim that students who are involved in some form of arts education make significant gains in other areas like mathematics, reading, cognitive abilities, critical thinking and verbal skills. It can also improve their motivation, concentration, confidence and teamwork. With so many benefits, it’s a wonder why more students don’t enroll in art, music or theatre classes in college.

With the introduction of the No Child Left Behind Act, primary and secondary schools are becoming more focused on raising their standardized test scores in subjects like reading and math than they are in promoting arts education. Because of this, fewer and fewer students are aware of their profound benefits. If your school did not provide you with a wide selection of arts related programs or classes to participate in, you should consider including several of those classes in your college degree plan. Many majors in college require students to successfully complete several elective classes. These are classes separate from the specific field of study and are chosen by the student. Arts education at the college level can traditionally be broken down into several fields. Studio Art includes classes in drawing, painting, sculpting, pottery and photography. As the name implies, they are traditionally held inside an arts studio rather than a classroom and are highly hands-on. Theatre is another arts field and can include classes in costume design, improvisation and ensemble acting. These classes may be held in an auditorium or a regular classroom depending on your college. Music classes include learning a particular instrument and studying the history of popular musical genres and musicians. If you choose a Fine Arts class, you could study great artistic masters, their works and important artistic movements.

The benefits of arts education are numerous and well documented. If you have the opportunity to reap those benefits by enrolling in an arts related course in college, don’t hesitate. That one class could enrich and change your life forever.

Adjunct and Tenured Professors

admin — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 06:45:49 +0000

When you take college classes, you will most likely be taught by a variety of different educators, from adjunct professors to tenured ones. What’s the difference?

Adjunct professors are educators that are hired on a part-time, contractual basis. They are not full-time teachers and often have a second job to supplement their income. Adjuncts are traditionally hired to meet student demand when programs become too full and additional classes are created to fill in for a tenured professor on leave or to conduct trial classes the university is interested in including in their program offerings. To become an adjunct, most colleges require people to possess a master’s degree in that field, but some only ask for a bachelor’s degree and real world experience.

More and more universities are hiring adjunct professors as their federal and state funding is being cut each year. This is because the cost of hiring an adjunct is much lower than that of a tenured professor. Adjuncts are not entitled to receive benefits like health and life insurance, retirement plan, paid vacation and other perks. They are also not likely to receive their own office space, which cuts down on the cost of maintenance for the university. Most colleges provide communal work space for their adjuncts.

On the other hand, some college educators are lucky enough to be hired full-time, then promoted to the rank of assistant professor and then associate professor and then full professor. At any point in this process they are eligible for tenure, a lifetime appointment to their university until their retirement. Tenure is awarded to academics that have proven themselves in research, the classroom and in administration. It provides professors with full-time salary, benefits and great respect amongst peers until they decide to leave the university.

Tenure was traditionally awarded to professors to promote academic freedom, meaning they would be free to argue, promote, research and study controversial ideas and theories without the fear of losing their jobs. But many critics believe that tenure only opens the door for lazy and underperforming professors to take advantage of the system. For the most part, universities support the practice of tenure, believing that it promotes academic excellence among its younger faculty and can be cost saving. For example, non-tenured professors must prove themselves by displaying excellent teaching and research abilities in order to be nominated for tenure. This benefits the university immensely.

Utilizing the Career Center

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 06:50:10 +0000

Most colleges now have a career center designed to help students and alumni navigate the tricky waters of finding a job. Unfortunately, many students don’t ever step foot in their career center. This is a shame because the people that work there are trained to help individuals with everything from creating a resume, interviewing, networking, and actually looking for jobs. At some point during your senior year, you should go in for an appointment and see what they have to offer. Sometimes just talking about the job search can get you in the mood to find the career that suits you best. It can be a frustrating process so you should seek the help from folks whose job it is to find you a job.

You work so hard during your undergraduate years with all your energy going towards completing your degree. Unfortunately, many college seniors have not had a chance to carefully think about their careers. It is likely that many students have never even put together a resume. Consulting an individual at the career center is a positive first step. They will help you tailor your resume for the industry in which you are going to seek a job. You may think you have little to put on your resume, but they will help you to accentuate the highlights of your education to make you an attractive candidate for the jobs you are considering.

Most jobs are won or lost during the job interview. The people at your career center are trained to give students mock interviews. Practice is the only way you will improve your interviewing skills. They will teach you how to answer certain questions and prepare you for questions you would never expect to have to answer. They will teach you proper etiquette for meeting with prospective employers. This is a highly ritualized experience. If you are not prepared for the curveballs that are likely to come your way, then you will see your prospects for the position for which you are interviewing plummet.

Perhaps the most important service your career center can provide is their ability to help you network. Regardless of the industry you are entering, it is who you know that will get you in the door. Many colleges will urge their graduates to keep in touch with the career center. They will gather their work information, and, if the graduate is willing, the career center will put current students or recent alumni in contact with other alumni who are established in the work place.

Trials and Tribulations of Student Teaching

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 06:49:37 +0000

Before you can become a professional teacher, you need to complete a student teaching program. During this time, you will take over a number of classes from a teacher with whom you are teamed up. Experiences certainly vary as there a lot of factors that can make this a wonderful or a dreadful couple of months. The most crucial factor is the teacher that takes you on as a student teacher. Some teachers will go above and beyond their responsibilities to show you the ropes. While others will take advantage of your presence and treat your semester of student teaching as a vacation. The most important thing you need to keep in mind is that you have an obligation to your students. As the student teacher you are responsible for carrying on the curriculum and covering the material that these students deserve.

There are sure to be days when your lessons don’t go well or the students seem to tune you out. These should be used as learning tools. Spend some time at the end of each day to reflect on what went well and what didn’t go the way you planned. Remember that all teachers, regardless of experience level, have some rough days. Teaching is such a fluid process. While planning out your lessons is helpful, you have to be prepared to adjust on the fly. A lesson you put together the night before may seem flawless, but your students may not react the way you always envision. Don’t be discouraged when things don’t seem to be clicking. This happens to everyone.

It is human nature to be nervous when you are standing in front of a group of people. The key to success is being prepared. If you thoroughly know the material, you will automatically be more comfortable teaching the material. Students of all ages can sense when a teacher is unprepared. If you show that you care about what you’re teaching, your students will also pick up on this. They will begin to reciprocate your passion, even if it’s a class or material that they don’t really care about. Passion can be contagious.

Pick the brain of your cooperating teacher. Teachers that take on a student teacher typically need to have at least three years of experience; they’ll likely have more than that. They are there to help you through the good times and the bad. Go over your lesson plans with your mentor before you actually teach them. An experienced teacher can usually spot a flaw in timing or in your procedures. Often, they will allow you to make your own mistakes because eventually you will be on your own. Talk with them at the end of the day about what you think could improve upon. However, be sure to highlight what went well so you can build up your confidence level.

Surviving the Dreaded 8 a.m. Classes

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 06:48:54 +0000

Is there anything worse for a college student than an 8 a.m. class? Upperclassmen can generally avoid them because they have earlier access to registration than underclassmen. Freshmen and sophomores, on the other hand, usually get the short end of the stick and have to take a few early bird classes in order to have a full course load. It may be a bum deal, but you’re not destined to drool on your desk through every class. Here are some ideas to help you make it to that crack-of-dawn class and actually stay awake.

The night before an 8 a.m. class, make sure you don’t stay up too late. Save your goof-off nights with your roommates for another night. Next, be sure to set two alarms. Your clock and your cell phone alarm is a good combination. Move your clock across the room from you if you are prone to hitting the snooze button. Make sure it’s a really annoying alarm too — something you can’t easily sleep through (although please have pity on your roommate and don’t let it go off over and over). Next, get all your books and supplies together in your bag the night before and lay out your clothes so all you have to do is grab these and go. You may look like a scrub when you drag yourself into class, but at least you made it and got every last ounce of sleep you could before going to class.

If you have time to brush your teeth and take a shower, by all means do it, but at the very least splash cold water on your face and swoosh with some mouthwash. This is often just the invigorating zap you’ll need to wake up. If this doesn’t work, there’s always coffee and energy drinks, but you may regret the mid-afternoon crash that accompanies long-term caffeine use.

Leaving enough time for breakfast is also a good idea. Good breakfast foods to boost your energy in the morning include: granola, bananas, breakfast tacos, or even a protein/energy shake. If you don’t have time for a full-out breakfast, have something quickly grab-able on hand — like a cereal bar, an apple, some yogurt or something else you can run out the door with.

Finally, try to sit near the front of your 8 a.m. class. With your professor so close, you won’t be as tempted to nod off and you’ll find it easier to pay attention.