iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Heather Cox Richardson to replace Platner! Historians in the Senate! Let’s go!

Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Fireworks last 20 min.Historical myths last centuries. As America celebrates 250 years,let’s spend as much time questioning our stories as celebrating them.That’s why I published this book w/ @agordonreed.bsky.social @nhannahjones.bsky.social @redped.bsky.social et al. www.amazon.com/dp/082037712...

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

@brookenewman.bsky.social excellent talk today on C-SPAN on your compelling book!

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Thrilled to announce my book will be out in Oct! When politicians claim to speak for "the people" on health, history tells a different story: ordinary Americans — not demagogues — built this country's healthcare from the ground up. Pre-order link ⬇️ [link] Please share! www.amazon.com/gp/bestselle...

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Historians and teachers: For Juneteenth, I’ve organized what promises to be a fascinating panel featuring three extraordinary scholars—Vincent Brown, Evelynn Hammonds, and Kendra Taira Field. Please register soon, as space is limited. support.librarycompany.org/event/junete...

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

HISTORIANS, Please share widely.I'm hosting an exciting Juneteenth event at the Library Company of Phila,June 16. "From Ledger to Genome: Data & the History of Black Life," exploring how Black lives have been recorded & recovered across time. Register here. support.librarycompany.org/event/junete...

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Tomorrow night (May 13) at Barnes & Noble 82nd St 7pm the launch of U.S. History at the 250th: From the Revolution to the History Wars I’m honored to be joined by: @nhannahjones.bsky.social, @zelizer.bsky.social, Catherine Clinton @jbf1755.bsky.social : stores.barnesandnoble.com/event/978006...

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Join us Wednesday at 7 PM at Barnes & Noble Upper West Side on 82nd Street in NYC for the launch of U.S. History at the 250th: From the Revolution to the History Wars, part of the History in the Headlines series. The evening will also feature contributors from our January 6 volume.

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Today is Pub Day! US History at the 250th.This grew out of a conversation about the past a & what it means now @nhannahjones.bsky.social, @agordonreed.bsky.social @sienriquez.bsky.social, @redped.bsky.social Erika Lee Robert Parkinson Marc Stein @william-sturkey.bsky.social y, & Catherine Clinton

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

THIS IS AN AMAZING GAY HISTORY PROJECT. I am thrilled to be quoted in FORBES in support of it. “How One Man Is Preserving Queer History Marker By Marker.” www.forbes.com/sites/rdanie...

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Historians Attending OAH — Join Us! We invite you to gather at the Library Company of Philadelphia to honor the extraordinary work of Deirdre Cooper Owens in conversation with the irrepressibly dazzling Kellie Carter-Jackson. support.librarycompany.org/event/the-pa...

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

My article in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Always better in print! “Slavery was central to the presidency. The President’s House should say so” www.inquirer.com/opinion/comm...

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Proud to be directing this conference. Even more excited about the speakers. Please share widely and register librarycompany.org/academic-pro...

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

I woke up this morning to an email from Jonathan Ned Katz, the father of gay American history, telling me that my article is in print in The New York Times. I am standing on his shoulders. He paved the way for so many of us to do this work. Thank you, Jonathan!

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Thrilled to announce our CFP for a new LCP–APS conference on the long history of Black declarations of independence. Presenters will focus on one document to keep the work publicly accessible Please spread the word! librarycompany.org/academic-pro...

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Deeply grateful to my mentors & friends—David Blight, Drew Gilpin Faust, and Stephanie McCurry—for joining me & Scott Hancock in Gettysburg for an inspiring, riveting conversation about the past, present, and future of Civil War studies. We had 380 people in the room and another 250 tuning in online

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

As the history wars heat up, we’re releasing a new book that brings together some of the nation’s leading voices—Nikole Hannah-Jones, Annette Gordon-Reed, and many others—for an urgent, energizing conversation about the origins of the United States. Preorder is now available.

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

Thrilled to receive a Russian copy of my book Maladies of Empire.Even as a supporter of Ukraine, it’s remarkable this translation was completed. I’m glad readers in Russia will have access to this history of transatlantic slave trade, the US Civil War & the origin of epidemiology

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Library Company of Philadelphia is hosting an excellent panel on Black photography during Reconstruction on October 21. Please register for this in person event! support.librarycompany.org/event/the-fo...

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

Thrilled to publish this article on queer heritage in the 19th Century and beyond

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

I’m thrilled to organize this event at the Library Company of Philadelphia for Juneteenth. Please consider attending. Registration is free and open to the public. support.librarycompany.org/event/junete...

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

I won a Guggenheim! Thank you to all those who supported me over the years! The Philadelphia Inquirer featured me in a story & all the #guggfellows2025 were listed in the New York Times on Sunday. Thank you!

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Historians, if you have undergraduates studying Black History in the c18 & c19, please encourage them to apply for a summer fellowship at the Library Company of Philadelphia. I am extending the deadline. librarycompany.org/mellon-schol...

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

Come celebrate Black History Month at the Black Philadelphia conference February 20- 22 in Philadelphia! librarycompany.org/academic-pro...

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

BIG NEWS ALERT: Please come to the BLACK PHILADELPHIA Feb 20-22, 2025 that I am co-organizing with 1838 Black Metropolis & McNeil Center at Penn. A brilliant lineup of scholars, thinkers and writers are presenting! librarycompany.org/academic-pro...

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

Last Monday was the DuBois Forum, hosted by the brilliant visionaries Kendra Taira Field & Kerri Greenidge. It was, as always, an invigorating & inspiring event that began at the Boston Athenaeum, followed by reception, followed by dinner, then drinks at a pub followed by Chinese food at 1:30am.

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

That’s a wrap. My last major obligation at the end of the semester is complete.

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

Thankful to spend time with the legendary physician & histoian extraordinaire Vanessa Northington Gamble on Thanksgiving weekend.

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Thanks to the resplendent Carrie Janney for delivering the Fortenbaugh lecture at Gettysburg College last night. She was brilliant & engaging & everyone is still applauding the next day!

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Thanks Georgetown Medical Humanities for inviting Cindy Ermus, Mari Webel and me to discuss the history of colonialism & medicine. John McNeil was our chair & Lakshmi Krishnan & Tim Newfield were the organizers.

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 09/11/2024

DC Friends: this Wednesday (11/13), I will be giving a talk at Georgetown and I will be in conversation with Cindy Ermus, John McNeil, and Mari Webel on the history of colonialism and epidemics. Join us!

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 11/10/2024

CIVIL WAR HISTORY hosted a discussion on Robin Bernstein's new book, Freeman's Challenge, about the original prison for profit. Thanks to this smart, interdisciplinary group: Crystal Feimster, Evan Kutzler, Jonathan Lande, Koritha Mitchell, Heather Thompson, $ Jon Wells! The issue will be out 2025

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 30/08/2024

As Director of the Program in African American History at the Library Co of Phila, I am thrilled to post the CFP for a conference, BLACK PHILA, that I am organizing with 1838 Black Metropolis & McNeil Center at Penn. Please distribute widely: librarycompany.org/academic-pro...

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 15/08/2024

Today is Publication Day! This book captures the intergenerational dialogue that spans from history to law from political marches to reproductive justice and from Black feminist novels to 1980s pop music. www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0820...

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 07/08/2024

NEW BOOK ALERT:I'm thrilled to announce that my series will publish this book on 8/15 on abortion.It’s a conversation w/ Pulitzer Prize Winner Salamishah Tillet, Deirdre Cooper-Owens, @kawulf.bsky.social, Rhae Lynn Barnes,Catherine Clinton, Fiona de Londras, Johanna Schoen & Alicia Gutierrez-Romine

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 01/06/2024

Happy 🏳️‍🌈 Craig Rodwell, an architect of the 1st Pride, created a bookstore in 1967 b4 Stonewall that opposed the leading gay groups politics.”I wanted the Society to set up a combination bookstore, counseling service, fund-raising headquarters, and office. The main thing was to be out on the street.”

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 30/05/2024

Thrilled this is published. I explain how the transatlantic slave trade coincided w/ the rise of chemistry, which crystalized ideas about oxygen.I then track ventilation from the c19 slavey to TB to CoVid to BLM. Thanks @steerewilliams.bsky.social for editing! academic.oup.com/jhmas/advanc...

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 05/05/2024

Does the Civil War matter? I asked the nation's leading historians--Drew Faust, @mkn.bsky.social Kerri Greenidge, Stephanie McCurry, Yoni Applebaum, Megan Kate Nelson, & Adam Smith in the most recent issue of Civil War History. Crystal Feimster,Associate Editor, joined the conversation.Check it out!

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 14/04/2024

Thanks to everyone who found the time to come to my book launch for the January 6 volume in New Orleans ! It was great to see you!

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 02/04/2024

I am delighted to give this lecture tomorrow at Lehigh University for National Public Health Week. Thanks to the one and only epidemiologist & literary critic Lorenzo Servitje for inviting me.

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Dr. Jim Downs @jimdowns.bsky.social · 13/03/2024

Happy to talk about how slavery led to the emergence of epidemiology at the University of Michigan Medical School yesterday. Thanks for reading "Maladies of Empire."

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