History blogs
December 11, 2009 4:02 PM Subscribe
What are your favorite blogs about history?
I've recently had a love affair with history. I love learning about the reasons why people have gone off and done things unfathomable by the modern standpoint. I like to hear about the underdog stories of history, even the times where the underdog was hopelessly crushed. So I'm looking for blogs about history - preferably ones that aren't military-centric - that are written by someone who truly has enthusiasm for history. Interesting stories, reinterpretations of commonly accepted events, and any other history related thing you can think of: I'd like to see some blogs about it.
Previously. But that was two years ago, and we all know the pace of the internet.
I've recently had a love affair with history. I love learning about the reasons why people have gone off and done things unfathomable by the modern standpoint. I like to hear about the underdog stories of history, even the times where the underdog was hopelessly crushed. So I'm looking for blogs about history - preferably ones that aren't military-centric - that are written by someone who truly has enthusiasm for history. Interesting stories, reinterpretations of commonly accepted events, and any other history related thing you can think of: I'd like to see some blogs about it.
Previously. But that was two years ago, and we all know the pace of the internet.
Best answer: I'm very partial to wiser today. Updates are infrequent, but the archives are rich, and the excerpts are varied and fascinating.
posted by timeo danaos at 4:23 PM on December 11, 2009
posted by timeo danaos at 4:23 PM on December 11, 2009
Best answer: Ooo, I'm excited to see the answers to this question. My contribution is not a blog, but the podcast Stuff You Missed In History Class from How Things Work. If you haven't heard it before, I highly recommend checking it out. It's done by two women who enthusiastically cover facets of both the well-known and lesser-known sides of history.
posted by radiomayonnaise at 4:53 PM on December 11, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by radiomayonnaise at 4:53 PM on December 11, 2009 [1 favorite]
Seconding Shorpy, though it's not stories.
I love the Bowery Boys podcasts, and their accompanying blog. NYC-centric, but often really interesting.
posted by alphasunhat at 4:59 PM on December 11, 2009
I love the Bowery Boys podcasts, and their accompanying blog. NYC-centric, but often really interesting.
posted by alphasunhat at 4:59 PM on December 11, 2009
http://edgeofthewest.wordpress.com/ is a blog by several historians and a few other academic types. It is usually really good.
posted by twblalock at 5:01 PM on December 11, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by twblalock at 5:01 PM on December 11, 2009 [1 favorite]
My suggestions are all American History:
Past in the Present: kind of slanted toward the public history end of it - museums, historic sites, etc. Also ruminations on teaching and current kerfluffles in the field. The blogger's area of interest appears to be Colonial and Revolutionary America, but he roams around.
History News Network: a good roundup of current events in the world and the history field. I've heard you can find good ideas for Metafilter posts here.
Religion and American History: what it says on the label.
My Year of Living Rangerously: blog by a park ranger at Antietam National Battlefield. I know you said you weren't interested in military history, but this guy's love of his job just shines through.
Vast Public Indifference: history, grad school, and gravestones!
I have to mention Northwest History, by Metafilter's own LarryC.
These are all good folks, check out their links for more.
posted by marxchivist at 5:49 PM on December 11, 2009
Past in the Present: kind of slanted toward the public history end of it - museums, historic sites, etc. Also ruminations on teaching and current kerfluffles in the field. The blogger's area of interest appears to be Colonial and Revolutionary America, but he roams around.
History News Network: a good roundup of current events in the world and the history field. I've heard you can find good ideas for Metafilter posts here.
Religion and American History: what it says on the label.
My Year of Living Rangerously: blog by a park ranger at Antietam National Battlefield. I know you said you weren't interested in military history, but this guy's love of his job just shines through.
Vast Public Indifference: history, grad school, and gravestones!
I have to mention Northwest History, by Metafilter's own LarryC.
These are all good folks, check out their links for more.
posted by marxchivist at 5:49 PM on December 11, 2009
100 Years Ago Today
Not a huge amount of analysis, just a look at what stories were making the paper exactly 100 years ago.
posted by paperzach at 9:16 PM on December 11, 2009
Not a huge amount of analysis, just a look at what stories were making the paper exactly 100 years ago.
posted by paperzach at 9:16 PM on December 11, 2009
The LA Times Daily Mirror is my favorite. Mostly it presents old newspaper articles without much comment but some articles provide discussion and comments. Although Shorpy provides nice pics, there isn't much discussion or enlightenment about history. I'm trying to build a similar site for local history using a forum format.
posted by JJ86 at 7:14 AM on December 12, 2009
posted by JJ86 at 7:14 AM on December 12, 2009
There is no way you will possibly not enjoy Kate Beaton's Hark! A Vagrant.
posted by oulipian at 1:10 PM on December 12, 2009
posted by oulipian at 1:10 PM on December 12, 2009
Cliopatria's blogroll from the History News Network.
posted by peacay at 4:13 PM on December 12, 2009
posted by peacay at 4:13 PM on December 12, 2009
It's heavy on sarcasm and humor, but Badass of the Week has set me off on many a personal research tangent.
posted by Brittanie at 3:05 PM on December 14, 2009
posted by Brittanie at 3:05 PM on December 14, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Zed at 4:16 PM on December 11, 2009