My friend Lindsay
You know how you have friends that make it easy to root for? I’ve got a few but one of them is Lindsay Chervinsky. I started following Lindsay years ago on twitter because like me, she is an early American historian, though unlike me, she is really freaking good at it. Lindsay was already a rock star in the field, coming through the ranks at UC Davis (they only produce rock stars apparently), doing a prestigious fellowship at SMU, and is now executive director of the George Washington Presidential Library.
Along the way, she happens to have published a book on George Washington and creating the Cabinet (below) and edited another about losing American presidents.
You may have seen her on TV, where she’s constantly making the rounds to help us understand the role of the American President in our society. And based off last night’s debate, her work could not come at a better time. In fact, she has a new book out as of last week which shows how John Adams shaped the office for his successors. If you’ve read Lindsay’s work, you know that it is a page turner, and the rare mandatory addition to any library featuring works on the early American republic.
If it sounds like I am bragging on my friend, it is because I absolutely am. As talented as a scholar as she is (she has few peers), she is a better person. Lindsay over the last few years has become a trusted voice of reason in this field, an ear when I need to kvetch, and a supporter of this here enterprise. In fact, it was Lindsay who was the first person I ever told about the idea of an HATM podcast, and she’s been on multiple times, not because she has to, but because that’s what she does for friends. Oh, and by the way, we’ve never actually met in person. (We have to fix this.)
I’m rushing to get this post out before I head to work this morning—in fact I’m going to be late—but I wanted you know about Lindsay’s work today. She’s doing the heavy lifting in our field, writing important engaging scholarship and being a public voice for the profession. If you’re looking to add to your collection, check out her work.
If you’d like to hear Lindsay on our pod, you can below or check out her recent appearances, including with our friend Kate Carpenter’s terrific podcast, Drafting the Past.
It’s a great day here in Colorado. I hope your morning is off to a great start too.
JWH