I am still in the process of embracing the idea that I am a scholar. That is why I was surprised at first when I received the kind invitation to share this essay for H-Diplo’s essay series on “Learning the Scholars’ Craft.” From my perspective, when others recount their lives and careers, they often seem…
Category: Formation Essay
H-Diplo | RJISSF Essay 602: Dijn on Learning the Scholar’s Craft
I grew up in Western Europe in the 1990s, during a time proclaimed to be the “end of history.”[1] One of my early memories is of seeing the Berlin Wall come down on TV. I was twelve. When I went to university in 1995, the economy was booming, and liberal democracy went unquestioned. Indeed, so…
H-Diplo | RJISSF Essay 579: Lavelle on Learning the Scholar’s Craft
There is a saying that the only two institutions to survive the Middle Ages are universities and the Catholic Church. While historians may debate the truth of that insight, my interests in the field of international relations and my own approach to the topic and teaching have been overwhelmingly influenced by my formative educational years…
H-Diplo|RJISSF Essay 538: Chandra Manning on Learning the Scholar’s Craft
Readers of H-Diplo will likely wonder “who is that?” when they see identity of the author of this essay since I am neither a historian of diplomacy nor a specialist in international relations. I am a historian of the nineteenth century United States who focuses on slavery, the Civil War, and emancipation, with a teaching…
H-Diplo|RJISSF Essay 528: Threlkeld on Learning the Scholar’s Craft
Given the trajectory of my scholarship over the last fifteen years, this seems funny to admit, but when I started graduate school, I did not know that US foreign relations history was a thing. I enrolled at the University of Iowa in 2000 to study US women’s history with Linda Kerber. I had graduated the…
H-Diplo Essay 511- Mark Atwood Lawrence on Learning the Scholar’s Craft
What do you want to be when you grow up? It’s a question that I playfully ask my daughters from time to time. Still pre-teens, they don’t face high-stakes decisions any time soon. Their answers are nevertheless fascinating. Veterinarian, scientist, musician, coach, writer—I’ve heard a lot of good possibilities that instill a bit of parental…
H-Diplo Essay 503- Isabel V. Hull on Learning the Scholar’s Craft
The H-Diplo editors have asked about the “formative years” of scholars’ interest in international affairs. I honestly don’t know where it all started. I was a nerdy kid interested in history, natural and (I guess) unnatural, and politics very early on. I was an avid reader of Time, despite its “strange inverted Timestyle” (“Backward ran…
H-Diplo Essay 450- J. Samuel Walker on Learning the Scholar’s Craft
I came to a career as a professional historian naturally but indirectly. I began my college education at the University of Delaware as a pre-med major. The curriculum was heavily weighted toward the sciences, and I quickly concluded that biology was tedious, chemistry was bewildering, and physics was incomprehensible. By contrast, my history courses were…
H-Diplo Essay 448- Thomas G. Paterson on Learning the Scholar’s Craft
“Excuse me, sir,” an aide interrupts the president. “History is here to see you.” George W. Bush perks up. “History?” The assistant explains: “He seems ready to render a judgment.” Taken aback, the chief executive asks: “What about my papers? I don’t want him snooping around my papers!” No problem. “Already locked up forever, sir….
H-Diplo Essay 443- Francis M. Carroll on Learning the Scholar’s Craft
I have so enjoyed reading this series of articles in H-Diplo by diplomatic historians on how they came to this profession. What particularly has fascinated me are the twists, turns, and chance that somewhat improbably led so many to rewarding careers in the study and teaching of the history of international affairs. I certainly fall…