In addition to my projects section, check out the links below for some coverage of my oral history and collaborative projects. (And my Instagram, if y0u’re social.)

Early American History

C-Span Lecture on early Anglo-Native Trade

NEH grant release (with the tiniest mention in the New York Times!)

Virginia Sovereignty Summit coverage

Oral History

The Center for Oral History coverage

A short radio series from our regional NPR station, WVTF

Oral History and Ghost Stories, Gloucester County, Virginia

Oxford University Press Blog, Oral History

Fieldwork in Folklore Panel

Another impossibly great Tidewater student oral history fieldwork trip, and I've been walking on sunbeams all day. We all know the indescribable feeling that comes from watching people you care about connect to the place you love the most, and it will carry me through finals season and to the next fieldwork trip. ❤️🦀 Thanks to the Heritage Committee of Middlesex County, @spohp @va_humanities @vt_liberalarts and as always @fairfieldfoundation for everything.
Misty passed away today. My favorite thing to see in any scenario is her running full bore towards me with a big happy open mouth, and I wish I could see that again. I can't think of a neat summary or single lesson that sums up her time with me. One of many thoughts I've chosen to sit with: while always polite to strangers and patient with everyone, she was shy and did not like most people. When you gave her room, though, the most incredible person emerged. Smart enough to teach puppies how to behave, gentle enough to make deer friends in the backyard. Fast at a full-speed run and a world-class wrestler of much larger dogs. Scavenger in the woods but organizer of vigils for sick humans. Ready for every mountain and stream. Ready for thirteen-hour naps and pizza. Screaming and stomping, so excited to see you, when you came home. All of that was already there, no improvement required. It just needed space to come out. Time and space without fixes are free gifts, and in return we get so many unexpected joys.
Last minute trip to see a friend and spend some time outside. Always come back tired, having forgotten one thing at home (TIN FOIL), but I am grateful that I can make some distance for a little while, and I'm grateful that distance creates gratitude for the stuff left at home.
I have had a really rough semester. All the conversations and the work felt frantic and uncomfortable. Like trying to convincingly wear an old itchy sweater that is at the same time stretched out by the washing machine and somehow too tight. But you tell yourself it fits because it did before and you wear it anyway and then you sweat. I'm grateful life outside of work is full of frosting and texting and wobbly tables at all of the coffee places, though in the affray I've fallen out of touch with people I love (or just been kinda off tbh) and have not been the most reliable family member of all time. I just gotta admit defeat and let go. And hug a friend and a dog. Today is that day. Thanks Amy for this pic 💖
Enjoying my mom jeans today, felt nostalgic #boomersofinstagram
I finished the Richmond Marathon, and had a nice time with my sister and her partner and a nice vomit session at a gas station on the ride back home. Of course I bought this picture of myself.
Bumbled through another week of way too many good things and good people for it to not be a win. The papers are not graded and I said that awkward thing in a meeting, but it's nice outside and the cupcakes are made and the paper I wrote sitting in a warm spot next to my favorite people is turned in. I'm pretty sure a lot of my worries are driven by what a great thing I have in any season, and how it would be sad for it to go away. #googlyeyes
Spent time at a conference with kind people who want to make the world better with accessible and accountable education. "I don't think our state governor went through a gen ed program," one person said. And great conversations about the war on science and critical race theory, with people from across the country. We are not alone! city museum, dred scott courthouse, and plane views #stl
UK best of (in my opinion) from Cardiff, Ambleside, Kendal, Edinburgh, Manchester, and London. So grateful for my sis for keeping it sharp and for the recs from everybody, and grateful to my legs for getting a backpack up those gosh darn hills
I ran my first marathon, finished #5 and first female, this is my cool trophy Thanks to @jmtayl for sandwiches and driving all the way to cheer me on and @shannonlralston for my lucky shirt and @desireepoets for being the best running buddy of all. Also he hates social media but thanks to Jeff for running to the finish line with me and driving us home #bedtime #tired
Thank you @emily.satterwhite for making my week. Starting up interviewing again, in the place where I first learned how to do it, makes me feel like myself.
social media break ☕️💛☕️
Throwback to Mama Steve's. Can't wait to live in a world again full of diners and diners: blueberry pecan waffles at unreasonable hours and all kinds of people talking over each other, clanking and smacking the veneer and laughing. Hold on for it!
Winter camping = no bugs, no people. Willow and I saw: a cranberry bog, awesome diners, neat rocks, THE STARS, and lots and lots of things from a big distance, which is perfect at whatever elevation.
I had a unexpectedly nice weekend in Alexandria. Which I had only heard about as the hometown of people I did not really like that much in college and so I had no desire to go. Then I remembered I can have fun any goddamn place even if there are 🙄 waterfront districts. #latestagecapitalism #nova
AM I TOO LATE FOR HALLOWEEN POSTS
Fall happened quickly and I'd like to hold onto it for a quick second more. Holding on and I am glad you are too!
Agrotourism is so weird. Like why am I paying to see your corn and why do I love it? Saw a group of teenagers in cardigans posing with pumpkins they found on the ground on their heads, they seemed like fun people so I did it too.
I'm not normally this person, but I've never run a half marathon before. Thanks for my lucky shirt @shannonlralston and for running with me @desireepoets 🌻 what a nice way to end summer! Headed out to eat everything in my freezer.
Everybody and everything needs to slow down, because I'd like to actually enjoy this time laughing with you, eating good food, and being in a healthy body. Fuck writing books and giving presentations sometimes!