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Dear AllFirst, this looks like a great forum and I can't wait to get involved; I am a new member and only recently discovered the site but it looks like great fun! Ok, down to the business of this post…I thought you might be interested in my new series of video podcasts/mini-documentaries, A History of the Early American West. The series is my attempt to create a very accessible method of introducing my research area to a broader audience of enthusiastic non-experts. To give you a bit more information my name is Darren R. Reid and I am an academic historian (University of Edinburgh) working on various aspects of early American and frontier history. In particular my research field concern the trans-Appalachian west; the frontier of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries in places like Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana.The first episode of A History of the Early American West explores the frontier between 1769 – Daniel Boone's first foray into Kentucky – and 1774 – the outbreak of Dunmore's War. It is my hope that this will be an ongoing series covering the development of the frontier into the antebellum period, hopefully demonstrating how the frontier of this period ultimately came to impact wider American history.You can check out the first episode by clicking here…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKerQYk8eVY (Part 1)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha5iRcLv2sw (Part 2)Thanks for reading and please do give me feedback – I am just starting out in the world of online documentaries and any and all feedback will be most welcome.See you about the forum,Darrenhttp://www.huntersofkentucky.comTwitter @ThatHistorian
No I've never been, but plan to go next year. I'm part English…and very British at heart lately. ;D Here's a thread about some geneology research I've been doing.
No I've never been, but plan to go next year. I'm part English…and very British at heart lately. ;D Here's a thread about some geneology research I've been doing.
You'll love it. I grew up in a small town on the east coast of Scotland (Arbroath – where the Scottish Declaration of Independence was signed) but always loved Edinburgh; I live just outside the city now. You'll know what I mean when you walk down the royal mile, it's just layer upon layer of history all around you. Good genealogy. I've always wanted to properly study my family history but I am so busy with other people's history that I never get the time. That said I did do a DNA test and compiled my “deep ancestry” for my paternal line over the last 250,000 years. I made a map I could post here – is the General History forum the place for miscellany like that?
Welcome aboard Darren.
Thanks Scout!
So, Darren, may I ask – what got you interested in the history of the early America?
Of course, I get asked this all the time – especially by my family! In broad terms: I did my undergraduate degree at the University of Dundee and I have to give credit to some of my mentors from there for getting me interested in it, particularly Matthew C. Ward (he wrote a great book called Breaking the Backcountry). Matthew's mentor-ship really got me thinking about early America but in general terms the whole idea early America just fired my imagination. I'm not sure how to describe it, but the idea of taking a small number of Europeans, dropping them into an alien land surrounded by an alien people and observing how they responded just seemed to be history in its purest form. In more specific terms, I began serious research (Master's Degree, PhD, career, etc) because of the sources I discovered for the Ohio Valley. There was such a variety of oral history that gave an insight into non-elite frontier inhabitants that I had to study it. I think I finally found the sources that would allow me to study how a group of (illiterate) Euro-Americans reacted in (another) alien world. Does that make sense? I don't think I've ever tried to describe it that precisely before so I hope it's not too rambling or confusing!
Yes, I think that makes sense. I was curious just because most of the time, it seems like those of us in the United States are looking at our own history, or that of Europe. It's interesting to hear it when it's the opposite way around.So which specific parts (geographic) of Kentucky does your research focus on? One of our forum members here is a resident of that state.
So which specific parts (geographic) of Kentucky does your research focus on? One of our forum members here is a resident of that state.
I work on the whole state, in the years 1775-1795, so the settlement of the region, its transformation into a state, and then ending with the Treaty of Greenville (which ended the Indian war and, essentially, the war with the British in the west. I have used Kentucky as a type of micro-study, a proxy for the wider region. That said I've also worked on Ohio during the same period but it is largely an extension of my work on Kentucky. I have also done some work on Illinois and Indiana in the early 19th century, particularly the build up to the Black Hawk war. I also do a bit of Native American history and, occasionally, modern issues affecting this group.Actually, I can qualify Kentucky slightly – I work on central and western Kentucky. As a rule – and this was said by another Kentucky historian I know, and I found someone in the early 20th century saying the same thing – historical studies of Kentucky tend not to cover the eastern (mountainous) part of the state.
Hi Darren! If you don't mind I would like to post your videos on my Writers of History site and maybe publish one of your essays on the front page if you have one you are willing to go public with. I'm the Kentucky resident Phid mentioned. My postgraduate work is in Early American History (First Great Awakening/Colonial South Carolina). I might have some questions for you when I get back in school and finish my MA thesis.
Hi DonaldOf course, I would be delighted if you posted the videos. I would be happy to post an essay at some point but I am just finishing a manuscript at the moment that is taking up all of my time. As soon as it is done though I'd be happy to contribute; I can chat about history any time, though 🙂
Welcome!I hope you'll be a frequent poster. I'm especially interested in hearing different perspectives about American History and hope that with Scottish experience you'll be able include that in your posts.
Thanks Daniel – it's been a while since I've had a chance to pop in here (busy getting my PhD!) but I will try and get back more often. If you are interested in frontier history I'd love to hear your feedback on my work – I've posted a sneak preview of my upcoming book on my blog if you're interested: http://www.darrenreidhistory.co.uk/read-a-sneak-preview-of-my-new-book-american-indian/
