And welcome to HistoricAL! I am Alex Lund, a graduate student who loves history, Ultimate Frisbee, and traveling the world. It doesn’t take long for those close to me to realize I have an affinity to the past. Who else but I would have dressed up as Alexander Hamilton for Halloween 4 years before the musical. However, it’s taken a literal lifetime to admit to myself that a lifelong curiosity was more than a hobby, or a quirk of my character, but a true passion.
In May 2018 I graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in History. When I wasn’t busy studying I spent ample time getting lost in nonsensical conversations and throwing frisbees. PLU provided me with the skills and confidence to treat my “one wild and precious life” with the respect it deserves (Mary Oliver). So before I leave dreams for sleep, let’s see what can happen with some concentrated effort and dedicated time.
In early August, I made the move to Boulder, Colorado to pursue an M.A. in History. I am thrilled to explore this new place and take advantage of the vast geographic and intellectual landscapes I now find myself surrounded by. While here, I will be focusing on Environmental and Agricultural history, but my academic interests are about as eclectic as they come. To paint with a large brush, I am most interested in American history of the West, philosophical traditions of Democracy, East Coast bias, the Reformation, hypocrisy, and Orwellian Language theory.
Part diary – part self-published academic word vomit- HistoricAL will be a place for conversation, public transparency, and accountability while I begin my tenure as a grad student. I plan on writing about the trivial, the critical, and the apocryphal. The first Sunday of the month is my goal for new posts, though if inspiration strikes, I may contribute more than on a monthly basis. I welcome your involvement and feedback as I am very new to this.
I have been warned that grad school, particularly in the humanities, is a lonely and isolating place. In a proactive effort to limit such isolation, I wanted to share my experiences and projects with you all. I have noticed talking history gives me energy. Although starting and contributing to a website probably isn’t the best coping mechanism devised, I have ignored my mental health in the past and it’s something I hope to avoid by being more transparent with my thoughts and ideas. Sometimes the darkest places we go are within our minds. I hope to let the light in by sharing what I am working on, mulling over, and curious about with you as I pursue my passion!
My next posts will focus on History as an academic discipline, my thoughts on why history is worth studying, and the role of historians in the public sphere. Stay tuned!