Dr. Rachel Michelle Gunter
@PhdRachel
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Public Historian/Prof; Voting rights, suffrage, & citizenship; married to SNEH; Views=my own. On #TikTok she/her https://t.co/78Z5GfmIAo
Texas
Joined July 2012
I'm thrilled to see that the @nowthisnews feature on Ruth Bryan Owen & women's independent citizenship has posted. It was a lot of fun to talk RBO & citizenship. .#twitterstorians #womenshistory #WomensHistoryMonth #WomensHistoryMonth2023.
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Grandparents were telling me their meet cute & how she left college after 1 year to marry him. Grandpa went to check the mail & grandma leaned forward & said, "Don't ever do that. Don't ever leave school for a man." Then acted like nothing happened when he walked back in the room.
Some of you reveal that you never talked to your Grandma in the wildest ways. She told her daughters and granddaughters to avoid her life while your predatory ass was looking up to the institution that stole her dreams.
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That’s not just any woman. That’s the grandmother of Juneteenth, Opal Lee.
A Texas woman was driven off her land by a racist mob in 1939. More than eight decades later, she owns it again.
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Teaching evaluations from spring are in. I am once again the best and worst professor, who is very engaging but also just stands there and reads notes, and gives great and encouraging feedback but never gives positive feedback.
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I received an award from my school that is actually a scholarship for a student of my choosing. Found out this morning that said student met all of the requirements this semester & will receive the award & I could not be more thrilled for them!
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Still doesn’t seem real but my dad passed away unexpectedly this morning. He wasn’t feeling well, collapsed in the kitchen, & the EMTs weren’t able to revive him. He’d just turned 67 last week. He was also mom’s caretaker.
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I can’t force my students to read the syllabus or check their emails regularly but sure Jan
The Texas Senate is debating SB 16, which prohibits a professor from forcing a student to adopt a certain political belief. Sen. West is grilling Sen. Hughes to present evidence of this issue happening in Texas. He is unable to do so. #Txlege.
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Several students commented on the mask blazer color match game today so I thought I’d share
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Senator, you represent the entire state, so you should know that El Paso (where I was in this picture last week) is in fact on the border as you can see Mexico in the background. It’s a big freaking border.
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@alyssaleann This beats the hell out of the wedding I went to with free bar drinks but only paid soda options. Like a rum & coke was covered but just a coke would cost you.
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“She has helped bring millions of federal research dollars to the university, and last year Texas A&M’s pharmacy school named her the early career researcher of the year.”. But she criticized the Lt Gov’s policies in her area of expertise.
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Ran across an image prepping a lecture that pissed me off so I'm sharing it w/ you. This is how the murderers of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman & Michael Schwerner acted in court assuming the all white jury would acquit them in 1967. #twitterstorians.Source:
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As a women's historian and voting rights historian, I can assure you there is a long line of women who have done this. Your husband doesn't need to know who you voted for, and it is not public information. He can't look it up.
I want to be very clear that you can also lie!!!! you are allowed to give whatever answer is safe, regardless of what the truth is.
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@LouisatheLast The number of times we've had people call security on us, because my group of girlfriends includes a butch cis woman suggests this is incredibly untrue. Also super annoying that people think they can & then call security/police for people minding their own business.
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Watching them kick/stomp officers who are on the ground w/ the juxtaposition of 45's description of them as "peaceful" with "love in the air." #HATH.
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Time to update your Reconstruction lectures everyone!.
Donald Trump has been charged under the Enforcement Act of 1870– an anti-Ku Klux Klan law from Reconstruction— for conspiring to deprive persons of the civil rights. (This is now 18 USC 241). There are six co-conspirators.
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We’ve had two VPs shoot someone though only one actually killed the guy. Looking at you Aaron Burr.
"she's the worst vice president in history" we literally had a vice president shoot someone in the face??.
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Instead of reading an article with cherry picked data about students w/ disabilities, why not check out this piece of student journalism documenting the very real struggle of those students to be accommodated at @TAMU.
There are over 3,000 students with disabilities on A&M’s campus. The Americans with Disabilities Act is meant to provide equal access for all students, but students have alleged failures and rampant discrimination across campus.
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I’m both honored and thrilled to be able to say that I won the East Texas Historical Association’s Higher Education Teacher of the Year award for 2023. Thanks to my former students and current colleagues who worked to make this happen.
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Y'all. It finally happened. I have two classes of in-person 1st half U.S. history this semester, & no Hamilton stans for the 1st time since the musical came out. Only 1 student in each class was remotely familiar with it.
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@nonanswernom When I was fighting with insurance to get my mom much needed rehab, someone on this ap put us in touch with PAF and they were quite helpful.
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Doctors, if you’re going to have a student do a physical exam you HAVE to ask the patient first, especially in a well woman exam. Yes, I’ve already sent a complaint to the provider.
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Seeing this at several colleges now- admins blaming lowering enrollment on protestors without considering how potential students are responding to the university’s own actions against protests (&/or their refusal to divest).
Emerson College says enrollment down significantly after "negative" reaction to student protests; layoffs planned
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They expected 8-10 peeps at the local library to hear about Women in the American Revolution tonight. We had 25 including a woman whose baby is due today but seems happy chilling where they are. Thanks to everyone for coming out!
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I’m rewriting my lecture on fascism & antisemitism in the Europe & the US in the 1930s in the lead up to WWII. I already have Charles Lindberg, America 1st, & a night at the garden. Any good sources to add?#twitterstorians.
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A semi-annual reminder that if you're writing about the American Civil War on a final exam.
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When I was a 17yr old freshman & filed a police report about being stalked by a grad student, the college informed me that he could register for any of my classes & there wasn’t anything I could do about it. They gave me a list of his rights. That was their entire response.
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@DrJenGunter I use the short leggings with side pockets for hands free phone carrying and earbuds with pass thru tech so I can hear bikes, pedestrians, or cars approaching.
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We did the comatose uncle activity today where students decide the most important events of the last 20 years. Then we get everyone's list on the board & reduce the group list to 20. 1st year students argued to combine 2 items under a more vague term. See below for instructions
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I’m here for all the #twitterstorians being disappointed in the failed attempts at historical research on #GildedAge fashion at #MetGala2022
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True story. A student once dropped my class because they thought I was too hard on Columbus. Reader, I assigned his journal as a primary source from @AmericanYawp. Student was mad about what Columbus said about himself.
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So this guy toured a slave plantation and was surprised they mentioned slavery?.
Fox brings on a guest who was a recent visitor to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, to complain about his tour guide over-emphasizing TJ’s history as a slave owner: “I just thought that Monticello would be protected from this disease of wokeism.”
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Several of my grad school peers (& me) ended up at community colleges. Other peers would ask if we planned to try for an Assist Prof job at some point. We pointed out the significant pay cut that would require. We made more than Asst Profs to start & we get raises most years.
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If you find it difficult to get across to students the fact that literacy tests never tested literacy, I got you.
To show that Jim Crow literacy tests never tested literacy, I failed one, actually two, on the internet. Check it out. #twitterstorians #sschat .
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The person in the grad office that had to make sure all dissertations had the proper format said mine was so interesting he saved a copy to read at home for fun.
What’s the most memorable feedback you’ve received on your work?.
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The amount of effort put forth to silence these stories or excuse this behavior in academia is maddening. I've never lost respect for people or historical associations faster than when they defended a man who physically accosted me at a conference. Do better.
In March last year @ErinPritchard15 & i edited a book & it was published. Today, it is now unpublished, it has been silenced &we have received a reversion of rights. Im proud of this collection, of everyone who wrote a chapter, the bravery of every single author. We will be back.
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So, eugenics. What he’s arguing is eugenics-that character traits tending towards criminality are inherited (& therefore should be purged from the gene pool).
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Ok. Who told my students that "firstly" is just the smart people version of "first" and how do I get them to stop using it (incorrectly)? #AmGrading #twitterstorians.
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I decided not to attend my grandmother's funeral as most relatives aren't vaxed, won't mask, won't test that day, & the services are indoors followed by a meal indoors at a restaurant. But my mother-in-law sent some lovely flowers as we remember grandma at home this weekend.
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I have resigned from my committee obligations to the Texas State Historical Association and along with my fellow panelists pulled out of the 2024 annual meeting.
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Trying something new in my 2nd half US history class. I'm making a chart of the big promises presidents made as candidates. Then we lecture. Then we look back at the chart & determine if they met a promise, made a good faith effort, or did not meet their promise. #twitterstorians
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And it’s my birthday too! Cheers! .Yes this is a key lime martini, which went great with my Cuban sandwich.
john brown and kermit the frog have the same birthday.
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Public service announcement: please do not answer your cell phone and have a conversation on it while sitting in a panel & listening to papers at an academic conference.
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Dear students, it is too late in the semester. I am running on allergy meds and caffeine. Do not confuse me by writing about "fairies on the Oregon Trail." It took me entirely too long to realize what you meant. Thank you.
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Grading during Spring Break isn't exactly fun, but my students are doing a great job. They wrote opening statements for the prosecution in the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire case against the owners. #twitterstorians #AmGrading #historyteacher.
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I was a college freshman in an honors class & our govt prof asked who was registered to vote. So many hands went up he asked who wasn't registered. Me & 1 other girl raised our hands; we had the highest grades in the class. He was shocked & asked WHY?.Me: I'm 17.Her: I'm Canadian.
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Student today: I like this class. It feels like we’re learning stuff that’s illegal. Me….Student: like all the stuff they’re trying to ban
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Oh look. Someone on the internet told me to “do my research” and “google” which elections non-citizens can vote in. You know, that thing I wrote a good chunk of my dissertation on? .So… I did it. Spoiler: me and my PhD were right.
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Suffrage historian logging in & seeing that "Repeal the 19th" is trending on this godforsaken ap.
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@mkramer The 1900 Galveston Storm, especially when the lady dips her finger in the flood water, tastes it, & realizes it’s salty meaning the ocean and bay had met and completely covered the island hours before the storm came ashore.
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Grant certainly didn't see it as just being "caught on the opposite side of things."
@lawton_sophie @jacktwheatley Here’s U.S. Grant talking about Robert E Lee’s surrender, saying “We were just caught on the opposite side of things.”
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You’ll know them by their fruits. No decent human being refers to an 8-year-old murdered on his watch by weapons he increased access to as “illegal.”.
I’ve announced a $50K reward for info on the criminal who killed 5 illegal immigrants Friday. Also directed #OperationLoneStar to be on the lookout. I continue working with state & local officials to ensure all available resources are deployed to respond.
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I'm sitting on a couch in a hotel room looking over my scripts 1 more time focusing on pronunciation. Tomorrow I start filming a series with @TheGreatCourses on overlooked moments in US history—those largely unknown by the general public. Goal is to film 5 lectures tomorrow!
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I’m so glad I’m teaching first half US history this summer and not 2nd half that ends at the present and gets updated each semester. Just… yikes
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This is one of my fav stories every time it happens.
I've been waiting for this moment and it has finally happened. I got a paper review back saying I need to familiarise myself more with the works of Heejung Chung and that my work should engage more with her work.
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No state has allowed non-citizen voting in a state or federal election since 1926. It was explicitly banned in federal elections under Clinton. This is not a thing.
Johnson: We now have so many non citizens in the country that if only one out of a hundred of those voted, they would cast hundreds of thousands of votes. This is a dangerously high number and it is a great concern to millions and millions of Americans. It could obviously change.
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Um, you ever just record a quick TikTok on your back porch about Susan B. Anthony and then have it hit almost half a million views in 24 hours, a day before Election Day? B/c it's a little wild!.
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It’s my birthday! So we’re watching Happy Death Day-my fav. Got my free tea, cute but comfy sandals, & a new watch band. Had a lovely lunch on a patio with a friend & looking forward to dinner on a winery patio! .Happy birthday to all my historian bday twins! @L_Historienne
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@shaistapatel Agreed. I’m first Gen in that neither parent went to college. They didn’t know how to help me or even what questions we should ask when choosing schools to apply to. They still don’t really get what I do for a living beyond teach.
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And people were worried about a woman president?! #January6thHearing #HATH #January6thCommitteeHearings.
On J7: "POTUS is very emotional and in a bad place. Meadows." #HATH #J6Committee.
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Reminder that the U.S. government deported American citizens during the Great Depression. They’ve done it before and they’ll do it again.
We told y’all. They’re coming for citizens. That’s what denaturalization means
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The argument that Harris can’t be trusted because she’s been the VP for 3 years, doesn’t work when your guy was the president for 4 years.
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Grandma’s blood pressure was so low they couldn’t read it on Thursday. By Friday morning her stats were fine puzzling the hospice nurses. After all her living kids came in to see her, she passed in her sleep at midnight last night. 💛.
My grandmother has dementia & has been on hospice for more than a year now. She's a tough cookie. Had a broken hip & Covid on hospice, & just kept kicking. But it looks like she may be taking a turn & it has me thinking of her when she was herself. So read on for grandma memories.
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"a propagandist needs an echo chamber" and Fox was that echo chamber for 45. @JohnKingCNN ahead of the #January6thHearings #HATH.
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@ba_lyons Dad barely completed high school (they let him walk despite excessive absences). Mom started community college classes in her 40s. I remember me & my bro trying to help her w/ some math problems. I’m not sure she finished the semester (w/ 2 kids at home & working full time+).
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Suffrage historian here to remind all that the 19th Amendment did not "guarantee" any woman the right to vote, certainly not Black women in the Jim Crow South. It removed one barrier between women & the vote; they could no longer be turned away because of sex.
Reminder: NEVER take the right to vote for granted. It was a mere 103 years ago that women did not have the right to vote until the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Drop a 💙 if you agree the Voting Rights Act should be enhanced and expanded.
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Saw dad one last time this morning. We put the cane the prisoners made for him in the casket with him. 💙.Thank you to everyone who has donated to the prison ministry in his name or sent encouragement to the family.
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If you're downplaying the attack the Capitol Police faced, please remove any blue lives matter or thin blue line paraphernalia you have & light them on fire. #HATH.
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I wish Oprah would’ve made a connection between those white parents that pulled their kids out of newly public integrated schools & founded segregation academies & the voucher movement to defund schools today. Same fight.
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I’m dealing with loss like a true academic -taking on a new writing project (dad's obituary).
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@McGeeReports @TAMU They have no idea the damage they've done to the school both in the loss of a great talent and the massive hit to the school's reputation.
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Blue dress, blue nails, blue jewelry including the necklace that is the last birthday gift dad got me, & a blue mask. Ready as I’ll ever be.
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Shoutout to PhD Candidate & photographer @thejohnlegg for this (& a few other) new headshot(s). If you're at next year's Western History Association conference, be sure to book a session with him. You get great photos and to help a deserving grad student pay for his trip.
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I was very nervous & a family friend I happened to know from outside academia was there. He sat in the back row and when I began to read my paper and glanced up for the 1st time, he had two big thumbs up & a grin to encourage me. Be like that dude.
What stands out in your memory about the first conference you went to as a grad student?.
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For those seeing the active shooter alert at my school, I am not on campus today and am safe. Waiting with baited breath to hear of our students and colleagues are safe.
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A recurring part of patriarchy is the older generation of men complaining younger men aren’t masculine enough.
Jerry Seinfeld says he’s nostalgic for “agreed upon hierarchy” and “dominant masculinity”. "I get the toxic thing, but I still like a real man,” he says.
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I’m fine! But got caught in a freak hail storm on my run. Heard storm sirens when I has a 3/4 mile from home w/ no shelters around. Got hit by hail before I jumped into these random guys’ car. They were Aggies! let me wait it out & drove me home. Urgent care says no concussion!
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First day of fall semester done! And I have one section of 2nd half US History this semester, and more than 2/3 of the students in it are frequent flyers who took my 1301. Day 1 was like a mini reunion. It was really lovely.
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We finally managed to get the updated Novavax vaccine! We used the CVS system online, which now lets you select which of the Covid vaccines you want to receive. (This is in north Texas).
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Pregnant women can file for divorce in Texas but it isn’t legal to grant the divorce while she’s still pregnant.
One of the most overlooked results of the abortion ruling is that pregnant women can't get a divorce in some states. Homicide is one of the leading causes of death for pregnant women, but if a pregnant person wants to divorce their abuser, states like Missouri won't allow it.
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@DrBuckinghamTX When a specialist tells a politician that their policies are killing people, the correct response does not include trying to have them fired for their incredibly well-informed opinion.
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It’s clearly a racist demand, but also either a lack of understanding of academic training or more likely a dismissal of it. My GRE scores from a test I took before training as a historian (& being 1) won’t tell you much about my worth as a historian. My body of work will.
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Reminder that the U.S. has a long history of a homegrown fascist movements that the Proud Boys are part of. They wrap themselves in the flag but they disdain democracy and embrace violence (as fascists do). #HATH.
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@Literature_Lady “Please review my last email message and let the grading professor know if you have any questions after your assignment is returned.”.
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My dissertation is listed as evidence in a wikipedia entry on the women's poll tax repeal movement. You never know where these things will end up.
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This Autism Awareness Month, I will post a picture of me in love with my husband. He is AUTISTIC and we accept that. I consider that as a reason to celebrate. Thank (non existent) God for making him autistic. ❤️ #AutismAcceptanceMonth #AutismAcceptance #subtweet
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Immediately started wondering what the Rate My Professor version of this is. .
In an era where web reviews seem to be everything, this just cracked me up.
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Here goes nothing! Let’s hope we make it to DFW with all our parts!
JUST IN: United Airlines Boeing 737 lands in Oregon after losing panel in mid-air
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Part of a larger effort to take over the Texas State Historical Association. Here's the latest.@TexasMonthly article on the current fight. You can learn more or sign the petition at #twitterstorians .
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Got my hair trimmed (while wearing a mask) ahead of filming the pilot episode of a lecture series for @Wondrium this week! Wish me luck!
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This. It feels so 1920s right now with a fairly liberal media/society but extremely conservative politics w/ ableism, sexism, racism, etc on full display.
Again, you may want to look up the history of societies post 1918 flu pandemic.
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