Brian Davis Jr.

My dissertation must have boxing gloves because it has been kicking my tail these last few months.

The ASALH conference was 10/10

I recently came across a photograph in the newspaper that immediately reminded me of the growing scholarly focus on armed resistance. This is exactly why I love working with archives—you never know what you’ll stumble upon.

Book cover reading "In the Shadow of El Tajín: The Political Economy of Archaeology in Modern Mexico," above a black-and-white photo of workers excavating a pre-Hispanic mound with a Willys Jeep to the left and masonry visible to the right.

My book, In the Shadow of El Tajín: The Political Economy of Archaeology in Modern Mexico, is out in November—and it has a cover! Couldn't be happier with @univnebpress.bsky.social. For more: www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/978... 🗃️📚🏺🏛️🇲🇽

Caught @gregorydaddis.bsky.social talk about how deeply war is woven into America’s history.

No Kings Day

Just watched the remake of Ben-Hur and why did they butcher that movie like that? They ruined a classic.

Current listen

I hope Ann Arbor has good food because the frigid temperatures on the forecast are not making me excited for this trip.

Always fun to run into a fellow military historian in the archive. Especially one who extends some helpful advice that will be helpful for my dissertation research. @heatherhaleyphd.bsky.social

Today was a day 😂 the Library of Congress made sure I got my steps in today

Looking for food, coffee shop, and bookstore suggestions in Washington DC

Finally purchased a hard copy

Flight booked✅
Housing secured ✅
Time to get this dissertation research ball rolling!

Current read

Yeah I finished it and the second part was better but still not that great in my opinion

Yeah they played way to much into the romantic relationship which overshadowed the importance of this battalion in my opinion

Watching tv shows and seeing the antiques around their houses, especially their offices. Why when I search for these type of things I can never find them.

Halfway through the Six Triple Eight movie and I am underwhelmed so far.

All that talk that UM fans did about how they should of been in the CFP😂

Welp one task down. Finally was able to reserve a somewhat affordable room in DC for a month. Archives here I come!

I had the opportunity to meet her at the 2024 SMH Summer Seminar. She gave great insight on how to apply WWI into a history course, including courses like US since 1877.

Current read

In the Shadow of El Tajín - Nebraska Press

Ahh! Didn't realize this thing had a page... so official! Fingers crossed for November 2025. www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/978...

Requiring a background check and social security number for an Airbnb is crazy. Finding an affordable spot in the Washington DC area without these additional requirements is a time consuming process.

If I can’t find any off Facebook market or goodwill in my area i definitely will have to resort to amazon

At this point, all I want for Christmas and my birthday are bookcases. I started grad school with one bookshelf of books and now my entire desk has turned into a storage space for book stacks.

Two hours a day. That is the research/work related restriction I am putting myself on until December 27th. My brain needs a much needed rest.

I know they are not the best tool to gauge an instructor and they can impacted by race, gender, and sexuality. Since it is my first time being an instructor of my own course, I found them quite interesting.

Yeah, small towns are just not for me lol. I will definitely enjoy those train rides, who knows, might be a very productive space.