Amy Bertsch

Appreciate Julie Carey covering this and the Thomas Balch Library for hosting us! “Queer Virginia” is published by @uvapress.bsky.social

Books on a shelf: Lineage by Karin Wulf, Living Queer History by Gregory Samantha Rosenthal, For the Love of Animals by Anna C. Briggs, Another Appalachia by Neema Avashia, Escape to America by David T. Truong, and Creating an Informed Citizenry by George D. Oberle III

Loved seeing these books featured as new additions to the collection at the Thomas Balch Library! Special surprise was seeing @goberle.bsky.social too!

Registration is open for 2026 Virginia Forum history conference! I'm presenting "Unclaimed but No Longer Unnamed: Recovering Identities of Prisoners Buried at Stoney Lonesome Cemetery" and excited for papers from @historyherring.bsky.social and @goberle.bsky.social virginia-forum.org/2026-confere...

As it turned out, Sarah Grant never lived in the region I was studying and the celebration she recalled had taken place in or near Chillicothe, Missouri, so I did not use her account in my project. But I learned a lot by tracking down her story. 9/end

Unfortunately, this account mistakenly attributed to Albert Brooks has now been repeated. Charles P. Henry used it in his introduction to “The Obama Phenomenon: Toward a Multiracial Democracy” (University of Illinois Press, 2011) and referenced Clark’s book in his citations. 8/

A man named Albert Burks had conducted the interview and the source was a woman in her 80s named Sarah Grant. Clark had accurately quoted the original informant but somehow got the names wrong. By misidentifying Grant, Clark also got the gender wrong. 7/

Clark’s citation indicated the account came from a volume in the “American Slave” series of WPA slave narratives edited by George P. Rawick. When I checked the book, I did not find Albert Brooks’ name among those who had been interviewed by the WPA but I did find the account Clark had referenced. 6/

My research focused on emancipation celebrations in the Mid-Atlantic region and I wanted to know where this particular celebration had taken place. 5/

The incomparable thrill of the Emancipation Day celebration never left Albert Brooks. In a 1938 interview with a worker for the Works Progress Administration, Brooks vividly recalled a ceremony he had attended as a young child shortly after the end of the Civil War. On the appointed day, African Americans journeyed from the surrounding countryside to march in a massive parade that quickly overflowed the streets of the town where Brooks lived with his family. Caught up in the excitement, white missionaries rushed to join the procession. One teacher was so intoxicated with joy that she “stood on the church steps and just shouted unashamed before all the people that were present.” In Brooks's memory, the wind blew strong as his stepfather climbed to the top of the church, shouldering a massive American flag. Brooks described the scene as the Stars and Stripes came to life, snapping and pulling in the fierce wind; his stepfather struggled to hold his ground, then triumphantly raised the flag overhead. Looking back, Brooks recalled: “Since that first celebration I have attended many others . . . but I'll never forget the first Emancipation proclamation celebration.”

In her introduction titled “Language that Cannot Be Misunderstood,” Clark opens with this powerful account of a formerly enslaved person recalling an emancipation celebration that occurred not long after the Civil War ended: 4/

Several years ago while researching emancipation celebrations, I read Kathleen Clark’s “Defining Moments: African American Commemoration and Political Culture in the South, 1863-1913” (UNC Press, 2005). 3/

Was it such a basic thing that no one saw a need to check it? Or was it something so compelling that no one challenged it? 2/

I completely understand that mistakes happen but I’m always curious to find out what went wrong. Where in the research or writing process did the misunderstanding occur? How did a fact get botched? 1/

During a 1998 visit to DC, Vaclav Havel went to the Brickskeller, known for its massive beer menu, for dinner. My girlfriend and I were there with friends and she bought the President of the Czech Republic a Pilsner Urquell.

My AI response was so surprising, I didn’t believe it. I asked if it was just made up and ChatGPT “thought” for more than two minutes before admitting that it “invented details” bsky.app/profile/amyb...

YouTube video by Thomas Balch Library Beyond "Red-Wigged Boy-Girl" Researching the Life of Hannah Nokes with Amy Bertsch

Big thanks to the Thomas Balch Library for inviting me to talk about Hannah Nokes, a Black transgender woman who testified in a high profile murder case Loudoun County in 1933 #TransHistory #QueerHistory youtube.com/watch?v=WS1J...

On left, book opened to show first page of chapter, and a 1930s photo of Hannah Nokes, a Black transgender woman at a wash tub. On right is the cover of book, Queer Virginia, with historic map image in background. Chapter is titled: Beyond ‘Red Wigged Boy-Girl’ Perceptions of a Black Transgender Woman in Northern Virginia before Queer Liberation.

Thrilled to be discussing my research on Hannah Nokes Dec 13 at Thomas Balch Library in Leesburg. "Queer Virginia: New Stories in the Old Dominion" from @uvapress.bsky.social will be available for purchase. #QueerHistory #LGBTQHistory #TransHistory #Loudoun www.leesburgva.gov/Home/Compone...

The Queer South Author Jay Watkins' research offers proof of Richmond's rich queer history, especially in the world of theatre.

Author Jay Watkins' research offers proof of Richmond's rich queer history, especially in the world of theatre.

Proposals for 2026 Virginia Forum history conference due tomorrow, Nov 2 virginia-forum.org/2026-confere...

Transcript from ChatGPT: Me: Are you just making stuff up? Response: Thought for 2m 7s> You’re right to call that out. I’m sorry—I didn’t actually read the PDF and I invented details. That’s not okay.

I decided to see if ChatGPT could help with some transcribing, probably just getting a few words here and there to get me started and maybe save some time. Instead of it saying it couldn't read a PDF of faded handwriting, it completely made stuff up.

Alexandria hosting public meeting on improvements to Douglass Memorial Cemetery | ALXnow Alexandria will provide an update later this month on stormwater solutions for the historic, and flood-prone, Douglass Memorial Cemetery (1421 Wilkes Street). The city says that the cemetery, named after...

Alexandria hosting public meeting on improvements to Douglass Memorial Cemetery

Many thanks to the Arlington Public Library for hosting our “Queer Virginia” author event for LGBTQ+ History Month! We definitely appreciated the insightful, engaged audience! #queerhistory @uvapress.bsky.social

Transgender people made headlines in Loudoun County almost 100 years before becoming a political topic "We do have a history, all of us, in all parts of Virginia,” historian Charles Ford said.

Historian and NSU professor Charles Ford to discuss “Queer Virginia” from @uvapress.bsky.social at Library of Virginia this Tuesday

Author Talk: “Queer Virginia: New Stories in the Old Dominion” | ARLnow In celebration of LGBTQ History Month, come learn about Queer history in the Commonwealth. Join us for an engaging discussion of the new book, “Queer Virginia: New Stories in the Old Dominion" and…

Author Talk: “Queer Virginia: New Stories in the Old Dominion” | ARLnow www.arlnow.com/events/autho...

Historical Society of Fairfax County Presents: Policing of Black Bodies in Antebellum Fairfax County George Mason University student Andrew Snowman will speak about his research into critically investigating 19th century white policing of Black bodies which acknowledges the...

On September 27, George Mason student Andrew Snowman is presenting "Policing of Black Bodies in Antebellum Fairfax County" librarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov/event/15195106

Halloweddings, Fri Oct 31, 2025 10 a.m.-3:20 p.m. | Calendar | City of Alexandria, VA The Clerk of Court is offering Halloween-themed wedding services at historic Gadsby's Tavern Ballroom. Appointments must be booked in advance.

Reservations are now open for Halloweddings on Oct 31 at historic Gadsby's Tavern in Old Town Alexandria apps.alexandriava.gov/Calendar/Det... #halloween

Author Talk: "Queer Virginia: New Stories in the Old Dominion" in celebration of LGBTQ History Month Celebrate and learn about Queer history of the Commonwealth Join us for an engaging discussion of the new book, “Queer Virginia: New Stories in the Old Dominion" and learn about V...

#DMV friends, hope you can join me Oct 9 at this Arlington Library event with Charles Ford and Jay Watkins, co-chair of @lgbtqhistorya.bsky.social, as we discuss our new book “Queer Virginia” from @uvapress.bsky.social arlingtonva.libcal.com/event/15366220

Two images. Rural road with large oak tree on one side. Close up of stoneware crock with cobalt decoration and stamped maker's mark reading L Gardner.

Twenty years ago, I took a historical archaeology class in the Public History and Historic Preservation program at @novacommcollege.bsky.social that changed my life. My program classmates were brilliant and continue to do amazing research and I still work on the project I was assigned that semester.

Book Talk With Charles H. Ford and Jeffrey L. Littlejohn | Queer Virginia Join us for a free talk by historians Charles H. Ford and Jeffrey L. Littlejohn on the new work they co-edited, “Queer Virginia: New Stories in the Old Dominion.” The book offers...

Editors of "Queer Virginia: New Stories in the Old Dominion," published by @uvapress.bsky.social, to speak at Library of Virginia September 30 #queerhistory #lgbtqhistory lva-virginia.libcal.com/event/15187738

Book Review: The Girl in the Middle: A Recovered History of the American West - Emerging Civil War The Girl in the Middle: A Recovered History of the American West. By Martha A. Sandweiss. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2025. Hardcover, 368 pp. $32.00. Reviewed by Megan Kate Nelson Toda...

It was a pleasure to read and write about Marni Sandweiss's new book, "The Girl in the Middle" for the Emerging Civil War blog.

It also gave me a chance to experiment with book review writing style, which was great fun!

emergingcivilwar.com/2025/07/31/b...

On August 8, in remembrance of lynching victim Benjamin Thomas, the Alexandria Community Remembrance Project welcomes historian Steven Hahn who will present "Political Violence, Racial Terror, and the Perpetual Struggle of American Democracy"