Rich Condon

On December 2, 1859 John Brown was executed in Charles Town, Virginia for his role in leading an attack on the US Arsenal at Harpers Ferry in the name of Black liberation.

“Was John Brown simply an episode, or was he an eternal truth? And if a truth, how speaks that truth today?”

-W.E.B. Du Bois

Me: *dramatically complains of sore throat*

Wife: “don’t worry, you can’t die of a sore throat”

Me: *gestures at casualty list*

It’s been a long year, but we’re thankful for many things today. Sending love to you and yours this holiday season.

Now go nap.

Home for the next two weeks. Here’s to the final stretch of the Fall 2025 semester.

How are we only 10 months in? 🤦🏻‍♂️

The annual @gettysburgcollege.bsky.social Fortenbaugh Lecture never fails to bring generations of historians together in one room.

Last night’s gathering was no different, presenting the opportunity to chat with some of those who have inspired my work thus far.

Many thanks to my friends at the Greater Pittsburgh Civil War Round Table for always being such gracious hosts

As we all watch Ken Burn’s American Revolution on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) this evening, remember that federal funding for this public programming has been cut by a president who aspires to be like the king patriots separated from nearly 250 years ago.

Fife and drum echo through the streets while reenactors roam the town and pickup trucks zip to and fro. All the while our little section on the first day’s battlefield remains serene.

This is Remembrance Day weekend in Gettysburg.

Same paper. Same bullshit. Different year.

The Baltimore Sun:
November 14, 2025 ➡️ April 17, 1857

Welcome back, my fellow formerly furloughed friends.

We just survived the longest government shutdown in United States history. Today marks our return to the places we belong, and to the mission which we took an oath to execute.

And remember - be kind to yourselves.

No but we need one!

💀💀💀

I’ve been called a lot of things throughout my life. “Your Local News Source” is not one of them.

In the first few episodes of the new James A. Garfield miniseries, Black Grand Army members are getting more screen time than they ever have in cinema, let alone any Grand Army veterans.

In exploring history, Death by Lightning is *making* history.

I’m in the same boat. It’s okay. The world’s a shit show right now 😊

Furlough Day XLII:

Term papers are due in one month. Here’s to the home stretch.

Furlough Day XXXVII:

He was found days later on the edge of town where “he had laid himself down to die. In his hands … was an ambrotype containing the portrait of three small children … two boys and a girl.”

Thirty-three year old Sergeant Amos Humiston, 154th New York Infantry, carried a copy of this photograph into action on July 1, 1863. Within minutes of his arrival here, Humiston numbered with the dead of Gettysburg.

As I’ve done countless times since the start of the shutdown, I stepped out of the house for a few minutes to walk my backyard battlefield; this time with a tangible piece of history, and a window into the human spirit.

Furlough Day XXXVI:

Furlough Day XXXV:

This evening we cast our vote on the Gettysburg battlefield, where soldiers of the US Army’s 11th Corps fought for a “new birth of freedom.”

Everything currently sucks, but at least we have democracy (for now).

The Future of Public History: A Conversation With Rich Condon Thanks to my good friend Rich Condon for joining me to talk about his career in public history.

The Future of Public History: A Conversation With Rich Condon #NationalParks #PublicHistory open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

Furlough Day XXXIV:

When family is in town to Devil’s Den we go down.

The Future of Public History Rich Condon ponders the future of public history in today's environment of division and anti-intellectualism.

Many thanks to @civilwarmonitor.bsky.social for allowing me the space to share some thoughts on the current state, and possible future, of public history.

www.civilwarmonitor.com/the-future-o...

The Future of Public History Rich Condon ponders the future of public history in today's environment of division and anti-intellectualism.

What's the future hold for public historians? In our latest digital history column, Rich Condon reflects on where things stand—and the challenges going forward—for those on the front lines of historical interpretation. Read it here: bit.ly/4qGcyNA @richcondon.bsky.social

1990-2025:

Different pumpkin onesie. Same anxiety.

Furlough Day XXXI:

Happy Halloween, yinz. 🎃

If I don’t do anything about it I think it might be the death of me.