My name is Michael Lynch. I’m an East Tennessee native with a B.A. in History from Lincoln Memorial University and an M.A. in U.S. History from the University of Tennessee. My thesis examined American interpretations of Revolutionary War militiamen at the Battle of King’s Mountain from 1780 through the late 1800’s.
I’ve done two tours of duty doing curatorial-type work at a Lincoln/Civil War museum on the campus of my alma mater, and I spent a year running a historic house museum. Right now I teach history at Clear Creek Baptist Bible College and Lincoln Memorial University.
This site is basically a soapbox for me to expound on matters relating to American history, especially from the colonial era through the Civil War. I’m a reluctant blogger, since I have an intense suspicion of all gizmos and the communication they enable, but I appreciate the opportunity to speak more informally about history than I could in other formats. Your comments are always appreciated.
For information about the painting at the top of the blog and why I picked it, click here.
If you’re interested in my thoughts on human nature, the state of the world, the meaning of life, and various other topics about which I have no business speaking, visit my other blog.
Allow me to express my compliments on the clean look and strong content of your blog. I like the way you report news that’s current but relatively durable, too, and the casual tone. New to the blogging world myself, I see your work as a model.
Ditto the above comments..I have developed a personal blog on my military history interests…perhaps you might add to your links?
I am a History adjunct with American Military University..
will highly recommend your site to my students
Hi Russ,
Consider it done! Thanks for the kind words.
–ML
Michael,
Talk about timeliness! Already, I have utilized two of your topic threads to provide as reading resources and “thought pieces” in a tool we use called Discussion Boards. The courses are: HIST 402 Colonial America (Alan Taylor’s American Colonies (New York: Viking, 2001) is the textbook) and HIST 101 – American History to 1877.
Here is my introduction to your discussion(s):
“This is an excellent example of how topics of historical merit can and should be selectively examined and intelligently discussed in the blogosphere….the key is the word “selectivity” …understanding and using the historian’s tools to arrive at as best an objective interpretation of events and their meaning – all the while recognizing that the search for truth is constrained by the factors of time, available access, consideration, and weighting of primary and secondary sources and the inevitable individual and subjective bias each historian brings to the process. Or, as Michael Lynch, the blog owner and author of the posts below, more eloquently and lucidly phrases it:
“The historian’s tools are, as Lipstadt said, history and truth. If the weight of the evidence and the employment of reason lead inexorably to a conclusion, and they still fail to convince someone, then they just won’t be convinced. The problem then will be one of perception, not historical interpretation—and certainly not one of law. The historian’s job is to examine the evidence with a clear mind, find the explanation that best fits that evidence, and then present that explanation. I’ve got enough faith in the discipline to think that sooner or later the best hypothesis will come out on top.” (from “History by fiat” discussion of blacks Confederates)
FYI – I have been an adjunct with AMU since 2000. Last year, I taught almost 300 students online in 3 courses..and a unique and worthy student body they are indeed, one I’m proud to serve. Please pardon the plug from the university’s website:
“30,000 distance learners studying in 50 states and more than 100 countries” – “the best of the best.”
A high percentage are serving military (I’m retired active duty Army myself), as well as federal, state or local government employees – lots of first responders – purposeful adult learners
http://www.apus.edu
Cool! Thanks for making use of the blog. Keep me posted on how it works out, and feel free to stop by and comment anytime. I appreciate it!
–ML
Michael,
Don’t post this if inappropriate –
Might I recommend a site for your Blogroll I recently discovered? A well meaning blog on the life and works of the preeminent (sorry Alan Eckert fans) Colonial/AM Rev historical fiction writer?
Kenneth Roberts – The Unoffical Site
http://kennethlroberts.wordpress.com/
Looks interesting! I’ll put it on the blogroll, and thanks for the heads-up.
–ML
Michael,
My name is Danny, and I am responsible for the Kenneth Roberts site. I want to thank you for posting a link to my blog on your blog. I was pleasantly surprised to see a post on my blog! Like you, I’m not particularly fond of blogs as a primary means of communication – much rather sit with a good book, pen and paper – but see the value of blogging in an ever increasing virtual world (sigh). I’ve not had the chance to really look through your blog, but I REALLY like what I see so far. I am a huge American Revolution fan (primarily a result of my reading of Roberts) and am glad to see a blog devoted to it! Again, thanks and I look forward to reading your work!
Hi Danny,
No problem! Thanks for stopping by.
–ML
I’m glad to see such a thoughtful and visually uncluttered blog. My own historical interests are far-ranging, including a just-completed novel about Timur’s defeat of Ottoman sultan Bayezid in 1402 and its consequences. I also have a short story posted about an imagined incident during the Paris Commune (Courbet meets the anarchist school teacher Louise Michel), and several pieces inspired by Latin American history. Imagining the lives and choices facing people in other times and cultures is fun in itself, but also good exercise in empathy that we need for current times.