Comments on: A World of Citizens: Women, History, and the Vision of Linda K. Kerber, October 5-6, 2012

By: Indyanna

Indyanna — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 20:59:51 +0000

Also to be recommended as shorter samples would be her 1976 article “The Republican Mother: Women and the Enlightenment–an American Perspective,” _American Quarterly_, 28 (Summer, 1976), which shows the durable purchase a concept can achieve and hold on the treatement of a subject, even when–as almost invariably happens–the concept takes on a life of its own and mutates considerably. Or, for a sense of Keber in real-time dialogue with other scholars, the “Forum” piece that she edited as “Beyond Roles, Beyond Spheres: Thinking About Gender in the Early Republic,” _William and Mary Quarterly_ 3rd Series, 46 (July 1989), 565-585, which samples a symposium panel conversation among Kerber, Nancy Cott, Robert Gross, Lynn Hunt, Carroll Smith-Rosenberg, and Christine Stansell held at Penn a couple of years before that.

By: Historiann

Historiann — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 02:39:46 +0000

Liz2, I would pick up No Constitutional Right to be Ladies: Women and the Obligations of Citizenship (1998). All historians who are Americans will appreciate and get this book, which is a look at women’s relationship to the U.S. state through their changing obligations as citizens, rather than through their evolving civil rights.

This approach permits her more of a story and more nuance over 200+ years of American history than a focus on rights, which (let’s face it) make for a whirlwind of a story over the past 45 or 50 years, but which wouldn’t have allowed an author much of a story (except for universal suffrage in 1920) from the late eighteenth century to the present. (There might be some comparative historical interest in this approach. too.)

By: Liz2

Liz2 — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 02:11:18 +0000

I have a colleague who is a Kerber student and her stories and praise for Kerber are endless. As someone with a fabulous advisor myself, I really appreciate the time and energy a wonderful advisor puts into the training of their students and it really shows in Linda’s former student (who is marvelous). Since I am completely outside the area of U.S. history I never read any of Kerber’s work, although I realize most of the women’s history in my area has been influenced by Kerber’s writing. I’m inspired to go and read some of her work. Any favorites to recommend to a non-U.S. historian?

By: Melissa

Melissa — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:03:35 +0000

I was fortunate enough to briefly meet Dr. Kerber while wandering the book room at a conference with my adviser. Watching the two of them chat about their families, their grandchildren, and then flip effortlessly into a discussion of the hot trends in historiography – the balance of personal life and work that their entire conversation implied – is something I’m going to strive for my entire career.

By: Kim Nielsen

Kim Nielsen — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:53:52 +0000

Linda Kerber survived me finishing my dissertation under her direction almost twenty years ago, but every day I continue to realize that I learned far more from her than I then knew– about doing smart history, asking big questions while cherishing the details, professionalism, mentoring, teaching, and persistence.

By: tony grafton

tony grafton — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 08:35:49 +0000

I’m also chiming in late from London, to say that Linda Kerber is a history god. LadyProf nails it: “severe and generous at the same time.” I had the good luck to serve on the AHA Council when she was president, and I learned a huge amount at every meeting.

By: LadyProf

LadyProf — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 04:18:28 +0000

I’m in a different field but I met Linda Kerber ten years ago when she attended a presentation I gave. From the audience she was severe and generous at the same time. One awesome trait of hers is her energy. She works and works and works, and pays attention.

By: Comradde PhysioProffe

Comradde PhysioProffe — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 00:18:07 +0000

Isn’t it interesting that some of the highest-achieving historians are also the ones who are eager to welcome newcomers, to include them in the conversation, and to learn from them, too?

This is the case in my area of science, as well.

By: Mamie

Mamie — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 20:13:44 +0000

I’d like to second what Meander said. Linda is a model for the profession, a truly generous and welcoming colleague. I have known her for a couple of decades now, and I’ve watched her reach out to younger scholars (not just her own students!) and offer assistance, open doors, give advice. This was especially important early on, when some Ph.D. programs were not especially supportive of those doing women’s history. Lots of historians found an advocate in Linda.

By: Historiann

Historiann — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 16:12:44 +0000

And p.s. TOTES jealous of you being in London! (Well, maybe not this summer entirely, but still: Enjoy!)