The Democracy Archive Is Coming Soon: A New History Newsletter
The Democracy Archive is almost here. This new history newsletter will soon bring readers stories of democracy’s struggles, lessons, and contested past. Stay tuned!
Hello everyone,
I hope you are doing well. It is my great pleasure to announce that I am starting a new publication here on Substack! While much of my work on The Progressive American Report will continue, I also want to branch out into history. As some of you may know, I studied political science and history at Loras College, and I thoroughly enjoyed working for the Center for Dubuque History as one of their archival interns.
It is that experience that has motivated me to start The Democracy Archive!
What is the Democracy Archive?
Democracy has never been a finished project. It is a consistent struggle for justice, rights, and dignity—a fight that rages on even now. From the fight against slavery to the feminist movement, the American democratic project has gone through numerous changes and challenges that merit intense, detailed examination. Those examinations don't simply explain the past, but also help us evaluate today's problems in context.
That’s where The Democracy Archive comes in. This new history newsletter will explore the ways democracy has been built, challenged, and remembered, not just through leaders and institutions, but through the lives and voices of everyday people.
Each issue will take readers into the archives of struggle and memory. Together, we’ll revisit stories such as:
How Ella Baker and the young activists of SNCC embodied the grassroots organizing tradition.
The legacies of trauma and resilience in communities shaped by immigration, oppression, and identity.
The battles over memory and monuments, from the Lost Cause to today’s culture wars.
The high stakes of elections, political conflict, and violence.
Some stories will feel familiar, others less so. All of them will ask the same questions: How is democracy made? Who gets remembered, and who is forgotten? And what can the past teach us about the present?
I want this space to be both scholarly and accessible — a place where careful historical work meets public storytelling. History is not just an academic exercise; it is a civic one. Understanding the lessons, struggles, and memories of the past is essential to the democratic future we are trying to build.
The Democracy Archive will launch soon. In the weeks ahead, you’ll see the first essays on stories of resistance, resilience, and remembrance, but also examples of political conflict and controversy.
If that content interests you, please subscribe today and join me in building this community of readers. Please share it with your friends and family!
My first piece will be on the Election of 1860 and the consequences of division in American politics.
I look forward to hearing from you all. If you have any stories you would like me to cover, please don't hesitate to comment below! Thank you for your time and support!