@linford
Early American historian @ Brown University; author of Stealing America; The Indian Great Awakening; Decoding Roger Williams; Reading Roger Williams. PI for @stolenrelations.bsky.social; father of four; loves to sail, run, hike, and run.
Curious about my forthcoming book, Stealing America, and the history of Native slavery? Join me tomorrow online for a talk hosted by the Slave Legacy History Coalition at 10:30 am (I know, not super convenient, but available on youtube later.) www.slavelegacyhistorycoalition.org/events-1/mon...
Really nice to have an early review, and to connect the dots to contemporary events. thehistoricpresent.com/2026/03/09/s...
Really proud of this team for their work on the @stolenrelations.bsky.social project!
As a way to document the Blizzard of 2026 from the air, here's a compilation of drone shots I took during and after storm. youtu.be/qKGG9g4nq9I
Thanks, Betsy -- there will be book launch on April 24 at the JCB! Hope you can make it.
Okay, I had to join the cool kids and document the arrival of the first copies of my book, Stealing America! Author's copies landed super early from @liveright.bsky.social and @wwnorton.com and they did a fantastic job. Available for pre-order now; official pub date is April 28.
Academic and Native friends, please share this CFP and/or consider submitting a proposal! The organizers would love perspectives from outside the academy as well.
www.historic-deerfield.org/call-for-pro...
I'm currently booking speaking events and classroom Zoom presentations, so feel free to DM me if you are interested. Available April 28, 2026, wherever you purchase your books, including B&N: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stealing-a...
I'm so grateful for the kind blurbs from colleagues in the field and the beautiful artwork of Silvermoon LaRose (and grateful the design team included it on the back of the cover, too!).
With all of the craziness out there, we have to celebrate the small joys, right? I received the (uncorrected) full dust jacket for my forthcoming book from @liveright.bsky.social and @wwnorton.com and it made my day.
Academic friends, please consider submitting a proposal for the Conference on Religions an Freedom c. 1776, held June 4-6 in Providence and jointly organized by @ctrrelpol-washu.bsky.social and @jcblibrary.bsky.social. Deadline is Dec. 30.
jcblibrary.org/events/confe...
Grateful for the good work of @ctpublic.bsky.social in airing this segment, which features the voices of regional tribal members and also mentions the @stolenrelations.bsky.social project. www.ctpublic.org/2025-11-14/i...
(1/5) Today begins Native American Heritage Month. This is a month to celebrate contemporary Native people and their ancestors in the United States, and the rich cultures, languages, and traditions that have existed and continue to exist on this land.
Friends, feel free to tune into the Digital Projects Coffeehouse hosted by the Omohundro Institute at William & Mary for a presentation on the @stolenrelations.bsky.social project! Tuesday, November 11, 12 noon EST. Registration and info here: oieahc.wm.edu/events-overv...
Marc Lobliner post on X: "Why the hell are we giving food stamps to 40 million people? Does anyone work anymore?"
SNAP isn't about "people who don't work." It's about people who don't get paid enough to live.
Of the 40 or so million people who rely on food stamps:
* Two-thirds are children, seniors, or disabled
* Most working-age adults who receive SNAP are employed—but in jobs that pay poverty wages
Amazing No Kings protest today in Providence -- so great to be with like minded folks here and millions more across the nation to march against racism and bigotry. We can do better than MAGA and the embarrassment that is Trumpism.
One week ago my daughter and I ran the Canyon de Chelly ultra marathon in Chinle, AZ. It was rainy, muddy, soggy, and just incredible all around. I made a little video that documented our experiences, including a few of the 50-60 water crossings over the 32.5 miles. www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRaR...
Galleys! Very excited to receive these from @liveright.bsky.social, even if the official pub date is a long way off (April 28, 2026). Pre-order it now! a.co/d/4ZdEjXu
The Rhode Island Historical Society Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center, in Providence, Rhode Island
![An example of a document from the Rhode Island Historical Society:
This Indenture made the [empty space] day of June In the yeare one thousand seven Hundred and fifteene wittnesseth that Bette Tientiahchu widow to the Late Deceased John Tientiahchu Indian and Inhabitant within the Township of Providence In the Colony of Road Island and said providence plantations Have by these presents put placed and Bound my Daughter Hannah Tientiahchu being a fatherlis Child as a servant with Martha Sheldon of the Town of providence and Colony of Road Island a fore said and as a servant with her the said Martha Sheldon to Dwell Her Heirs and Assigns from the day of the Date of these presents untill the said Hannah shall Come to be of the Age Eighteene yeares the said Hannah being at the time of the Insealing and Deliveri of these presents Come to be of the Age of ten [empty space] by and Durering all which time and terms the said Hannah shall Her said mistris Martha Sheldon well and faithfully serve In all such Lawfull business as the said Hannah shall be put unto according to her power will and ability and Honestly and obediently In all things shall Behave Her self towards her said mistirs: and orderly and Honestly towards all the family of the said Martha Sheldon: and the said Martha Sheldon for her part promiseth the said Hannah In the knowledg and occupation of House Hold work which she useth after the best manner that she Can or may coach or Instruct or Cause to be taught and Informed as much as there Unto Beloungeth or In any wise appertaineth and also Dureing all the said terme to find unto the said servant meat Drink Linnin woollen Hose shoose and other things needfull or meet for a servant and to Let the said Hannah have two sutes of apparriel at the End of said terme one for Holladaies and another for worke daies In witness where I have here unto set my Hand and seal the Day and yeare first above written
Signed sealed and Delivered
In the presence of ^^^^^](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:iiooffw7ptwgyujcxpal3ffu/bafkreihoj73wnsm3neswgoycygaevvmhz3sn6oe3j5jmaccmpm2nbqhhfi)
An example of a document from the Rhode Island Historical Society: This Indenture made the [empty space] day of June In the yeare one thousand seven Hundred and fifteene wittnesseth that Bette Tientiahchu widow to the Late Deceased John Tientiahchu Indian and Inhabitant within the Township of Providence In the Colony of Road Island and said providence plantations Have by these presents put placed and Bound my Daughter Hannah Tientiahchu being a fatherlis Child as a servant with Martha Sheldon of the Town of providence and Colony of Road Island a fore said and as a servant with her the said Martha Sheldon to Dwell Her Heirs and Assigns from the day of the Date of these presents untill the said Hannah shall Come to be of the Age Eighteene yeares the said Hannah being at the time of the Insealing and Deliveri of these presents Come to be of the Age of ten [empty space] by and Durering all which time and terms the said Hannah shall Her said mistris Martha Sheldon well and faithfully serve In all such Lawfull business as the said Hannah shall be put unto according to her power will and ability and Honestly and obediently In all things shall Behave Her self towards her said mistirs: and orderly and Honestly towards all the family of the said Martha Sheldon: and the said Martha Sheldon for her part promiseth the said Hannah In the knowledg and occupation of House Hold work which she useth after the best manner that she Can or may coach or Instruct or Cause to be taught and Informed as much as there Unto Beloungeth or In any wise appertaineth and also Dureing all the said terme to find unto the said servant meat Drink Linnin woollen Hose shoose and other things needfull or meet for a servant and to Let the said Hannah have two sutes of apparriel at the End of said terme one for Holladaies and another for worke daies In witness where I have here unto set my Hand and seal the Day and yeare first above written Signed sealed and Delivered In the presence of ^^^^^
(1/3) The Rhode Island Historical Society, a historical society based in Providence, RI, which maintains the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center, is another example of the range of sources used to find unfree Native people across the historical record.
#history #indigenoushistory #research
New York City folks -- come learn more about the @stolenrelations.bsky.social project at the Center for Brooklyn History / Brooklyn Public Library on October 20! Also streaming. www.bklynlibrary.org/calendar/cbh...
(1/3) Stolen Relations is proud to be partnering with the Tomaquag Museum to produce exhibits on Indigenous unfreedom and its effects on Indigenous people in the modern world. They will be coming to the Tomaquag Museum in Exeter, RI, and to Brown University in Providence, RI in the near future.
Definitely interested if the @stolenrelations.bsky.social project would appeal to folks.
Yay!! Super congrats -- can't wait to read the final product!! That cocktail is well deserved.
(2/3) Two of these essays, “A Brief History of Indigenous Enslavement and Servitude” and Indigenous Freedom Suits and the Problem of the Law” were written specifically for the project. These essays allow for better understanding of the scope of Stolen Relations and the primary sources it utilizes.
(1/2) A new blog post has been published on the Stolen Relations blog at stolenrelations.org/blog/stolen-relations-launch-symposium-summary-pictures-and-videos/! With photos and videos of the May launch symposium included in this post, the content from this symposium is now available to all.
(1/3) Yesterday marked 204 years since a man named William Clarke appeared in court to attempt to receive emancipation from Sir Simon Haughton Clarke’s Fathog quarter estate in Jamaica. He was described in outdated language by the court as Black and Multiracial.
These guys have been throwing random people into gulags without a second thought but they've suddenly rediscovered the concept of presumption of innocence
First pass page proofs! Feelin’ pretty real…
Really pleased that, after much discussion, the press decided to use the beautiful commissioned painting by the talented Narragansett artist Silvermoon LaRose. Look for the book in April 2026 (but pre-orders available now: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stealing-a...).
Congrats! I hope this means we'll cross paths more frequently (again). Let's grab drinks soon.
