I can also say that I am now back to the future, or present. Two days of going through somebody’s stack of 19th century-era papers sometimes leave you also feeling immersed in that era. I did not leave feeling like I want to be a super historian but it made me appreciate more the study of the past, and how the present resembles it in eerie ways sometimes and perhaps this is why we cannot forget history at all times.
Highlights of the trip were:
1. the reading room of the Library of Congress
2. The National Archives and seeing the original “charters of freedom”
3. Eating at Jaleo (one of the signature restaurants of Jose Andres – who, incidentally now teaches The Science of Cooking class here at Harvard)
One of the benefits of being in a different environment is getting new ideas. I did get a new idea for my symposium article, yes the one that I hope to finish in four days so I can show a bunch of people a draft and get what they think on it.
Speaking of getting people’s opinions, I have had quite a busy day yesterday collecting historian opinions on my project. I had a very encouraging talk with a faculty member from the History Department (who is not even on my committee) who told me to “forget trying to cover all bases. Some bases are more important than others.” Finally, a historian who is not obnoxious about disciplinary boundaries. Another golden piece of advice he gave which I think I am doomed not to follow is “never follow your own judgment” on these things. I still think my dissertation is self-evident, and whether or not, its due to my self saturation in the literature is a separate story.
And then, several minutes later, I somehow crossed paths with my supervisor while walking on campus, who at this point of my graduate student career, is already nice enough to acknowledge my existence with a friendly nod. And that’s saying a lot about famous law professors.
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