Rachel Shelden

@rachelshelden

Historian of U.S. politics, law, & constitutionalism. Director, Richards Civil War Era Center at Penn State. Book out fall 2026: The Political Supreme Court: A Forgotten History. Preorder: rachelshelden.com

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Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· 11d

I think every student I've ever had is familiar with the expression I'm making in this photo 😆

Pic of Rachel Shelden in conversation with booksellers at SIBA/NAIBA next to a table with copies of The Political Supreme Court. Other folks chatting in the background.

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Jun 20

I know it’s just an advanced reader copy, but look at this beauty!! Thank you so much for sending, @sonyabonczek.bsky.social! (Sonya’s the one to ask if you’re looking for one!)

Picture of advanced reader copy of The Political Supreme Court: A Forgotten History by Rachel A. Shelden standing upright on a bookshelf next to an Abraham Lincoln bobble head.

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Jun 10

Co-sign

Screen shot of paragraph from Jamelle Bouie’s column, which reads:

Americans have lost the habit of constitutional thinking. The muscle is weak — degraded from decades of neglect. The convention movement, and especially that of the Colored Conventions, is a model for how Americans might start to work themselves back into shape, and prepare for the moment when the possibility of constitutional change moves from idle fantasy to concrete reality.

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Jun 3

This conversation at the American Political History Conference this Friday was always important, but it gets more relevant by the day. 🗃️ Looking forward to talking with @jamellebouie.net @nikobowie.bsky.social @kmtani.bsky.social @stevevladeck.bsky.social @gauthamrao.bsky.social

Picture of a session at the American Political History Conference on Friday, June 5:

6:00 PM | FRIDAY PLENARY SESSION | FIRST FLOOR THEATER
America at 250 Roundtable: The Past, Present, and Future of Judicial Supremacy
Moderator: Gautham Rao, American University Panelists:
Jamelle Boule, New York Times
Stephen I. Vladeck, Georgetown University
Nikolas Bowie, Harvard University
Rachel Shelden, Pennsylvania State University
Karen Tani, University of Pennsylvania

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Apr 15

The wonderful @colsonwhitehead.com www.nytimes.com/2026/04/15/o...

Quote from a NYT piece that says

Read the book, not the summary.

Write the piece, not the prompt.

Suffer like the artist you are. It ain’t easy, but if it were easy, it wouldn’t be worth doing.

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Apr 1

Not sure whether this is apt or terrible timing but here’s the official cover of my book due out with @uncpress.bsky.social W. Hodding Carter III imprint this fall. 🎉

Book cover for Rachel A. Shelden, The Political Supreme Court: A Forgotten History

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Mar 16

Got mine, @unlawfulentries.bsky.social!!

Picture of Anna O. Law’s new book Migration and the Origins of American Citizenship with a blue background behind it

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Feb 2

Don't be misled by this paragraph in the otherwise important piece by Jodi Kanter. It's not about the same kind of secrecy. Jefferson preferred an earlier practice of each justice writing an opinion rather than a single majority opinion (often unanimous in CJ Marshall's early years). 4/6

Paragraph from Jodi Kanter's article on the Supreme Court & secrecy that reads "The debate over whether the Supreme Court is too secretive has played out since the nation's earliest days. In 1821, Thomas Jefferson wrote that the institution was 'smothering evidence' and that the nation needed to know more about the character of the justices, who are appointed for life." The word "wrote" links to this letter: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-18-02-0064?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Jan 26

I'm not a Harry Potter enthusiast and there are plenty of other things to say about this piece but has this person actually read Lord of the Rings or Chronicles of Narnia?

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Dec 15

TOC for anyone interested:

Table of contents for The Political Supreme Court

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Dec 15

Totally surreal that after 12 years of working on this thing, it’s out of my hands. Coming to you in the Hodding Carter III imprint at @uncpress.bsky.social next fall! Huge thanks to @simpsonvos.bsky.social & the many, many people who helped along the way.

Manuscript stack of The Political Supreme Court: The Forgotten History of Justices, Parties, & the People’s Constitution, by Rachel A. Shelden

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Nov 2

Illinois congressman John Farnsworth comparing the U.S. Supreme Court in Dred Scott to the Bleak House chancery court in 1859 is just *chef's kiss* [4 weeks out from my book deadline and still finding gems in my own research 🙃]

Text of a speech by Illinois Republican John Farnsworth in 1859 on the floor of the U.S. House: "I propose, briefly, to give some of the reasons why I oppose the extension of the slave power, by the admission of Kansas under the Lecompton constitution; and first, I oppose it because it is contrary to the genius and spirit of our declaration and Constitution, and the designs of the fathers of the Republic, as exhibited in the history of the Government, until a recent period. I know it is now roundly asserted by the Democratic party, that Congress has no rightful authority to interdict or prohibit the introduction of slavery into the Territories of the United States; that to do so would violate the principle of the equality of States; and that party has recently invoked the ad of the Supreme Court, in the Dred Scott case-a tribunal which sits yearly, in an appropriate dismal room in the basement of this Capitol, where one can easily realize Dickens's description of the Foggy high court of chancery; and they have obtained the side bar dictum of a majority of those judges to sustain this doctrine. The President of the United States wonders that a doubt could ever have existed, that the Constitution carries slavery into the Territories, and declares that Kansas is as much a slave State as Georgia."

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Sep 26

Congratulations to Moyra Eaton on a successful defense of her dissertation, "The State in Stone: The U.S. Naval Asylum, Governance, and Nation Building in the Early Republic." (Very proud advisor on the left!) 🎉🎉

Picture of Rachel Shelden & Moyra Eaton in Weaver Building at Penn State, Friday, September 26, 2025.

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Jun 22

One thing that worries me about this episode from an academic standpoint is what it might portend for who teaches history & how administrators evaluate students' claims to fairness. B/c this paper is as bad as it is offensive. Take this last paragraph where he quotes Lincoln's first inaugural 1/3

Text reads: The Supreme Court and inferior federal courts have the power to arrest the dispossession of White America. All they must do is substitute bad landmark precedent for good landmark precedent. Failure to do so is not judicial humility, but, at best, judicial surrender in the face of a terrible crime. At worst, it is complicity in that crime. The People cannot be expected to meekly swallow this demographic assault on their sovereignty. If the People are not granted relief from the government -which includes the judiciary then, if they are to survive as masters in the land of their ancestors, they must exercise "their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow" the government.95 And that will be a process which no deskbound jurist can gleefully look forward to; for it will be a controversy decided not by the careful balance of Justitia's scales, but by the gruesome slashing of her sword.

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· May 22

Definitely doesn't preclude the leaks but TBF I don't think there was much doubt where Kavanaugh stood after the oral argument. This piece here, especially:

Text of quote from Justice KAVANAUGH: All - - all the
religious school is saying is don't exclude us
on account of our religion. I mean, if you go
and apply for -- to be a charter school and
you're an environmental studies school or you're
a science-based school or vou're a Chinese
immersion school or you're a English
grammar-focused school, you can get in.
And then you come in and you say, oh,
we're a religious school. It's like, oh, no, can't do that, that's too much. That's scary.
We're not going to do that.
And our cases have made very clear,
Heritage Reporting Corporation
Official - Subject to Final Review
106
and I think those are some of the most important
cases we've had, of saying you can't treat
religious people and religious institutions and
religious speech as second-class in the
United States.
And when you have a program that's
open to all comers except religion, no, we can't do that, we can do everything else, that seems
like rank discrimination against religion, and
that's the concern that I think you need to deal
with here.

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Apr 1

Rosen is contributing here to the idea that this is far more of an academic debate than it is or has been. Why has the NCC left out the many, many other qualified 14a scholars in this conversation? 2/2

Text reads: The Future of Birthright Citizenship: A Constitutional Debate
Thursday, April 24 | Noon ET

President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship has reignited debates over the 14th Amendment and the meaning of citizenship in America. Join legal experts Amanda Frost of the University of Virginia School of Law, Kurt Lash of the University of Richmond School of Law, Ilan Wurman of the University of Minnesota Law School, and John Yoo of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law as they analyze the legal challenges surrounding birthright citizenship, explore the constitutional and historical arguments on all sides of this debate, and discuss its broader implications for immigration. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. Learn more

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Mar 27

Happy opening day to all my people, including those who could use this kind of (misplaced) hope.

Image of Dodgers winning World Series and story headline that says “How each MLB team can make the 2025 playoffs. (Yes, even the Rockies and White Sox.)

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Feb 14

🗃️ 3. The @richardscenter.bsky.social and @jcwe.bsky.social are cosponsoring a journal article workshop for junior scholars that will be facilitated by a senior historian in the field w/the aim to help craft a publishable article. Apply w/ cv, 500-word proposal by April 1.

Text reads:
Call for Proposals
Civil War Era Article Workshop
Deadline for applications: April 1, 2025
The Richards Center at Penn State and The Journal of the Civil War Era (JCWE) announce a journal article workshop for advanced graduate students, recent PhDs, assistant professors, and independent scholars. Selected scholars will provide a draft journal article by August 15, 2025, and participate in an online workshop in September. The workshop will be facilitated by a senior historian in the field, and the aim is to assist scholars in crafting a publishable article.
Although the workshop is cosponsored by the JCWE, participants are not obliged to submit articles there.
To apply for the program, please submit the following materials as one pdf file to RichardsCenter@psu.edu:
• Your C. V.
• A proposal that includes title and brief (500-word) synopsis of the proposed article; explanation of where the piece currently stands and what kind of advice you would find most helpful.

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Dec 20

I love this framing. In a year of reading (and re-reading) so much great work, I can’t stop thinking about two novels (one new & one 50+ yrs old, but my first read) and two exceptional histories. 🗃️

Picture of Wallace Stegner’s Angle of Repose

Picture of Dylan Penningroth’s Before the Movement: The Hidden History of Black Civil Rights

Picture of Alison LaCroix’s The Interbellum Constitution: Union, Commerce, & Slavery in the Age of Federalisms

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Dec 9

🗃️ And the @richardscenter.bsky.social also posted our CFA for the Mark & Ann Persun Visiting Scholars Program (this year in CWE political history). This fellowship *does not require relocation* & is for associate profs. Apps due Feb 15, 2025. Details here: richardscenter.la.psu.edu/fellowships/...

Picture of text that reads:
Call for Applications
Mark and Ann Persun Visiting Scholars Program

The Richards Civil War Era Center invites applications for the Mark and Ann Persun Visiting Scholars Program for tenured faculty in history at the rank of Associate Professor. The fellowship is open to scholars of the Civil War Era, broadly conceived, who study military or political history.

In 2025-2026 academic year, the fellowship will be held to a scholar of political history.

This fellowship is designed to provide mid-career faculty with time, support, and resources to devote to a book-length work-in-progress. The Visiting Scholar will also become an important member of the Richards Center community and will workshop sections of their book project, in addition to participating in Center events and programs. There is no teaching or service associated with this fellowship.

The successful applicant will have the option to move to State College or to remain at their home institution and make several short visits to Penn State over the course of the year. A candidate’s potential to relocate will have no impact on the fellowship selection process.

The fellowship includes $80,000 in salary replacement funds, $7,500 in research/conference travel, and $7,500 in moving/visit funds. The Richards Center will coordinate payment of the fellowship through the recipient’s home institution. The successful applicant must receive approval from their home institution to accept the fellowship.

To apply for this position, please submit an application packet including a letter of interest, a CV, a book proposal (max 10 pages), and 2 letters of recommendation to Barby Singer at bqs6@psu.edu by February 15, 2025.

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Dec 9

🗃️ Friends, the @richardscenter.bsky.social is hiring TWO Civil War Era pre-doctoral fellows for 2025-26. These are 1-yr dissertation-writing fellowships incl. $40,000 + $3,000 research funds, & no teaching/service. Apps due March 1, 2025. DM or email w/ Qs! richardscenter.la.psu.edu/fellowships/...

Picture of text that reads:
Call for Applications
Predoctoral Fellows, History of the Civil War Era

The Richards Civil War Era Center, in the College of the Liberal Arts, Penn State, invites applications for two 2025-26 predoctoral dissertation fellowships in the history of the Civil War Era.

The Richards Center conceives of the Civil War Era broadly. We especially welcome projects related to the history of slavery, emancipation, and their legacies and the history of struggles for freedom and democracy in the United States. This is a limited-term (one-year) fellowship for advanced graduate students who are in the writing stage of their dissertation. During their residency, the fellows will primarily perform their research; they will have no teaching or administrative responsibilities. The fellows will be expected to make progress on their dissertation and to take an active part in the Richards Center and Penn State’s community of researchers.

The fellowship includes a $40,000 stipend and $3,000 in research funds. The Richards Center will coordinate payment of the stipend through the recipient’s graduate institution. The successful applicant must receive approval from their graduate program to accept the fellowship.

Application Process and Submission Process
To be considered for this position, submit a complete application packet including a cover letter describing your dissertation project and goals for the year, a curriculum vita, and a list of three references to Barby Singer at bqs6@psu.edu.

We will request additional materials and letters of recommendation from candidates who advance in the search process. Review of materials will begin March 1, 2025, and continue until the position has been filled. Please direct questions about the process via email to RichardsCenter@psu.edu.

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Nov 20

The @richardscenter.bsky.social is excited to host a 2-panel public symposium in honor of Tony Kaye's academic legacy & book w/ Greg Downs: Nat Turner, Black Prophet. Feat. @katemasur.bsky.social @william-sturkey.bsky.social @jimccasey1.bsky.social & others. Register to join us Dec. 6, 10am-3pm. 🗃️

A poster for a Richards Center event at Penn State on Friday December 6, 10am-3pm at the Hintz Family Alumni Center honoring the academic work, life, & legacy of Anthony Kaye. A two-panel symposium on 1) "Nat Turner, Black Prophet: A Visionary History," By Anthony Kaye with Gregory P. Downs and 2) Anothony Kaye: Academic Life & Legacy. Including Penn State Faculty Jim Casey, Tony Frazier, Amy Greenberg, & Dan Letwin and invited guests Greg Downs, Antwain Hunter, Kate Masur, Adrienne Petty, Ryan Quintana, and William Sturkey. Registration is required by November 29. Lunch will be provided.

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Sep 26

Very excited for this weekend’s New History of Federalism conference, with this stellar lineup of scholars from history, law, and political science. Almost hard to believe Grace Mallon, Jay Sexton, @aipsmith.bsky.social & I started talking about this idea 2 years ago.

Front cover of New History of Federalism Conference program sponsored by RAI, Kinder Institute, and the Richards Civil War Era Center

List of panels and panelists for opening Plenary Thursday, September 26 (on History & Methodology of Federalism) and 4 panels Friday (on Surveillance, Policing & Jurisdiction; on Relief & Reform; on Business & the Environment; and on Sovereignty)

List of panels and panelists for Saturday, September 28 (on Cooperation & Ambiguous Authority; and on Citizenship)

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Aug 26

Graduate U.S. History to 1877 taught through political/legal/constitutional methodology Fall 2024 let’s go! (Also great articles by @asheeshksi.bsky.social @tannerallread.bsky.social @cooperwingert.bsky.social @katemasur.bsky.social @hidehirota.bsky.social & others!) 🎉

Picture of 13 books:
Benton, A Search for Sovereignty
Wilson, Bonds of Empire
Bilder, Madison’s Hand
Ablavsky, Federal Ground
Rao, National Duties
Edwards, Only the Clothes on Her Back
LaCroix, Interbellum Constitution
Baumgartner, South to Freedom
McCurry, Confederate Reckoning
Nicoletti, Secession on Trial
Gordon, The Mormon Question
Lew-Williams, The Chinese Must Go
Penningroth, Before the Movement

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Aug 8

These are the lyrics to "The Battle Cry of Freedom," written by George Root, a Massachusetts native who wrote the song in response to Abraham Lincoln's call for 700,000 additional troops in 1862. 🗃️

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Jun 29

Kate Shaw’s good piece on Loper Bright highlights the cynicism of #SCOTUS repeatedly invoking democracy & “history and tradition” to build its own power. The history of the Court (at least from the era most of the justices care about) is of a very weak judiciary. 🗃️ www.nytimes.com/2024/06/29/o...

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Jun 21

lolsob

Kavanaugh concurrence in Rahimi: "judges are like umpires, as THE CHIEF JUSTICE has aptly explained"

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· May 23

Justice Thomas criticizing Brown v. Board as an "extravagant" use "of judicial power...at odds with history and tradition" in a concurrence in today's racial gerrymandering case from South Carolina is a real choice. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23p...

Justice Clarence Thomas concurrence in racial gerrymandering case

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Jan 11

🗃️ Also, I hope @kovarsky.bsky.social won't mind my copying this from the bad place b/c the point is so important--that this entire argument exposes the worst problems with the new textualism.

Rachel Shelden@rachelshelden· Jan 6

🗃️ @erikalexander.bsky.social shared on the bad place that our piece "Dismantling the Party System" is out in the JAH Dec issue & I wanted to say a word here abt how so much terrific recent scholarship helped shape our arg that "party systems" doesn't accurately capture how 19th c. politics worked 1/