In this conversation, historian Seth Rockman shares his expertise on labor history and the ties between slavery and capitalism. He discusses the challenges of writing and the importance of mentorship in shaping a historian's journey. Rockman dives into his new book, revealing the connections between New England artifacts and their influence on Southern plantation communities, highlighting the roles of women in this complex economy. He also reflects on the iterative nature of the writing process and the influence of various literary styles on his craft.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Academic Writing Journey
Seth Rockman's writing career began in graduate school, not journalism.
His advisor, Alan Taylor, critiqued his writing heavily, emphasizing "word economy."
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Embrace Your Writing Style
Embrace your unique writing habits, even if unconventional.
Seth Rockman's preferred writing time is late at night at his kitchen table.
question_answer ANECDOTE
A Hybrid Approach to Research
Rockman's research organization is a "hodgepodge" of digital and analog methods.
He uses EndNote, file boxes, Xeroxes, and photos, but his "archival filing" is mainly mental.
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Slavery’s Capitalism: A New History of American Economic Development
Slavery’s Capitalism: A New History of American Economic Development
Seth Rockman
Plantation Goods
Plantation Goods
Seth Rockman
Plantation Goods: A Material History of American Slavery traces the journey of everyday objects from New England workshops to Southern plantations, revealing the interconnectedness of slavery and capitalism. The book follows these goods through various stages, from production to consumption, highlighting the experiences of diverse individuals involved in their creation and use. It examines the perspectives of entrepreneurs, workers, middlemen, slaveholders, and enslaved people, showcasing the complex social and economic dynamics of the era. The narrative explores themes of labor, race, and the material culture of slavery, offering a nuanced understanding of the period. Ultimately, Plantation Goods challenges traditional narratives by focusing on the material objects themselves as central actors in the story of American slavery.
Go, Went, Gone
Go, Went, Gone
Jenny Erpenbeck
Scraping by
Wage Labor, Slavery, and Survival in Early Baltimore
Seth Rockman
Welcome back to Drafting the Past, a show about the craft of writing history. In this episode, Kate Carpenter interviews historian Dr. Seth Rockman. Seth is a historian at Brown University. His first book was called Scraping By: Wage Labor, Slavery, and Survival in Early Baltimore, and he is also the co-editor of the volume Slavery’s Capitalism: A New History of American Economic Development. He does a great deal of interesting interdisciplinary work on labor history, and he has even been called on to share his research findings on slavery and capitalism with the U.S. House Financial Services Committee. His new book, out now, is called Plantation Goods: A Material History of American Slavery. You’ll love Seth’s responses about how challenging the writing process can be, the joys of archives and the need for deadlines to drag us out of them, and why his dissertation adviser’s advice is always in his ear while he writes.
Thanks for listening to this episode of Drafting the Past. I also want to give a special shout out to some of the newest supporters of the show on Patreon at the third draft tier. Huge thank you to Lauren S., Megan N., Kate D., Katie B., and Jenny S., as well as all of the supporters at the first and second draft tier. Drafting the Past is a one-woman show, and your financial support makes it possible to keep going. If you would like to join these amazing supporters, you can visit patreon.com/draftingthepast to learn more. And of course, you can visit draftingthepast.com to find notes from this and every episode of the show. Until next time, remember that friends don’t let friends write boring history.
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