In this update: a major discovery at the Minnesota Historical Society, new revelations about Genevieve's widowhood, and several opportunities to see me speak!

January Update on the Gervais-Laurence Book Project: a long-awaited title, a major new artifact discovery, a surprising French-Canadian side project in Minneapolis, conference news, and why history matters right now more than ever.

This final update of 2025 reflects on an unexpected grant setback and the resilience of the Gervais family that continues to guide this project. It also shares a new plan for 2026, recent research updates, and a bit of end-of-year humor.

Recent research shows that the families of Benjamin and Genevieve were frequently deep in debt. The experience of indebtedness shaped their skills, outlook, and life trajectories.

The final grant application is in. More scholars are lining up to support the project. And shocking new evidence Genevieve’s mother once ran a brothel. All this and more in my September update!

What an eventful month! In the past five weeks, I've taken on the roles of grant writer, grand marshal, reenactor, interpreter, and history advocate. Along the way, I made more fascinating research discoveries.

I'm back from a whirlwind tour of research and networking in Ontario and Quebec! Read this post for trip highlights, research results, next steps, and a fundraising update.

My big research trip to eastern Canada is finally here! Hear about my goals and latest discoveries.

The last month has flown by and the pace of my research continues to accelerate. Here are the highlights (and lowlights). Funding: At...

Working on a project like this can yield surprising results. For this update, I want to share a couple stories from the past six weeks that showcase the benefits of publicizing a research project while it is still ongoing. If you cast a wide net, sometimes you’ll catch a few fish!

My March progress update plus ten books that have influenced my thinking.

Here's another update on my progress and what’s coming down the pipeline in terms of research and public events.

Hey there! This is an update on my recent progress and what’s coming down the pipeline in terms of research and public events.