How Historians Work

JUDITH LEE HALLOCK was an educator for over 30 years. She is the author of Braxton Bragg and Confederate Defeat, Volume II; General James Longstreet in the West: A Monumental Failure; The Civil War Letters of Joshua K. Callaway; and numerous journal articles. Hallock also contributed to the Encyclopedia of the Confederacy and to The American Civil War: Handbook of Research and Literature. She holds a Ph.D. in history from Stony Brook University in New York. Dr. Hallock lives in South Setauket, New York.

History does not simply happen, most often it is the result of years of graduate training, assiduous research, and careful writing. Yet, far too often we focus on the final product and ignore the men and women who have dedicated their lives to producing the books. So how do historians work? The answer, as revealed in the pages of this exciting new anthology, is as varied as the historians themselves. The editors have interviewed some of the nation's most highly respected practitioners to determine their approach to teaching, research, and writing. While no two of them work the same way , they all share the conviction that the study of history is vital to mankind's sense of self. They value rigorous training and conscientious professionalism. Both aspiring and professional historians will delight in learning how historians do their work, define their craft, and work their magic.