July 08, 2007
A Sudden End to PhDinHistory
By Robert B. Townsend
Sadly, the PhDinHistory blog closed its digital shutters and went offline over the weekend, apparently permanently. In its brief four months online, the site offered a rich array of insights into the graduate experience, as well as compelling analyses of data about the history profession and often biting critiques of the flaws and foibles of our profession. As a doctoral student looking to a career in the profession, the blog’s author sought the cloak of anonymity. Even though I was often on the receiving end of a number of critical observations on the blog, I looked forward to each new posting and thought the author wrote with considerable care and responsibility.
Unfortunately, in an e-mail today the author of the blog reported a number of efforts to crack his or her identity, which had come uncomfortably close. Sadly, it appears that the opportunities for reaching a wider audience provided by the medium made it all too easy to cast back the veil of anonymity. Rather than risk potential damage to a budding career, the author decided to close down the site. As someone who still remembers the anxieties of graduate school it is hard to fault the decision, but it is a terrific loss to the profession.
Update: PhDinHistory is Back
Dear Robert & Others,
Although I was concerned about the site’s anonymity, I want to publicly state here that I wasn’t a part of the efforts to identify the weblog’s author. In fact I appreciated the author’s use of statistics as a means to an end, not an end itself.
– TL— Tim Lacy Jul 9, 11:28 AM
I hope that some of those who tried to identify PhDinHistory will now come forward and explain themselves: why were they hounding someone whose analysis was fundamentally sound and troubling? Anonymity, as used by PhDinHistory is a powerful tool for communication, but it can also be a weapon of harassment, and I would hope that those who were trying to uncover the blogger’s identity would have the consistency to reveal their own.
— Jonathan Dresner Jul 9, 05:03 PM
I enjoyed the blog. Though I found some of the job hunting advice misguided the other posts were great. Good luck HistoryPhD, now go and finish that dissertation.
— Larry Cebula Jul 10, 09:25 AM
As one currently pursuing an MA in American history I’m sorry to see the blog go.
— Mike Pierce Jul 10, 06:59 PM