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Historians/History
1-16-15

What I’m Reading Now: Jonathan Alter

by Tiffany April Griffin
Tiffany April Griffin is a student at Southern New Hampshire University and an HNN intern.

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What books are you reading now?

 Redeployment by Phil Klay

What are your favorite history books?

The Best And the Brightest, by David Halberstam, Parting the Waters by Taylor Branch, and Master of the Senate by Robert Caro. 
 
What is your favorite bookstore when looking for history books?

The Strand in NYC.

Do you own any rare history or collectible books? Do you collect artifacts related to history?

I own a picture of Queen Victoria's 1848 visit to Guernsey signed by the Queen, a voting machine trainer from the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners with the 1960 ballot, a first edition of US Grant's memoirs, a signed letter from FDR to the mayor of Chicago, Ed Kelly, a signed letter to me from President Bill Clinton, 19th Century magazine covers from Puck and Harpers Weekly. 
 
Which history museums are your favorites? 

The Chicago History Museum and the New York Historical Society.
 
Which historical time period is your favorite?

Too many to name. 
 
What would be your advice for history majors looking to make history as a career?

Don't worry about whether it will lead to a career. Majoring in history will help deepen you no matter what you end up doing. 

Who was you favorite history teacher?

 My 11th Grade teacher at Phillips Academy, Mr. Allis. 
  
Why is it essential to save history and libraries? 

"Those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it," --George Santayana.