Historian Spellbinds Cadets at VMI

Robert G. Parkinson, Ph.D., award-winning historian of the American Revolution and author of “Heart of American Darkness: Bewilderment and Horror on the Early Frontier,” captivated his audience in Moody Hall Feb. 19 as he shared the narrative and adventures of the real-life characters in his book.

Parkinson, who is a professor of history at Binghamton University in Binghamton, New York, narrated the story of Capt. Michael Cresap, a frontiersman who was born in 1742 and died in 1775 at the young age of 33. Members of the Cresap family were directly and indirectly involved in multiple historic events in the 18th century, including the establishment of the Mason-Dixon line, the boundary between Maryland and Pennsylvania; the Seven Years’ War, a global conflict involving Europe, North America, India, and the Caribbean; Pontiac’s Rebellion, a conflict between Native American tribes and the British; and an internationally famous speech known as Logan’s Lament, written by Chief Logan, a Mingo tribe leader, to Lord Dunmore, Virginia governor, after Logan’s family was massacred.

Cadet Gracie Harlow ’27, a history major from Buchanan, Virginia, attended Parkinson’s presentation and thoroughly enjoyed it. “Dr. Parkinson was extremely knowledgeable on the subject of his work, and his passion for it showed in his enthusiasm,” said Harlow.

Cadet Colin Munz ’28, an economics and business major from Califon, New Jersey, also attended the presentation, and said, “Dr. Parkinson’s profound knowledge of Colonial America allowed for a very informative and enjoyable speech on the Cresaps.”

Maj. Zachary Deibel, Ph.D., Department of History assistant professor, shared that Parkinson joined his course on the American Revolution earlier in the day. “We discussed how united or disunited the colonists were in opposing British policies throughout the early 1770s. The students had read parts of Parkinson’s second book, ‘Thirteen Clocks,’ in conjunction with a set of primary sources from the period, then engaged in a class debate over the question of unity across the various North American colonies. Dr. Parkinson participated in the debate as well, coaching a group of students in crafting their evidence-based arguments about the past. Throughout the class, he offered unique insights into the ‘chaos and bewilderment’ of the Revolutionary Era that will be guiding many of our discussions in the weeks to come.”

Parkinson has held fellowships at the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture in Williamsburg, Virginia; the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience in Chestertown, Maryland; the Library Company of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania; the Rockefeller Library at Colonial Williamsburg, the Filson Historical Society in Louisville, Kentucky; the David Library of the American Revolution in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania; the Clements Library at the University of Michigan; and the International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Tennessee and his doctorate from the University of Virginia.

The event was sponsored by the Dean’s Academic Speakers Program and the Department of History.

Copies of “Heart of American Darkness: Bewilderment and Horror on the Early Frontier” may be purchased on Amazon.