Comps List Radio

Episode 8: John Hope Franklin, "Reconstruction After the Civil War," 1961

In this episode, Robert Ferguson and Marie Totten explore John Hope Franklin's influential work on Reconstruction, challenging traditional narratives and emphasizing the progress and potential of the era. They discuss Franklin's background, his impact on historiography, and the importance of understanding Reconstruction as a complex, political, and transformative period. Key questions we are left with are the role played by the early revisionists in the transition from the Dunning School to Foner.

Episode 7: Alfred Chandler, "The Visible Hand," 1977 with Dr. Richard John

Rob and Marie are joined by Columbia Distinguished Research Professor Dr. Richard John, author of Spreading the News and Network Nation, to discuss the life and magnum opus of his mentor Alfred Chandler. Rob and Marie pepper Dr. John with questions about how Alfred Chandler's "Visible Hand" shaped the field of business history, engaged with political history, and why his insights remain relevant today. Dr. John explains not only how this book redefined business history, but illustrated the crucial role of managerial practices in shaping economic outcomes. About Richard John Richard John is a distinguished research professor at Columbia University, specializing in the history of business and economic development.

Episode 6: William A Williams "Tragedy of American Diplomacy," 1959 with Grant Madsen

Grant Madsen from BYU pinch hits for Marie this week as Rob and Grant discuss this classic of the diplomatic history field. They keep coming back to Williams the man, and how this book reflects both a deep connection with America and yet a deep alienation from it. Both Grant and Rob, while not explicitly diplomatic historians, dabble in that field enough for this book (and books inspired by it) to have shaped the way they consider their own works. Therefore, there is a lot of interplay with their own research and it makes for a really personal discussion about the material. Any historian who has never read Williams should listen to this podcast for an introduction to him and his work, and anyone who has read him should listen too. If for not other reason than you can send your feedback on why Rob is wrong.

Episode 5: Louis Hartz, "Liberal Tradition in America," 1955

In this week's episode, Marie takes a break from tornadoes and Rob battles the Arizona heat to bring an in-depth discussion on the great consensus history "The Liberal Tradition in America." We analyze the Cold War context that Hartz was writing in, his perspective on the intellectual battle that undergirded much of the Cold War, and why consensus history was such a breath of fresh air compared to the Progressive histories that had dominated the field beforehand. Rob also gets on his soapbox for an in-depth rant inspired by this book towards the end.

Episode 4: Robert Wiebe, "The Search for Order," 1967

This episode explores the influential work of Wiebe on the Progressive Era, analyzing the rise of the bureaucratic state, regional identities, and the role of young professionals in shaping American history from 1877 to 1920. We discuss the book's insights, style, and its relevance to understanding American political and social transformations.