Thomas J. Balcerski
BornThomas J. Balcerski
(1982-07-09) July 9, 1982
Ridgewood, New Jersey, U.S.
OccupationHistorian, Author, Professor
Education
SubjectsAmerican History, Political History, LGBTQ History

Thomas J. Balcerski (born 1982).[1] is an American historian, author, and professor of history at Eastern Connecticut State University.[2] [3][4] Balcerski was named the systemwide recipient of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Faculty Research Award for 2020–21.[5] He is the author of Bosom Friends: The Intimate World of James Buchanan and William Rufus King (2019).

Early life and education

Balcerski graduated Magna Cum Laude from Cornell University in 2005 with a B.A. in American Studies and Economics. As an undergraduate, he was an active member of the Acacia (fraternity), where he served as Venerable Dean,[6] and received the Award of Merit for his book Acacia Fraternity at Cornell: The First Century.[7] The co-creator of the popular course “AMST 2001: The First American University,”[8] he was also named Historian of the Cornell University Class of 2005.[9] He went on to receive an M.A. in history from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 2008 and later a PhD of history from Cornell University in 2014.

Career

His work broke into the mainstream media starting in 2019.[10] He was featured in the Discovery+ series “The Book of Queer,” [11] where he was interviewed about President Abraham Lincoln, and the National Geographic mini-series "Rewind the 90s."[12]  Balcerski has also appeared on and written for numerous media outlets including The Washington Post,[13] Smithsonian (magazine),[14] and multiple pieces for CNN.[15][16]

Bosom Friends

Balcerski's first book Bosom Friends: The Intimate World of James Buchanan and William Rufus King evaluates the potential sexual relationship between James Buchanan and William Rufus King.[17] In the book Balcerski focuses on “the significance of male friendships”[18] within the political spheres and personal lives of the antebellum period along with the complexities of political conservatism and the importance of unifying alliances for maintaining Democratic power in the antebellum period.[19] Bosom Friends won the 2019 Best LGBTQ Biography from The Advocate (LGBT magazine).[20][21] His analysis would conclude that the bachelor president was indeed not participating in a homosexual relationship.[22] Bosom friends had a positive reception, with the National Review stating “[Bosom Friends] provides a useful understanding of the way personal networks and informal groups, such as messes, ran Washington in the mid 19th century,” [23] and The American Historical Review writing that “Balcerski impressively balances the personal and the worldly to produce an original and engaging study both of two men and of the wider antebellum world which they lived in and helped shape.”[24]

Awards

References

  1. ↑ "Balcerski, Thomas 1982-". WorldCat Identities.
  2. ↑ "Thomas Balcerski faculty profile, Eastern Connecticut State University".
  3. ↑ "Faculty of the Future".
  4. ↑ "Eastern Professors are innovative, hands-on, global". Eastern Magazine. Eastern Connecticut State University. Spring 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  5. ↑ "3 Eastern faculty receive Board of Regents Faculty Awards".
  6. ↑ Balcerski, Thomas J. (2007). Acacia Fraternity at Cornell: The First Century. Acacia Fraternity Cornell Chapter. ISBN 978-1427622488.
  7. ↑ "Individual Award Winners". Acacia Fraternity.
  8. ↑ "MetaEzra Docs" (PDF).
  9. ↑ "2005". cornelluniversity.imodules.com.
  10. ↑ "Balcerski's presidential presentations reach audiences nationwide". September 22, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Historian Tom Balcerski appears in 'The Book of Queer'". June 8, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Rewind the '90s (TV Mini Series)'". IMDb. July 31, 2023.
  13. ↑ Balcerski, Thomas (June 10, 2020). "#LadyGraham went viral — and not just because of Lindsey Graham's politics". Washington Post.
  14. ↑ Balcerski, Thomas (August 27, 2019). "The 175-Year History of Speculating About President James Buchanan's Bachelorhood".
  15. ↑ Balcerski, Thomas (June 23, 2020). "The old-school campaign tactic that's boosting Biden".
  16. ↑ Balcerski, Thomas (July 22, 2020). "The best – and worst – VP picks".
  17. ↑ "Intimate friendships subject of new James Buchanan book; part of LancasterHistory lecture series [Q & A]". September 22, 2019.
  18. ↑ Project MUSE 763187
  19. ↑ Project MUSE 791356
  20. ↑ "Best Books of the Year". The Advocate. Capital City Press LLC. December 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Was James Buchanan the First Gay President?".
  22. ↑ Smith, Richard (September 20, 2019). "'Bosom Friends' Review: 'Buck' & His 'Better Half'". Wall Street Journal.
  23. ↑ "Was James Buchanan Gay?". National Review. September 26, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Thomas J. Balcerski. Bosom Friends: The Intimate World of James Buchanan and William Rufus King.)".
  25. ↑ "Billington Visiting Professorship in U.S. History".
  26. ↑ "Thomas Balcerski faculty profile, Occidental College".
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