I would suggest that. serious (and certainly academic) readers go back to the great landmark work by my late grad school friend and Bay Area colleague, James Kettner, The Development of American Citizenship, 1608-1870 (1978). - ThreadSky

jrakove.bsky.social • 15 days ago

I would suggest that. serious (and certainly academic) readers go back to the great landmark work by my late grad school friend and Bay Area colleague, James Kettner, The Development of American Citizenship, 1608-1870 (1978).

Reposted from Robert Paulett

Definitely worth noting that they need to reach back to the a-constitutionality of the 17th century empire for their goals as it signals that there are still too many tools in the present Constitution to thwart their aims, even in an originalist reading.

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samwang.bsky.social•15 days ago

In a brief read, I am interested to see that c. 1805, citizenship was initially defined in some states simply by residency - a condition even broader than the birthright definition that we have today. That would seem to make undocumenteds into citizens as well. https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Development_of_American_Citizenship/caXqCQAAQBAJ

jrakove.bsky.social•15 days ago

I truly think Jim's work was pioneering. His original concern was with how one defined membership in a political community, but like most historical inquiries, his project took its own course. Decades later analyzing citizenship has become one of the most capacious categories of historical work.

dbcoupr.bsky.social•14 days ago

As an undergraduate at Cal, I worked on my senior thesis in 89’-90’ under his guidance. What a privilege. Cal’s History Department (US) was among the best nationally at that time. So many great scholars.

jrakove.bsky.social•14 days ago

It was a great moment when Leon Litwack, Larrry Levine, and Bob Middlekauff were the senior lights in the department.

dhistoryman.bsky.social•14 days ago

Kettner’s book was one of the first things I read in grad school (Chuck McCurdy’s colloquium) and caused me to fall in love with legal history — a topic I’d never before encountered.

dhistoryman.bsky.social•14 days ago

Oddly, the previous year I was living in Berkeley, wondering what to do next (with a history BA), and remember once visiting Kettner in his office — I assume to ask advice. Don’t think I knew anything about his work.

larryglickman.bsky.social•15 days ago

Jim was beloved by all of us lucky enough to take his first-year grad seminar at UC Berkeley. I learned so much in that class, and appreciated his willingness to meet with us anytime throughout the day--he was always in his office, until they made him take his cigarette breaks outside.

jrakove.bsky.social•15 days ago

I wonder how much his class resembled Bailyn's legendary colloquium at Harvard, which was a transformative experience for so many of us (except your emeritus colleague MBN did not take it, because he was on leave).
And I knew he was a legendary presence in Dwinelle Hall at UCB.

larryglickman.bsky.social•15 days ago

I know that he respected BB tremendously. It was a real “boot camp” course, but a tremendous amount of fun as well. MBN also has wonderful things to say about Bailyn’s mentorship.

unlawfulentries.bsky.social•15 days ago

That Kettner book remains so useful and I've gone back to it again and again.

jrakove.bsky.social•15 days ago

I have fond memories of seeing Jim working way in the big reading room on the second floor of Widener library. Also, given your famous culinary talents, you'll be happy to know he is the only person who has ever cooked fried bananas for me (and my wife), a feat I am sure you've mastered.

unlawfulentries.bsky.social•15 days ago

Ha. I have not cooked fried bananas but will do so soon and post it with James Kettner's book now that I know this.

jrakove.bsky.social•15 days ago

Really! I am flabbergasted by that omission in your vast repertoire. Have at it.

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