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I’m Jacob K. Friefeld, the Director of the Center for Lincoln Studies at the University of Illinois Springfield.
My first book, Homesteading the Plains: Toward a New History, examines the Homestead Act of 1862, one of the most important social policies ever enacted in the United States.
My newest book, The First Migrants: How Black Homesteaders’ Quest for Land and Freedom Heralded America’s Great Migration, tells the epic story of Black Americans homesteading in the Great Plains after the Civil War.
I have a passion for making history accessible for broad audiences through my writing, public speaking, and efforts to create engaging learning opportunities for students at the University of Illinois Springfield.
I am an expert in 19th century U.S. history. I received my B.A. from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Some of my fondest memories are still of aimless walks through St. Thomas's campus--even in winter. I received my M.A from Loyola University Chicago and my Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Connect with me on Instagram @dr_friefeld
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