Join historians Dr. Rhae Lynn Barnes (Princeton) and Dr. David M. Henkin (UC Berkeley) for an interactive workshop that combines the history of baseball with the power of storytelling. Whether it’s a backyard game of catch or a sold-out stadium, baseball brings communities together all over the world. In this workshop, you’ll learn about the fascinating history of America’s pastime and discover how to write your own stories.
You’ll learn how baseball grew from local neighborhoods into a worldwide phenomenon, as well as the sport’s cultural significance. Dr. Barnes and Henkin will teach you how to use “visual literacy” (looking closely at vintage, public-domain photographs or even family photos for hidden clues) to jumpstart your imagination as a writer. Then, they’ll teach you practical writing and research techniques to weave historical images and sports history into your own creative writing.
Whether you are a die-hard baseball fan or a budding writer looking for a great story, this workshop will give you the tools and inspiration you need to knock your next writing project out of the park!
About the hosts:
Dr. Rhae Lynn Barnes is a national bestselling author and historian of Darkology: Blackface and the American Way of Entertainment. She is an Assistant Professor of American Cultural History at Princeton University. Dr. Barnes loves helping writers use historical photographs, visual clues, and digital archives to uncover amazing stories and transform the way they write.
Dr. David M. Henkin is a historian and professor at U.C. Berkeley, where he has taught American history since 1997. A long-time San Francisco resident—and a former bookseller at the famous Green Apple Books!—he is the author of several books, including his newest release, Out of the Ballpark: How to Think About Baseball. He specializes in looking at baseball not just as a sport, but as a global cultural phenomenon. From the classic rules of the game to how it is played in communities around the world, Dr. Henkin explores the unique ways that baseball connects us all.
