Hi.

Lost in the Footnotes is intended as a repository for those histories that are gradually pieced together as real research gets done. As I’ve done academic research in the history of science and technology I’ve also unwittingly compiled research on tangents of tangents, topics utterly unfit for a journal (no matter how deep you bury them in footnotes), but which make for great break room conversations. Now that I am temporarily without a break room, I’ve made this site to keep these stories and preserve a slice of this less academic side of the history of science and technology.

If the site occasionally veers into the antiquarian, I apologize. Similarly, I’ll try not to overstate the significance of histories that were mostly collected as curiosities. As for the tone, I think there’s definitely room for humor here (or at least attempts at it), but I think I’d rather not shut out opportunities for more serious posts if the material warrants it. Lastly, while this site is primarily an archive for the strange things you find in archives, it’s also a place to practice writing and to practice writing less “academically,” so I hope you’ll bear with me.

I can’t promise any definite update schedule at the moment, but I’ll certainly try to keep posting here regularly. If you’ve got something you’d like to contribute that you feel is in keeping with the spirit of this place, please don’t hesitate to email me/ heckle me on Twitter.