7 Questions With YouTuber History Boy, AKA Jacob

 

History Boy (a.k.a Jacob) has been creating historical videos on YouTube since the age of 11 years old. With a deep passion for Civil War history, he became a reenactor at the age of 13, and now at 15 years of age, he is still a committed drummer in the 8th Connecticut Volunteers, (8CV.org) a reenactment group in Connecticut. History Boy posts historical music videos and narrated videos monthly, and always likes to share historical content with his kind and educated community. Access his YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/HistoryBoyHB/featured

1.          How and when did you get hooked on history?

I have been hooked on history for as long as I can remember. At first, I was fascinated with the American Revolution, and still am to this day - however, toward the age of six, my interest began to wander into the 19th century and landed on the Civil War. The American Civil War is still my favorite time period to this day, though I find all aspects of American history fascinating. I started out by reading books, and watching documentaries like “Civil War Journal.” I also loved playing with toy Civil War kepis and rifles - which you now will catch me doing in a much more serious and professional way at Civil War reenactments.

(Jacob seated)

2.          What role does history play or has it played in your personal life?

History is more than just a hobby, and is something that I find and carry with me in all aspects of my life. I teach and discuss history with my friends all day at school, learn about it in my free time, reenact it on the weekends and am even the editor of the newsletter for my reenactment organization - “Attention Company!"

3.          How does history play  a part of your professional life/career?

My YouTube channel is based primarily on the history and music of the American Civil War. Through this channel I have gotten incredible experiences such as meeting the band manager and lead banjo of the 2nd South Carolina Stringband - the world famous Civil War Camp band. I have also been able to meet many amazing people, be interviewed by the Untold Civil War podcast, and am currently collaborating with multiple big-name YouTubers, podcasters, and reenactors, to bring my audience an exclusive Civil War documentary. 

4.          Why is studying/knowing history important?

Studying and knowing history are vital for future generations - because without knowing the past we can never truly know where we came from and embrace our future. In my videos and social media posts, I always try to raise awareness for historical events, figures, and reenactments, so that my viewers are always learning (or hearing) something new!

5.          What is your favorite period or aspect of history to learn about and why?

My favorite period in history to learn about by far is the American Civil War. It is simply filled with so many incredible people, places, and events, that one can never learn enough! In addition, there are amazing reenactment events commemorating the war, and allowing participants to live the life of a soldier during the time period, which is so exciting, and which offers new opportunities for research. 

6.         How did you become a civil war reenactor and “History Boy”?

In third grade, my friend Joey gave me the name “History Boy,” due to my fascination with all things history. During my 6th grade year I received a comment on YouTube encouraging me to become a Civil War reenactor. I had previously looked into this opportunity, but decided to try again - and found a new website from a regiment named the “8th Connecticut Volunteers, Co. A” (8CV.org) that had just been put up. I was amazed by it, and with all information about the hobby provided - I sent an email to the recruiter who is now a good friend. The rest is… history!

7.      What do you hope subscribers to your YouTube channel and your social media followers to learn from your content?

From my content on YouTube and on social media I hope that my subscribers gain an appreciation for the history and music of the American Civil War. Using modern and classic methods, I educate future historians, and current history buffs. 

7 Questions with Jason Fegadel of Youtube Channel Byztory

 

Jason Fegadel runs Byztory, a YouTube channel featuring animated videos about the Byzantine Empire ( https://www.youtube.com/c/Byztory). He works as an Archive Specialist in the Electronic Records Division at the National Archives and Records Administration. A native of Rochester, New York, he currently lives in the Washington, DC area with his wife and three children. 

1.          How and when did you get  hooked on history?

Fun story! When I was about 7 years old, my family visited Boston and while we were there, we attended a reenactment of the Boston Tea Party. For whatever reason, this just fascinated me. I had all kinds of questions for my parents afterwards and wanted to learn everything about it, why it happened, and what happened afterwards. I soon started looking for books in the school library about that era and then I started to move into whatever other history-related media I could find. As I got older and studied more, my primary interests moved away from early American history but that was the beginning of my life long interest.

2.          What role does history play or has it played in your personal life?

We live in the Washington, DC area so there are plenty of museums, parks, and sites that we can take our kids to. When we visit these places I get to talk their ears off explaining all about the history that they are seeing.

3.          How does history play  a part of your professional life/career?

I'm very lucky to have had a lot of hands-on experience working with historical materials. In 2011 I started working at the National Archives and Records Administration on a digitization project. I stayed there until 2015 when I moved over to the Library of Congress to work on digitization of their holdings. Then in 2018 I went back to NARA as an Archives Specialist working with electronic records and I'm still in that position today.

4.          Why is studying/knowing history important?

The world of today doesn't exist on it's own. We got here because of everything that happened before us. It's important to know where we came from and what brought us to this point. The foundations of the modern world can be found in the ancient and medieval world.

5.          What is your favorite period or aspect of history to learn about and why?

Anything related to the Eastern Roman Empire/Byzantine Empire is fascinating to me but I'm particularly interested in late antiquity, the period from roughly the beginning of the 4th century to the end of the 7th century. I'm fascinated by the causes and effects of the decline and fall of the western Roman Empire, both internally and externally.... what actually happened as the western empire declined, why the eastern empire was able to continue, and how Europe moved into the Medieval period in the aftermath of the fall of the western empire.

6.         How did Byztory get started?

There is a lot of good history content on YouTube, but I noticed that there wasn't a ton of stuff out there about the Byzantine Empire. There are a lot of important events that occurred in the Byzantine Empire and there are some interesting stories that can be told, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to produce some educational content. I took some inspiration from some other channels that are out there and adapted some things to fit my vision. I'm still trying to improve things but I'm happy with how it's coming along.

7.      What can viewers expect to find on your YouTube channel?

I make animated videos about Eastern Roman/Byzantine history. I try to produce videos that are roughly 10-15 minutes long, but I try to go into depth on the topics that I'm covering. As a result I have several videos in a series, with each video covering only a somewhat short period of time, or in some cases only one major event or battle. I'm currently working on a series about the Gothic War, part of Justinian's attempt to reconquer territories that were once a part of Rome's western empire. I have a lot of topics that I plan to do series on in the future, including the Schism of 1054 and the Byzantine Empire's role in the crusades.

7 Questions with Lance Geiger, The History Guy

Lance Geiger is best known as The History Guy on YouTube, producing short videos on obscure topics of history three days a week. After multiple careers in academia and the corporate world, Lance decided to transform his life-long passion for history into a channel dedicated to the idea that history does not need to be boring, reminding viewers that history deserves to be remembered and, of course, that all good stories involve pirates. To date Lance has garnered more than 130 million views and has gotten to work with top quality museums, historical sites, and The History Channel's History-at-Home series.  His videos have been highlighted by online platforms of Forbes Magazine and the Wall Street Journal. ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4sEmXUuWIFlxRIFBRV6VXQ )

    1.          How and when did you get  hooked on history? 

 I was a history buff from an early age, and can't remember when I did not love history.  I credit my love of history to my father's love for war documentaries and John Wayne movies. 

2.          What role does history play or has it played in your personal life? 

My penchant for telling stories about history has been a tie that binds me in many of my personal and professional relationships.  Most notably, a passion for history was a deep shared bond with my father that has carried on with my sons. 

3.          How does history play  a part of your professional life/career? 

Previously my passion for history was a way to build relationships with clients and colleagues. Since 2017, talking about history has been my full-time career. 

4.          Why is studying/knowing history important? 

History certainly informs us and helps us make independent decisions about our present.  I cannot see a nation succeeding if its citizens forget their history.  History is also just darned good entertainment, with stories quite often stranger and more interesting than fiction. 

5.          What is your favorite period or aspect of history to learn about and why? 

I am not good at picking favorites.  On the channel I always say that my favorite bit of history is whatever episode I am working on at the moment. I am, viewers are aware, rather fond of vintage hats. 

6.         How did you become the History Guy? 

I was "in between jobs" in my corporate career and decided that I wanted to do something different. Sometimes people ask what the magic formula is for success on social media and I answer honestly that I have no idea.  I had no background in video, a little experience in tele-teaching, a computer and an idea, and I just followed my nose. 

7.      What kind of content can people expect to find from you ? 

My channel is about telling compelling stories. My content is deliberately diverse, works in a lot of science, and even wanders some into prehistory.  In a given week I might talk about an event in ancient Rome, tell a story about the Second World War, and then talk about the history of ketchup. 

 

7 Questions with Ben Smalley, The Specialist on YouTube

Ben Smalley grew up in Athens Georgia, received his Bachelors in Social Science Education from UGA and his Masters in Social Studies Education from Georgia State.  He currently teaches Honors and AP US History and coaches Varsity girls soccer at Pebblebrook High School in Cobb County. Check out his new Youtube Channel, “The Specialist."

1. How and/or when did you get you hooked on history?
I got hooked on history when my 10th grade AP US History teacher explained that history was a fluid interpretation of the past rather than a static memorization of facts.

2. What role does history play or has it played in your personal life?
I love to see how history connects to current events and absolutely love to travel to historical places.  It is so amazing to see and experience something you have read/taught about for years.

3. How is/How was history a part of your professional life/career?
I currently teach Honors and AP US History, I just started a youtube channel that is heavy on history, and I am working on using 360 degree camera technology to take students on virtual field trips using virtual reality headsets and smartphones.

4. Why is studying/knowing history important?
History can explain everything that is happening in the world we live in.  It is important that we understand history and try to build on our shared successes and failures in order to make the world a better place.  

5. What is your favorite period or aspect of history to learn about and why?
I love 1920s America!  There are so many amazing things happening at once and I think it marks the beginning of the modern era.  I was also recently on a Mongolian Empire kick after listening to the podcast Hardcore History.

6. What is The Specialist?
The Specialist is a list show with intelligence.  The channel has short 1-3 minute videos with lists that are geared toward engaging my students, but also have a "did you know?" dinner party vibe as well. For example, in 9 Things You Didn't Know About The Civil Rights Movement you will find out that Rosa Parks was inspired by a 15 year old girl who refused to give up her seat on a bus before she did.



7. What will viewers gain from The Specialist and what’s your vision for its future?
The random viewer will gain a quick burst of knowledge that blends entertainment and education, while the student/teacher will gain a great supplementary tool that will hopefully fuel their hunger for learning.  My goal is to continue to add new videos, increase viewership, and get valuable feedback from my audience.