Thomas Donald Jacobs (°1979) is a dual US/Belgian national of Cherokee origins. He attended Northfield Mount Hermon School for highschool (class of '98). Thomas Donald also spent two years studying biology at Hampshire College prior to moving to Belgium and attending Ghent University as a history student, where he obtained his undergraduate degrees in history. Thomas Donald was first employed there as a part-time teaching assistant, and now as a full assistant, working on a doctorate on English Interregnum diplomacy, with a particular focus on the intersection of diplomatic culture, ceremonial and protocols, and the contestation of legitimacy. The maintenance of a research blog constitutes part of this project, see: ‘Researching Early Modern History. A Blog for Professionals and Students,’ at https://earlymodern.blog.

Projects

Projects as supervisor

Negotiating the dignity of the state. Diplomatic ceremonial and protocol during the English Civil Wars and Interregnum. (2016 - 2022)

Publications

Most recent publications

Full bibliography

Teaching

Uunder the supervision of Isabelle Devos: Historische Praktijk II sub-course, “Early Modern English Political and Diplomatic Culture,” using iconography, and published and archival texts to explore what these sources tell us about early modern political and diplomatic culture using María Eugenia Vázquez Semadeni’s broad definition of political culture as “the set of discourses and symbolic practices by means of which both individuals and groups articulate their relationship to power, elaborate their political demands and put them at stake” (Vázquez Semadeni, 2010). Class for second-year bachelor students with seminars dealing with various themes relating to primary sources and historical literature relating to England and its colonies. Grounded and structured analysis, academic writing and presentation skills are emphasized. Selected students are encouraged to participate in an international conference with the submission of a poster, and receive additional coaching. Additional work on an English research and writing guide aimed specifically at Dutch-speaking history students. Two semesters. In planning for 2017-2018.
Under the supervision of René Vermeir: Historische Teksten sub-course, “English Historical Texts.” Introducing first year bachelor students to reading and analysing English historical sources by subject and genre, ranging from the late medieval to the mid-18th century.
Uunder the supervision of Anne-Laure Van Bruaene, Isabelle Devos: Historische Praktijk II sub-course, “Early Modern European Discourses on the Americas,” using published texts to explore what these sources tell us not about the Americas or the Indigenous population, but about Europeans. Class for second-year bachelor students with seminars dealing with various discoursive themes and intellectual movements relating to primary sources and historical literature on the Americas. Academic years: 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16.