It was not my imagination...

Been spending a few days at your local, friendly, College Library. Yes, when I am done will leave behind a couple bucks. But this is about the history of Labor.

Finally got to use JSTOR effectively... and my lord... I found something that is of ahem concern. Not only is the field somewhat open, but it is somewhat of a desert over the last at least thirty years. Interest in Unions, Trades and all that is kind of absent... (Ok I still have a few journals to go through but still... the American Historical Review had ZERO direct articles. I found some that apply from the edges, but not direct articles)

My closest hit was the Journal of Interdisciplinary History... which was interesting.

Realize AHA IS the journal that most College Students and PhDs turn to. And this lack of interest in labor is worrisome.

So I guess I found more reason to actually do this.

Anyhow, back to my readying of Independence and Independence era economy... ah the joys of doing this.

Oh and I will have to keep this interesting.

I brought this up to a couple people. Health insurance employees owe their jobs to the labor movement. It's hard to imagine employers widely giving workers those benefits without having been forced to. No unions, no large health insurance companies.

not in the US.

I found plenty of recent articles on Labor in New Zealand, the UK, et al.... but the US... I admit when I did my masters I did it on the History of the Mexican Enlightenment, and SOME (Second area) in US History, so I got a lot to catch up... but lord it is maddening...

But the pattern is clear... as soon as Neo Liberalism took off (and the commie battle did a number) for the most part young Historians, who are now older historians, seem to lack interest in this.

I am sure I should be able to find some work. I cannot believe it is this much of a desert, but the evidence, so far, is dreadful.