Author Archives: Allen Mesch

Unknown's avatar

About Allen Mesch

Allen is an author, educator, and historian. He has written nine books: The Analyst; Teacher of Civil War Generals; Your Affectionate Father, Charles F. Smith; Charles A. Marvin - "One Year. Six Months, and Eleven Days", Preparing for Disunion, Ebenezer Allen - Statesman, Entrepreneur, and Spy, The Forgotten Texas Statesman, The Third Rebellion, and The Traitor. He taught classes on the American Civil War at Collin College. He has visited more than 130 Civil War sites and given presentations at Civil War Roundtables.

Speaking Events and Classes

Posted on March 18, 2023 by Allen Mesch

Beginning in March, I will speak at several events in north Texas. Ebenezer Allen at Allen Depot Museum From 1:00-3:00 pm on March 25, 2023, I will be at Allen Train Depot Museum to discuss my biography of Ebenezer Allen, … Continue reading →

Posted in Scratch Pad | Leave a comment

Are Book Bans Un-American?

Posted on March 12, 2023 by Allen Mesch

Louis A. Bedford IV writes “Book bans are un-American” in an editorial in the March 5, 2023 edition of The Dallas Morning News. As in all things in Texas, book banning is the biggest in the Lone Star state. Texas … Continue reading →

Posted in Scratch Pad | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Americans Agree on Teaching Our Achievements and Failures

Posted on March 6, 2023 by Allen Mesch

In an editorial in The Dallas Morning News on February 26, 2023, Dan Vallone writes “there is significant common ground in how Americans feel our history should be taught.” Dan Vallone’s report by his organization, More in Common,  concludes “most … Continue reading →

Posted in Scratch Pad | Leave a comment

Will Your Book Be Published?

Posted on February 26, 2023 by Allen Mesch

Jonah Winter’s editorial, “My books are banned by the right and the left – State politicians aren’t the only ones silencing voices,” on page 5P of the February 19, 2023 issue of The Dallas Morning News is an alarming report … Continue reading →

Posted in Scratch Pad | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Black History Month – The 1619 Project and Critical Race Theory

Posted on February 18, 2023 by Allen Mesch

This blog is the most controversial of my posts. I discuss how The 1619 Project and Critical Race Theory are being used to attack the study of Black History. Critics of these two programs focus on historical errors and white … Continue reading →

Posted in Scratch Pad | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Black History Month – Nat Turner and Slave Literacy

Posted on February 14, 2023 by Allen Mesch

On August 21, 1831, enslaved Virginian Nat Turner led a bloody revolt, which changed the course of American history. The uprising in Southampton County led to the murder of an estimated 55 white people, the execution of about 55 Black people, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Scratch Pad | Tagged | Leave a comment

Black History Month – Corinth Contraband Camp

Posted on February 9, 2023 by Allen Mesch

As Federal forces occupied significant portions of the South, enslaved people escaped from farms and plantations and fled to safety behind Union lines. The number of freedom seekers increased considerably in Union-occupied Corinth after President Abraham Lincoln’s Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation … Continue reading →

Posted in Scratch Pad | Leave a comment

School District Bans Books

Posted on February 2, 2023 by Allen Mesch

Authors beware! Your book may be banned by school districts. Will Your Book be Banned? A letter to the editor in the January 30, 2023 Dallas Morning News caught my eye this morning. According to the writer, McKinney ISD changed … Continue reading →

Posted in Scratch Pad | Leave a comment

Desperate Writers Can Become Publishers’ Victims

Posted on January 26, 2023 by Allen Mesch

After spending two years researching and writing my book, I was anxious to find a publisher willing to print and distribute my manuscript. Of course, I hoped to find a “match made in heaven,” but instead I ended up “shaking … Continue reading →

Posted in Scratch Pad | Leave a comment

“The Pale Blue Eye” and the “Real” Edgar Allan Poe.

Posted on January 19, 2023 by Allen Mesch

The Netflix movie The Pale Blue Eye is a murder mystery that takes place at the United States Military at West Point. The Movie The Pale Blue Eye is a gothic mystery thriller film written and directed by Scott Cooper, adapted from the 2003 novel … Continue reading →

Posted in Scratch Pad | Tagged | Leave a comment