By Katelyn Schrock
Staff Writer
Karen Robbins has been an associate professor at St. Bonaventure since the fall of 1987. In the classroom, she teaches her students American history, but in her spare time she has been writing a book on its way to publication.
A love of American history led her to the writing of “James McHenry, Forgotten Federalist.”
“The book is a biography about James McHenry,” Robbins said. “Whoever is familiar with David McCullough’s recent biography, or saw the mini-series of John Adams, learned about McHenry. Although they may not remember him, I have a very different view of the man (McHenry) than McCullough presents.”
According to Robbins, there was a great deal of research involved in constructing her book.
“To do history, research trips to archives are necessary, as is the study of microfilm and original papers in published form,” Robbins said. “One must also learn about what other historians have had to say on the subject.”
Robbins received her Bachelor of Arts in history from Denison University in 1977. She then went on to obtain her Master of Arts and Ph.D. in American history from Columbia University.
Robbins is still undergoing the publication process with the University of Georgia Press, and she won’t know until January of next year how long the press expects it to take before the book is actually published.
“Two outside readers needed to approve, then a contract was offered and editors became involved,” Robbins said. “In early January, I’m supposed to receive an e-version of the manuscript, which I will go over and then it will be sent back to the press. Then, the press will make proofs. When I agree to the proofs, then it goes into production.”
The University of Georgia Press has been supportive of Robbins and her work, said Robbins.
She also said the book will be out sometime next year.
“When the book is published, I am expecting it to feel great!”
