Jacob K. Friefeld

I’m Jacob K. Friefeld, the Director of the Center for Lincoln Studies at the University of Illinois Springfield.

My first book, Homesteading the Plains: Toward a New History, examines the Homestead Act of 1862, one of the most important social policies ever enacted in the United States.

My newest book, The First Migrants: How Black Homesteaders’ Quest for Land and Freedom Heralded America’s Great Migration, tells the epic story of Black Americans homesteading in the Great Plains after the Civil War.

I have a passion for making history accessible for broad audiences through my writing, public speaking, and efforts to create engaging learning opportunities for students at the University of Illinois Springfield.

I am an expert in 19th century U.S. history. I received my B.A. from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Some of my fondest memories are still of aimless walks through St. Thomas's campus--even in winter. I received my M.A from Loyola University Chicago and my Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Connect with me on Instagram @dr_friefeld