About
Hi there! I’m Ashton Kessler.
As you can tell I have a passion for history and so began The Magpie Historian. I have a master’s degree in Public History and so, this website serves as both a record of my master’s final project and a portfolio for my work.
I’m a millenial originally from North Carolina who lived in England for over 12 years. I am currently planning my return, but for now I work in a library with teenagers. I absolutely adore my job and I am so happy when I get to teach them about my passions. When not studying history, I spend my time reading and consuming pop culture.
The title of the website comes from the idea of magpies being attracted to shiny things which I relate to as someone who has ADHD. I’m also fascinated by how they are seen as harbingers of bad or good luck depending on who is telling the story. They are remarkably intelligent creatures who sometimes get a bad rap and I do think that nuance is sorely needed when we talk about historical events and figures.
Ashton Kessler 