Historian Jared Frederick
Jared Frederick has a lifelong passion for American History. He began his first book at the end of his freshman year in high school. By his second year of college, he had published three books for young adults. In the following years he sold over 10,000 copies of these books as a self-publisher. He is also the author of Images of Modern America: Altoona and Images of Modern America: Gettysburg National Military Park. More recent works include Dispatches of D-Day: A People's History of the Normandy Invasion and Hang Tough: The WWII Letters and Artifacts of Major Dick Winters. His latest book is Fierce Valor: The True Story of Ronald Speirs and His Band of Brothers, co-authored with Erik Dorr from the Gettysburg Museum of History.
In 2020, he partnered with Iraq War veteran and friend Andrew Collins to create the YouTube channel Reel History, which examines historical films with scholarly commentary and insight. The channel's audience continues to grow. Beyond his love of the past, he dabbles in various art mediums as well, having completed custom art and graphic design for numerous projects. Frederick received his bachelor’s degree in History from the Pennsylvania State University and his master’s in History from West Virginia University, graduating with honors from both institutions. He is currently completing his PhD in American Studies at Penn State Harrisburg. His dissertation topic will examine the hidden World War II history of the Gettysburg Battlefield. In addition to his academics and volunteerism, he has served as a seasonal interpretive park ranger at Gettysburg National Military Park and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Following the Battle of Gettysburg sesquicentennial in 2013, Jared received the park’s Incentive Award. Jared has long been involved in the world of Public History, including promoting historic sites, conducting oral history interviews, writing grants, and historic site interpretation. He has completed projects in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution, Pennsylvania Civil War 150, and a multitude of other state and national organizations. Having served as a commentator on the American Battlefield Trust’s online Civil War in Four series, Frederick has also appeared on C-SPAN, PBS, PCN, in numerous National Park Service productions, and various online documentaries. In 2019, he acted as a guest host on Turner Classic Movies for the channel's 25th anniversary. He is also the screenwriter and executive producer of the forthcoming WWII movie Hurtgen, which will explore the experiences of his grandfather in an overlooked battle of the European war. Frederick, who is a Civil War and WWII reenactor, believes that the past can be taught in spheres beyond the classroom. From 2016-2018, he served as president of the non-profit Blair County Historical Society in Pennsylvania. He currently serves as an Instructor of History at Penn State Altoona, where he specializes in various realms of American History—including the Civil War, Pennsylvania History, WWII, Film, and the 1960s. Having served as an academic advisor for over sixty undergraduate students in the College of Liberal Arts, he has also received awards for his teaching skills and his efforts on behalf of student veterans. Be sure to visit his blog for numerous articles from past years. Jared is available as a guest lecturer, commissioned artist, and historical adviser for individual and group projects. Please see his available presentations. |
Author News, Articles, and Links
- Appreciating the Past - A Spotlight feature on Jared's experience as a Turner Classic Movies host
- International Students Explore Gettysburg - Frederick leads a tour for Penn State students
- WWII Soldier: Major Dick Winters - A presentation on Jared's book Hang Tough
- Key Battles of American History - Podcast interview with Jared about his various works
- The Tale of Michael Strank - An article on Jared's role in a documentary on an Iwo Jima flag raiser
- Home Brew History - Interview with Frederick chronicling his professional journey
- Long Remembered - This article by Frederick highlights some of his work as a Gettysburg park ranger
- Profiles in Courage - In this National Park Service article, Jared chronicles the human cost of war
- Women of the Battle of Gettysburg - Jared's first appearance on C-SPAN
- Black Soldiers in the Civil War - This revealing article discusses lost chapters of Pennsylvania history
- Flowers for Mom - In this article, Jared meditates on the personal costs of war
- 4th Infantry Division and D-Day - C-SPAN Interview on "American Artifacts"
- Countdown to D-Day - PennLive Article discussing the 75th anniversary of the Normandy Invasion
- Eisenhower: When I Met the Man Behind D-Day, No One Believed Me - Article on War History Online
- Great Tasks, Great Crusades: D-Day and the Shadows of the Civil War - American Battlefield Trust
- Remembering Operation Overlord - "Smart Talk" WITF Radio Interview
Historian Video Presentations
Jared introduces the movie Gettysburg (1993) on Turner Classic Movies with host Ben Mankiewicz.
In this sample video of Reel History, Jared explores James Cameron's 1997 epic Titanic.
Frederick presents on the Gettysburg Address for the American Battlefield Trust.
Learn about Union Leaders in the American Civil War.
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Hear about the 1942 Nazi plot to sabotage U.S. industry.
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Discover the importance of religion during the Civil War.
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Explore the terrain of the 1863 Gettysburg Campaign.
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All Original Art & Text - Copyright © by Jared Frederick/History Matters - All rights reserved.
No part of this website may be used in any form by any means without the written consent of the artist.
History Matters - P.O. Box 222 Bellwood, PA 16617. Email.
No part of this website may be used in any form by any means without the written consent of the artist.
History Matters - P.O. Box 222 Bellwood, PA 16617. Email.