Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration

Historical Amnesia: Public Administration and the Second Founding

Meghan E. Geist

Kent State University

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1777-4585

Ashley E. Nickels

Kent State University

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5183-246X

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/jsepa.v4i1.6405

Keywords: Second Founding, Historical Amnesia, Social Equity, Citizenship

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Abstract

This study critically examines the marginalization of the Second Founding period (1865–1877) in public administration scholarship, revealing a persistent historical amnesia that obscures its foundational impact on governance and social equity. By analyzing 67 articles and book chapters across leading public administration journals and handbooks, the study identifies key gaps in the literature, such as the limited engagement with the Reconstruction Amendments and the neglect of key organizations and figures like the Freedmen’s Bureau and Freedom Lawmakers. The findings suggest that acknowledging the Second Founding’s contributions can deepen the field’s commitment to social equity and reshape its understanding of historical narratives.

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Author Biographies

Meghan E. Geist, Kent State University

Meghan E. Geist (she/her) (mgeist1@kent.edu) is a doctoral candidate at Kent State University specializing in Comparative Politics and Public Administration. She studies immigration and refugee policies; bio- and necro-politics; borders, mobility, and securitization; and immigrant detention.

Ashley E. Nickels, Kent State University

Ashley E. Nickels (she/her) (anickel5@kent.edu) is an associate professor in the School of Peace and Conflict Studies at Kent State University and co-Editor-in-Chief of Administrative Theory & Praxis. She studies local democracy, civic power, and urban governance.

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