My research is focused on the period from 1600 to 1850 during the advent of the early global era and the first industrial era. I am fascinated by the changes in material life and cultural practice in this period, particularly the reciprocal affects of Asian trade on world societies. I focus on Britain and Europe within a comparative context, recognizing the power of global exchanges. I employ economic, social and gender analyses in the study of a changing material world.
In recent projects I integrated extensive object study into a wider investigation of cultural and economic change, with particular attention to variations in practice within Europe and Northern North America. Material evidence provides unique insights into the past and the techniques of material culture studies are another important element of my research.
I incorporate material culture study into my courses through a variety of techniques and visits to museum collections on campus.
Examines the evolution and practice of fashion as a social, economic, political and cultural phenomenon from a cross-cultural perspective. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Normally offered in alternate years.
Fall Term 2020Examines the evolution and practice of fashion as a social, economic, political and cultural phenomenon from a cross-cultural perspective. Prerequisite: consent of the instructor. Not to be taken if credit received for HECOL 464.
Fall Term 2020The evolution and practice of fashion as a social, economic, political and cultural phenomenon from a cross-cultural perspective. Prerequisite: *3 in HIST at the 300-level or consent of Department.
Fall Term 2020Research-intensive course in which students prepare and defend an article-length primary-source-based research paper. May be repeated for credit in different years as course content necessarily differs. Prerequisite: consent of Department.
Winter Term 2021Preparation for the comprehensive and candidacy exams. Prerequisite: consent of Department.
Fall Term 2020Started: 20170312
Object Lives and Global Histories in Northern North America is a collaborative research project with Edmonton and Montreal as the geographic hubs for its enquiry. This project will explore the histories of material culture within these regions, linked to wider global flows of influence that arise from trade, colonialism and migration. The object histories will be developed through our project’s multi-disciplinary partnership, generating essential new knowledge about people and object interactions. The stories of the selected objects will be presented on the ‘Object Lives’ website, detailing the biographies of goods that acted as surrogates of early globalization and cross-cultural exchange.