Mary Barford
- Limited Term Lecturer // History
Research Focus
American Cultural and Intellectual History, the History of Love, Intimacy, Courtship and Dating, Labor History
Curriculum vitae
Office and Contact
Degrees
PhD. American History, Purdue University, 2015
M.A. History, Eastern Illinois University
B.A. Philosophy, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Specialization
My specialization is the history of intimacy, and how cultural paradigms shape our most intimate spaces. I write about relationships, the biography of couples, both married and non-married, friendships, and how the cultural molding of ideas as big as "love" have played a part in determining people's lived experience over time. Exploring the function of gender is a big part of my research and study as well. I also love to research and write about scandalous women in US history (my favorites!). Lastly, as a former union organizer, I have a passion for labor history as well and taught local laborers US Labor History for many years. I have two wonderful daughters, a dog, a cat, and a British husband that lives in Yorkshire.