Publications
The list of selected staff publications may be searched by keyword or author and can be sorted by year.
Based on legal and archival sources, this lecture analyzed the importance of federal programs in reshaping rural life and perpetuating racism in commodity programs. This essay was the Commonwealth Fund Lecture for 1992, University College London.
Focusing on three commodities, the book traces the impact of government programs and mechanization in transforming rural life over a century. The book won the Charles S. Sydnor Prize from the Southern Historical Association and the Herbert Feis Award from the American Historical Association.
This is an overview of the U.S. South that focuses on missed opportunities to reform rural life and face the problem of racism. It also discusses rock 'n' roll music and stock car racing. It won the Elliott Rudwick Prize from the Organization of American Historians.
This book analyzes the impact of snythetic chemicals (pesticides) on human health and on birds, fish, wildlife, and domestic animals. This book was the basis of the 2004 Walter Lynwood Fleming Lectures at Louisiana State University.
A richly illustrated companion book to the America on the Move exhibition that explores transportation and American history from 1800 to 2000.
Essay - "Communities of Refuge in Frontier Illinois"
A short review of objects on view at the Smithsonian’s Museum of American Art that explicate the idea of home.
Explicates the design of several quilts in the American Museum in Bath, England.
An examination of the role of women and aspects of gentility in the making of Baltimore Album quilts in the Maryland Historical Society collection.
Discusses the role of feature films as historical documents.
Presents a broad view of those who contributed to the state’s heritage.
A discussion of trade issues between China and America in the early 19th century.
An article that explores the use of American manifest records to record the history of trade with China.
A history of collecting and exhibiting art photography at the Smithsonian. Illustrations highlight objects and past exhibitions from the NMAH collections.
Summary of the exhibition of the first photographic salon in the United States, and the beginnings of the national collection of photography at the Smithsonian. Illustrations of images shown at the 1896 salon now in the NMAH collections.
