Adam Thomas

Biography

Adam Thomas came to WCU after completing his PhD at University of California, Irvine and holding positions in History and American Studies at Ohio State University and Miami University of Ohio.<br><br>His research has appeared in <i>Slavery and Abolition</i>, the <i>Journal of Global Slavery</i>, <i>Journal of Caribbean History</i>, <i>Women's Studies Quarterly</i>, and <i>Black Perspectives, </i>with further essays forthcoming in the<i> Journal of Southern History </i>and<i> Journal of Appalachian Studies</i>. He has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Library Company of Philadelphia, Social Science Research Council, Council on Library and Information Resources, American Antiquarian Society, American Philosophical Society, and Virginia Historical Society.<br><br>He is working on a book project entitled "An Unparalleled Time: The 1831 Emancipation Wars in Historical Memory." It examines the relationship between the “Nat Turner revolt” in Southampton County, Virginia and the “Baptist War” in Jamaica, two slave uprisings separated by just four months in 1831. The project finds crucial similarities and connections between the events before considering why they are remembered differently. Ultimately, the book will address how the dominant historical memories of each shape contemporary politics in Britain, the Caribbean, and the United States.

Education

• Ph D, University of California Irvine

Teaching Interests

Courses:<br><br>Early American History<br>African American History<br>Caribbean History<br>Atlantic History<br>History of Slavery and Emancipation<br>Public History: Material Culture<br>The Global History of Soccer<br>Piracy and Radical Maritime Culture<br>History on Film

Research Interests

Slavery, emancipation, colonialism, historical memory, kinship, race, gender, childhood, local history, New York history, material culture analysis, public history.