Richard D. Brown Papers

Richard David Brown was born in New York City on October 31, 1939, the son of Alvyn Adolph and Dorothy Kruskal Brown. His preparatory education was at Devereux Manor, Devon, Pennsylvania and the Fieldstone School, Riverdale, New York. In 1957 he enrolled at Oberlin College where he was active in Musical Union and at the radio station, WOBC. He graduated in 1961 and won a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship to study at Harvard University, where he earned an M.A. in 1962 and a Ph.D. in 1966. Professor Brown served as a Fulbright lecturer at the University of Toulouse in France during the academic year of 1965-1966. After reeiving his Ph.D he returned to Oberlin College where he was an assistant professor of history until 1971. In 1971 he joined the faculty at the University of Connecticut, and served as an associate professor of history until 1975 when he was promoted to full professor. He served as head of the history department from 1974-80, and has also directed the University of Connecticut Humanities Institute.

A student of American history specializing in the American Revolution, and American social and cultural history, Professor Brown has published extensively in these fields. He is the author of several books, including The Strength of a People: The Idea of an Informed Citizenry in America, 1650-1870 (1996); Knowledge is Power: The Diffusion of Information in Early America, 1700-1865 (1989); Massachusetts: A Bicentennial History (1978); Modernization: The Transformation of American Life, 1660-1865 (1976); Revolutionary Politics in Massachusetts: The Boston Committee of Correspondence and the Towns, 1772-1774 (1970); and The Hanging of Ephraim Wheeler: A Story of Rape, Incest and Justice in the Early Republic, (2003). Professor Brown has also edited several anthologies, authored over 35 articles and 65 book reviews, and has delivered more than 90 papers at academic conferences.

In addition to teaching, Professor Brown has acted as president of the New England Historical Association (1990-91), and has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Old Sturbridge Village (1984-87). He has also served as the chair to the Editorial Board of The William and Mary Quarterly (1996-98) and as a member of the Advisory Board of Editors to Common-Place: An Online Journal of American History.