American historian
Ruth Harris FBA (born 25 December 1958) is an American historian and academic. She has been Professor of Modern History at the University of Oxford since 2011 and a senior research fellow at All Souls College, Oxford, since 2016. Previously, she was a junior research fellow at St John's College, Oxford, from 1983 to 1987, an associate professor at Smith College from 1987 to 1990, and a fellow of New College, Oxford, between 1990 and 2016. She was awarded the Wolfson History Prize in 2010 for her book The Man on Devil's Island, a biography on Alfred Dreyfus.
Early life and education
Harris was born on 25 December 1958.[1] She grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.[2] She studied at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree and a Master of Arts (MA) degree.[2][3] Having won a scholarship, she then studied at the University of Oxford and completed a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree in 1984.[2][4] Her doctoral thesis was titled "Murders and madness: legal psychiatry and criminal anthropology in Paris, 1880-1910".[4]
Academic career
Harris began her academic career as a junior research fellow at St John's College, Oxford, between 1983 and 1987.[3][2] In 1987, she was shortlisted for a position at Christ Church, Oxford, but "decided to withdraw when she realised there was only one other woman fellow at the college".[2] Instead, she returned to the United States and took up a position at Smith College, an all-women's liberal arts college in Northampton, Massachusetts.[2] From 1987 to 1990, she was an associate professor at Smith College.[3][2]
In 1990, Harris returned to England was elected a Fellow of New College, Oxford.[2] At college level, she was a tutor in history.[3] She also lectures in the Faculty of History, University of Oxford, and was granted a Title of Distinction in 2011 as Professor of Modern History.[5][6] In 2016, she was elected a senior research fellow at All Souls College, Oxford.[7][8]
In 2006, she delivered the George L. Mosse lectures at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.[9] In 2017, delivered the George Macaulay Trevelyan lectures in Cambridge.[10]
She is a member of the Editorial Board for Past & Present.[11]
Personal life
In 1985, Harris married Iain Pears, an author. Together they have two sons.[1]
Honours
In 1996, Harris was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for research in French History.[12] She was awarded the 2010 Wolfson History Prize for her book, The Man on Devil's Island: Alfred Dreyfus and the Affair that Divided France.[5][13] In 2011, she was elected a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA), the UK's national academy for the humanities and the social sciences.[14] In February 2014, she was made an Honorary Fellow of St John's College, Oxford.[15]
