American Urban/Environmental History

[mcb27]

I used the search function and didn't see much discussion on urban and environmental history. I'm mainly interested in urban landscapes and how they changed Americans' relationship with nature and the environment in the late 19th/early 20th century. Looking at programs, I can see that Oklahoma and Delaware have some interesting environmental historians. IU, Carnegie Mellon, and Cincinnati also have some interesting profs in their departments. Just wondering if anyone else has any expertise on the intersection of the two themes, especially on a more personal/professional level than an undergrad like myself has. Thanks for any feedback.

Edited December 3, 2012 by mcb27

[CrazyCatLady80]

I believe UC Davis is really good for environmental history. You also may want to check out Berkeley, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

[theregalrenegade]

Definitely look at universities on the West coast - CA, OR, WA...some Canadian Universities as well.

[LadyRara]

The University of Houston has a lot of great Profs who work with urban environmental history! Oklahoma is more agriculturally centered.

[New England Nat]

Davis is where i'd look to be honest. Wisconsin is always good in environmental history. There are some intersting people at Rutgers, and Houston. Oklahoma may be more traditionally agricultral but they have good folks that do cities as well.

[mcb27]

thanks guys.

[PieMonster]

Hey, you forget Yale, which should be the first choice for someone studying environmental history. They have many environmental historians. Just check it too http://www.yale.edu/environmentalhistory/

[New England Nat]

Ah. No. Certainly not the first choice. Yes, that page makes it look promising but those people are spread all over the school and in some cases it's a very big stretch to say they do environmental history. Many of the people listed aren't full time faculty and most of the rest are very junior. It makes figuring out which department to apply to difficult. The people within the history department aren't as well known for being disposed to environmental historians.

They hold a great graduate student conference every year but it's a problematic place to apply to as an environmental historian.

[lafayette]

Urban environmental history is still an emerging field, but its top scholar is definitely William Cronon at Wisconsin. Also specifically urban enviro is Joel Tarr at Carnegie Mellon. I am not sure if he advises PhD students through the Grad Center at CUNY or not, but my former professor, Michael Rawson, is also in this field (You can shoot him an e-mail asking if he does take on PhD students; he'll respond-- he's exceptionally kind.)

Edited December 4, 2012 by lafayette

[vtstevie]

ukansas also has good environmental history, i believe

[New England Nat]

Rawson's book on Boston is very good. Read it a few weeks ago and might be the best individual book I've read this year.

[lafayette]

Rawson's book on Boston is very good. Read it a few weeks ago and might be the best individual book I've read this year.

Agreed, and I believe it was born out of his dissertation he wrote while at Wisconsin with Cronon as his advisor.

Edited December 4, 2012 by lafayette