Melinda Marchand’s teaching and research focus on 19th and 20th century U.S. history, with particular emphases on women’s history, public history and New England history. Her current book project is a cultural biography of Caroline Dall, a nineteenth century writer, speaker and reformer. The project examines Dall’s contributions to Boston’s intellectual culture as a religious writer, historian, lecturer and social scientist. Situating Dall’s work at the intersection of the transforming feminist, intellectual and professional cultures of the nineteenth century, the project illuminates the complexities of the social, cultural and political landscape that middle-class women navigated as they sought professional and intellectual authority.
Professor Marchand’s current public history initiatives engage students and community partners in oral history projects; exhibit research and design; community archiving; digital archives and exhibits; walking tours, and collaborative public events including lectures, panels and symposia. Her courses include U.S. history surveys and thematic seminars as well as oral history and public history seminars.