Elaine May

mayxx002@umn.edu

612-626-7847

American Studies 207 Scott H

Department Affiliations

Narrative

Elaine Tyler May is a historian of the United States in the twentieth century whose work centers on the intersections of gender, sexuality, domestic culture and politics. Her scholarship explores the ways in which issues normally considered part of private life – such as consumerism, and leisure pursuits – reflect, express, and influence American political, cultural, and social values. Her books and articles examine changing expectations for marriage in the early 20th century, family and sexuality in the cold war era, the history of women, and the history of childlessness and reproduction in America. Her current research project is an examination of the legacy of the cold war at home, which explores the ongoing quest for national and personal security in terms of Americans’ sense of danger from within as well as outside the country.

Specialties

20th century United States history
women and family
women's social history
The Cold War era
gender, sexuality, politics

Educational Background

B.A.: History, University of California, Los Angeles, 1969.
M.A.: United States History, University of California, Los Angeles, 1970.
Ph. D.: United States History, University of California, Los Angeles, 1975.

Publications

Homeward Bound: American Families in the Cold War Era. May, Elaine Tyler, Basic Books, Author, 2008 edition.
Tell Me True: Memoir, History, and Writing a Life. May, Elaine Tyler, Patricia Hampl, Borealis Books, Minnesota Historical Society Press, Co-Editor, 2008.
Created Equal: A Social and Political History of the United States. May, Elaine Tyler, Co-Author with Jacqueline Jones, Peter Wood, Thomas Borstelmann, Vicki Ruiz, Longman Publishers, Author, 2002.
Barren in the Promised Land: Childless Americans and the Pursuit of Happiness. May, Elaine Tyler, Harvard University Press, Author, 1996.
Pushing the Limits: American Women 1940-1961. May, Elaine Tyler, Author, 1994.
Here, There, and Everywhere: The Foreign Politics of American Popular Culture. May, Elaine Tyler, Co-editor with Reinhold Wagnleitner, University Press of New England, Co-Editor, 2000.
Great Expectations: Marriage and Divorce in Post-Victorian America. May, Elaine Tyler, University of Chicago Press, Author, 1980.

Research Activities

"Gimme Shelter: The Legacy of the Cold War at Home": book in progress
"The Pill: A Cultural History": book in progress

Professional Activities

President-Elect: Organization of American Historians , 2010
Douglas Southall Freeman Professor of History: Visiting Professor, University of Richmond, 2008
President: American Studies Association , 1995 - 1996
Distinguished Fulbright Chair in U.S. History, Dublin, Ireland: Mary Ball Washington Professor, University College Dublin , 1996 - 1997
Huntington Library Residential Fellow: Long-Term Research Fellowship , 2004 - 2005

Awards

Regents Professor. University of Minnesota Board of Regents, 2007
2006 Distinguished Women Scholar's Award
Fesler-Lampert Chair in the Humanities, 2003 - 2004
College of Liberal Arts Deans' Medal, University of Minnesota, 2001
College of Liberal Arts Scholars of the College, University of Minnesota, 1996
Fulbright Scholar Award
McKnight Research Award

Courses Taught

AmSt 1907W - Honors Freshman Seminar: Legacy of Cold War in the United States
AmSt 3301W - Senior Proseminar in American Studies
AmSt 4101W - Gender, Sexuality, and Politics in America
AmSt 5920 - Topics in American Studies
AmSt 8239 section 2/History 8910 section 1 - Cultural Fallout: The Cold War at Home and Abroad

Alternative Output Formats

Featured Faculty

Gary Cohen Awarded Austrian Medal of Honor

Gary Cohen has been awarded the Austrian Medal of Honor (Verdienstkreuz) for Science and Arts, First Class. The ceremony was held at the Austrian Embassy in Washington. He was presented the award by Dr. Christian Prosl, the Austrian Ambassador to the United States.
Congratulations to Gary! This is a much-deserved recognition of Gary's scholarship on the Habsburg Empire and his leadership of the Center for Austrian Studies.
November 17th, 2009
Regina Kunzel, Lambda Literary Award Recipient

Regina Kunzel has been awarded the Lambda Literary Award in the category of LGBT Studies for her book Criminal Intimacy: Prison and the Uneven History of Modern American Sexuality. Congratulations Regina.
June 5th, 2009
Donna Gabaccia, Fesler-Lampert Chair

Tthe Graduate School has appointed Donna Gabaccia to the Fesler-Lampert Chair in Public Humanities for 2009-2010.
June 5th, 2009