Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

Laurel Thatcher Ulrich is a renowned American historian and professor, best known for her work on Early American History, Women's History, and Social History. She has written extensively on the lives of Puritans, Quakers, and other Colonial Americans, including Abigail Adams and John Adams. Ulrich's research has been influenced by the works of Carl Degler, Natalie Zemon Davis, and Gerda Lerner. Her academic career has been shaped by her associations with Harvard University, University of New Hampshire, and the Massachusetts Historical Society.

● Early Life and Education

Laurel Thatcher Ulrich was born in Sugar City, Idaho, to a family of Mormon pioneers, and grew up in a community influenced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She developed an interest in history while attending University of Utah, where she studied under the guidance of Davis Bitton and Richard Poll. Ulrich later pursued her graduate studies at University of New Hampshire, earning her Master of Arts and Ph.D. in history, with a focus on American Colonial History and Women's Studies. Her academic background has been shaped by the works of Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, Gerda Lerner, and Nancy F. Cott.

● Career

Ulrich began her academic career as a professor at University of New Hampshire, teaching courses on American History, Women's History, and Historiography. She later joined the faculty at Harvard University, where she has taught and conducted research on Early American History, Social History, and Cultural History. Ulrich has also been affiliated with the Massachusetts Historical Society, the American Antiquarian Society, and the Organization of American Historians. Her research has been influenced by the works of Gordon Wood, Gary Nash, and Linda Kerber.

● Awards and Honors

Throughout her career, Ulrich has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to the field of history, including the Pulitzer Prize for her book A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812. She has also been recognized with the Bancroft Prize, the John H. Dunning Prize, and the Joan Kelly Memorial Prize in Women's History. Ulrich has been elected as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and the Society of American Historians.

● Major Works

Ulrich's major works include A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812, which explores the life of Martha Ballard, a midwife in Hallowell, Maine. She has also written The Age of Homespun: Objects and Stories in the Creation of an American Myth, which examines the role of textiles and material culture in shaping American identity. Ulrich's other notable works include Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History, which challenges traditional notions of women's history, and Tangible Things: Making History through Objects, co-authored with Sara J. Schechner, Sarah Anne Carter, and Ivan Gaskell.

● Personal Life

Ulrich is married to Gareth Ulrich, and they have five children together. She has been an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has written about the experiences of Mormon women in history. Ulrich's personal life has been influenced by her associations with Brigham Young University, the Mormon History Association, and the Journal of Mormon History. Her interests include genealogy, textile history, and material culture studies, which have been shaped by the works of Caroline Rennolds Milbank, Laurel Horton, and Mary Beth Norton.