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Craig Friend

Professor

he/him/his

Department of History

Withers Hall 368

View CV 

Bio

I am a Professor of History and Public History. In 2019, I was named NCSU Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Professor. I also served as 2017-2018 President of the Society for Historians of the Early American Republic.

My academic interests are two-fold: In History, I research in the early American republic, Old South, issues of identity and commemoration, gender and masculinity, and death culture. In Public History, my interests are in public memory and commemoration, family and community history, and the history of public history. My research has been funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Antiquarian Society, the Gilder Lehrman Institute for American History, the Winterthur Museum and Library, the Filson Historical Society, and the Pew Charitable Trusts. I have been honored with the Governor’s Award for the best book on Kentucky history in 2007-2010; the Maclura Award for outstanding volunteer work by the City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources program; and the Distinguished Service Award from the Society for Historians of the Early American Republic.

Bookings

I consider it an honor to work with public audiences on historical projects and to present my scholarship to them. I can talk on any of the topics of my publications and current projects. I may also consider putting together a presentation for your interests, if I have time and sufficient background in the topic. Just ask.

Scholarship

Poetry

Current Projects

  • The Entirety of Our Ancestors: Southern Genealogies in Black and White (book manuscript)
  • The Haywoods: A Southern Family (book manuscript)
  • The Devil to Pay: The Business of Death in the Early American Republic (book manuscript)
  • Into the Bone of Manhood: Essays on Early American Masculinity (book manuscript)
  • “The Purge: Raleigh’s First Black Community and the Lynching of Lunsford Lane” (article manuscript)
  • “Early American Horror Stories: Politicians and Other Things that Went Bump in the Night” (article manuscript)
  • “Origin Myths: The Society for Historians of the Early American Republic” (article manuscript)

Graduate Advising

I work with History MA students interested in American history from the Revolutionary era through the Civil War era, especially the early American republic, Old South, issues of identity and commemoration, gender and masculinity, and death culture. I also work with Public History MA and PhD students working on public memory and commemoration, family and community history, the history of public history, among other topics. I am no longer accepting doctoral advisees. If you’d like me to serve as a masters advisor, or as a committee member for your doctoral or masters work, feel free to contact me.

Current Advisees

  • Alexander Goodrich, “When Voices Rise: Race, Memory, and Public History in Bermuda” (Public History PhD, anticipated 2025)
  • Michael Verville, “Depression-Era Resettlement Communities and the Making of Agrarian Memory” (Public History PhD, anticipated 2026)
  • Queonnah L. Coleman, “Public Histories of Black Cemeteries” (Public History PhD, anticipated 2028)

Past Advisees

Office Hours

  • Scheduled office hours vary each semester, but I welcome you making an appointment via email to meet in person, by phone, or via Zoom. As a protest against the university forcing us to have an office phone just to scam much needed money from departmental budgets and waste tax payers’ investments in higher education, I do not use my office phone, so please do not leave a message there.

Education

Ph.D. History University of Kentucky 1995

M.A. History Clemson University 1990

B.A. History Wake Forest University 1983