Caroline Winterer

Caroline Winterer is the William Robertson Coe Professor of History and American Studies at Stanford University, with courtesy appointments in Classics and the Graduate School of Education. A specialist in pre-1900 American intellectual and cultural history, she explores intersections between political thought, classical reception, and scientific epistemology.

• Education: Ph.D. in History from University of Michigan (1996), A.M. in History from University of Michigan (1991), B.A. in History from Pomona College (1988)

Her research spans three major domains: (1) American Enlightenment studies, examining how early Americans engaged with transatlantic intellectual currents; (2) Deep time revolution in 19th-century America, analyzing geological discoveries' impact on national identity; and (3) Digital humanities methodologies for mapping historical networks. These themes converge in her award-winning publications and exhibitions.

Recent publications demonstrate her interdisciplinary reach: How the New World Became Old (2024) combines geological history with cultural analysis, while her Time in Maps co-edited volume (2020) innovates spatial historiography. The 2016 American Enlightenments reinterprets Revolutionary-era intellectual debates.

Scientific recognition includes:

• 2019 American Ingenuity Award (Smithsonian Institution)
• 2013 Marta Sutton Weeks Faculty Scholar (Stanford)
• 2011 Lester J. Cappon Prize (Omohundro Institute)
• 2003 New Scholar’s Book Award (AERA)

As Department Chair (2020-present) and former Director of the Stanford Humanities Center (2013-2019), she mentors graduate students in intellectual history while advancing digital scholarship initiatives. Her Ph.D. program page details advising opportunities.