Ely Janis

Dr. Ely Janis is a Professor in the Department of History & Political Science at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA). Their teaching and research emphasize transnational perspectives in American history, focusing on immigration, ethnicity, the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, social reform, and urban development. They also lead local history projects, including the transition of North Adams from a mill town to an artistic tourism hub, and maintain the collaborative platform historicnorthadams.com.

• Ph.D., Boston College, 2008
• M.A., Boston College, 2002
• B.A., University of Oregon, 1999

Their research situates the United States within global contexts, analyzing how international ideas and movements shaped American society from colonial times to the present. Recent projects explore Irish-American connections, such as the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair and 19th-century transatlantic nationalist networks, alongside local history initiatives in Massachusetts.

Dr. Janis has served as a board member for the North Adams Public Library and North Adams Historical Society and was previously the Book Review Editor for the Journal of American Ethnic History. They are on sabbatical for Fall 2025.