Eva Payne

Eva Payne is an Assistant Professor of History in the Department of History at the University of Mississippi, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts. She co-directs the Mellon Foundation-funded Invisible Histories Project – Mississippi, documenting LGBTQ+ history through oral archives. Her research focuses on 19th-20th century U.S. history emphasizing gender, sexuality, and transnational perspectives.

• Education: Ph.D. American Studies from Harvard University (2017)

Her work examines intersections of anti-prostitution policies with U.S. empire expansion, as detailed in her book project Empire of Purity. She teaches courses on U.S. women's/gender history, public history, and queer studies.

Payne has contributed to exhibitions at institutions like the Harvard Art Museum and Schlesinger Library. Her research bridges academic and public history through projects preserving marginalized narratives.