Gunvor Simonsen

Gunvor Simonsen is an Associate Professor in the Saxo Institute at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Humanities. Her research focuses on Atlantic World history, particularly colonial Caribbean societies, slavery, legal systems, and global biographical approaches. She specializes in Danish and Dutch colonial contexts, examining topics like maritime labor, fugitive slave networks, and transnational legal frameworks.

Her work integrates quantitative microhistory, archival digitization, and interdisciplinary methods. Key research areas include the Danish West Indies (present-day U.S. Virgin Islands), Martinique, and St. Eustatius. She explores themes such as inheritance law, resource management, and the intersection of race, gender, and power in colonial settings.

Simonsen actively participates in HUM:Global, a flagship initiative within the Faculty of Humanities promoting interdisciplinary global research. She contributes to methodological discussions on using individual life histories to understand broader historical processes. Her recent scholarship emphasizes the digitization of colonial records and public debates about Denmark's historical engagement with slavery.

Her publications span peer-reviewed articles, book reviews, and working papers, reflecting a commitment to both academic rigor and accessibility. She frequently addresses topics like obeah spiritual practices, maritime itineraries, and the economic networks of colonial elites.