James A. Flath

James A. Flath is a Professor in the Department of History at the University of Western Ontario. He holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia (2000). His research focuses on material culture of modern China and the history of Canada’s Prairie West. He is known for works such as Traces of the Sage (2016) and The Cult of Happiness (2004), which won the Raymond Klibansky Prize. His current project explores the boom-and-bust cycle of Fielding, Saskatchewan. Teaching responsibilities include courses on Chinese history and material culture supervision.

• Education: PhD in History, University of British Columbia, 2000

Research interests span Confucian monuments, folk art (nianhua), and prairie town dynamics. His work bridges art history, cultural memory, and spatial studies. The Nianhua Gallery website showcases his interdisciplinary approach to Chinese folk prints. Awards include the Raymond Klibansky Prize for The Cult of Happiness.

• Awards: 2005/06 Raymond Klibansky Prize

Flath’s publications analyze sites like the Kong Temple, Lugou Bridge, and Yangliuqing woodblock prints. His recent work on Prairie ghost towns examines environmental and economic collapse. He supervises graduate research in modern China and Canadian regional history. Office: Lawson Hall 2234.