Joseph Harold Larnerd

Joseph H. Larnerd is an Assistant Professor of Design History at Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Drexel University. A first-generation college graduate and scholar of American material culture, his research explores intersections of social class, decorative arts, and working-class labor. He was awarded a 2024 Provost Award for Pedagogical Innovation and a 2022 Allen Rothwarf Award for Teaching Excellence.

• PhD in Art History from Stanford University (2019)
• MA in American Material Culture from University of Delaware (2013)
• MA in Art History and BA in History from Temple University (2011, 2006)

His scholarly focus lies in the social histories of design, particularly how decorative arts shape understandings of class, privilege, and mobility. Current research centers on Gilded Age cut glass and its role in working-class domestic life.

Supported by prestigious institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Terra Foundation for American Art, Winterthur Museum, and Huntington Library, Larnerd’s work bridges academic inquiry with material culture theory. Awards highlight his pedagogical impact and scholarly contributions.