Peter Jaros

Peter Jaros is an Associate Professor of English specializing in Early American, Antebellum, and Transatlantic literary studies. His work integrates critical theory, legal studies, and print culture analysis. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in English from Northwestern University (2009, 2002) and a B.A. in Psychology (magna cum laude) from Yale University (1998).

Research focuses on intersections of law, literature, and identity in 18th- and 19th-century texts, with particular attention to questions of corporate personhood, legal fictions, and historical self-representation. Notable projects include analyses of Olaudah Equiano's dual identity and Robert Montgomery Bird's legal narratives.

His publications and presentations reflect engagement with transnational perspectives and interdisciplinary dialogue. Awards include an NEH Postdoctoral Fellowship (2013-14) and recognition from the Richard Beale Davis Prize committee. Teaching focuses on American literature's exploration of character and personhood, as seen in courses like 'Making Persons in American Literature.'

Grants supported research at institutions like the Library Company of Philadelphia and the McNeil Center. His work bridges literary analysis with legal philosophy, offering fresh insights into formative American cultural narratives.