Barbara J. Fields

Barbara J. Fields is the William R. Shephard Professor of History, specializing in southern history and 19th-century social history. Her work focuses on the intersections of slavery, emancipation, and civil war dynamics. She holds a B.A. from Harvard University (1968) and a Ph.D. from Yale University (1978).

Her research examines the complex social and institutional frameworks of slavery in regions like Maryland, as well as the broader implications of emancipation during the Civil War. Notable publications include Slavery and Freedom on the Middle Ground and collaborative works such as Free at Last, which compile primary sources on slavery and freedom.

No scientific awards are listed, though her scholarly contributions are widely recognized. She has advised no named students in the provided text, and no grants or lab affiliations are mentioned.