Carl Robert Keyes

Carl Robert Keyes is a Professor of History and Department Chair at the D’Amour College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Assumption College. He also serves as the Pre-Law Advisor. Keyes holds a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University (2007), with additional degrees from Johns Hopkins, the American University, and the University of Michigan. His research focuses on early American history, emphasizing advertising, print culture, and the intersections of colonial and revolutionary-era social, political, and economic dynamics. He is renowned for digital projects like the Adverts 250 Project and the Slavery Adverts 250 Project, which analyze historical advertisements to illuminate societal structures.

Keyes teaches courses on colonial America, Revolutionary history, slavery, and public history. His work bridges academic scholarship with public engagement, fostering undergraduate research through digitization and collaborative projects. He has received prestigious fellowships, including membership in the American Antiquarian Society (2015) and a Bright Institute Fellowship (2018-2020).

• Education: Ph.D. (2007), M.A. (2001) in History from Johns Hopkins University; M.A. (1999) in History from American University; B.A. (1996) in Actuarial Mathematics and History from the University of Michigan.
• Grants & Awards: Includes grants from Winterthur Museum, the McNeil Center, and the Library Company of Philadelphia.

His presentations and peer-reviewed work explore themes such as civic virtue in advertising, gender and power, and the material culture of early America. Keyes actively contributes to academic communities through editorial roles and service in organizations like the American Historical Association and the Omohundro Institute.