Cory James Young

Dr. Cory James Young is an Assistant Professor of History at the University of Iowa, specializing in abolition, slavery in the American North, and legal history. He holds a PhD from Georgetown University and an BA from SUNY Geneseo. His research focuses on marginalized communities' agency in historical contexts and has been supported by institutions like the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the McNeil Center for Early American Studies.

Key projects include his book manuscript For Life or Otherwise: Pennsylvania Slavery in the Age of Gradual Abolition (under contract with University of Pennsylvania Press) and the digital project A Just and True Return, which transcribes Pennsylvania’s slave registries. He also contributed to Petitioning for Freedom, a digital history project on habeas corpus in the American West.

• Education:
• PhD in History, Georgetown University
• BA in History, SUNY Geneseo

His research interests span slavery and emancipation, early U.S. legal frameworks, and African American resistance. Recent articles explore hereditary term slavery, legal restitution, and regional slavery dynamics. Awards include the 2022 Best Dissertation Prize and a 2023 NEH grant.

• Awards/Grants:
• Best Dissertation Prize (2022), SHEAR
• Outstanding Postdoc Award Finalist (2023), UNL
• NEH Grant (2023), Virginia Tech

Dr. Young advises projects like Petitioning for Freedom and collaborates on digital preservation initiatives. His work bridges traditional historiography with digital methods, emphasizing marginalized voices in historical narratives.