Hilary Bernstein

Hilary Bernstein is a Professor in the Department of History at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University (1996) and specializes in early modern France, with focuses on erudition, family memory, and urban culture. Her research examines political culture in provincial cities, local history writing, and genealogical narratives. She currently teaches courses on medieval and early modern Europe, historical methods, and graduate research seminars.

Her research emphasizes the intersection of local and national identity in early modern France, including projects on family memory, genealogical histories, and the impact of religious conflict. Recent works include Historical Communities: Cities, Erudition, and National Identity in Early Modern France (2021), which explores local historiography and political networks. She has been a visiting professor at École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (Paris) and Université Paris-Nanterre, and serves on the editorial board of French Historical Studies.

Bernstein’s scholarship bridges urban, intellectual, and religious histories. Her articles analyze topics such as municipal governance, the Wars of Religion’s legacy, and the role of judicial elites. She actively collaborates with scholars in editing volumes like Constructing European Historical Narratives in the Early Modern World. Awards include the UC President’s Research Award in the Humanities (2007–2008).

Her advising emphasizes early modern French topics, with current students focusing on related themes. Professional activities include moderation of academic seminars, editorial contributions to journals like H-France Salon, and public lectures on urban history and memory in early modern France.