Hilary Buxton

Hilary Buxton is a historian of modern imperial Britain affiliated with Kenyon College in the Department of History, with interdisciplinary ties to Asian and Middle East Studies and International Studies. Her work bridges history, medicine, and postcolonial theory.

Education:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Rutgers University, 2018
• Bachelor of Arts (BA), Smith College, 2011

Buxton's research centers on the intersections of race, gender, disability, and medicine within the British Empire, particularly during the 19th and 20th centuries. She explores colonial intimacy, knowledge production, and the long-term health inequities resulting from imperial encounters. Her current project investigates wounded British West Indian and South Asian servicemen during the First World War and their interactions with medical systems and the imperial state.

Her recent publications span topics in medical history, colonial science, gender, and public health, reflecting a strong trend toward analyzing embodiment, power, and epistemology in imperial contexts. These works frequently engage with postcolonial theory and critical race studies, emphasizing silenced narratives and structural inequities.

Scientific Awards and Fellowships:

• ACLS Fellow
• Fletcher Jones Foundation Fellow, Huntington Library
• Past & Present Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute for Historical Research, University of London

Buxton has received significant research support from the National Science Foundation, the American Philosophical Society, the Council of American Overseas Research Centers, and the Critical Language Scholarship Program. She mentors in historical methodology and teaches courses such as 'The British Empire,' 'History of Public Health,' and 'Colonial Body Politics.'

She is currently on leave until spring 2025 to focus on her research at the Huntington Library. Her academic trajectory reflects deep engagement with transnational and interdisciplinary scholarship on empire and its lasting legacies.