Libby Bischof

Libby Bischof is a Professor of History and University Historian at the University of Southern Maine (USM). She serves as Executive Director of the Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education, a role that combines her expertise in historical documentation and visual education. Her affiliations include the Department of History and the Osher Map Library, where she leads initiatives in cartographic research and public engagement.

Prof. Bischof holds a PhD (2005), MA (2001), and BA (1999) in History from Boston College. Her research focuses on 19th-century American cultural history, with specialties in photography, Maine history, modernism, and women writers. She co-authored Maine Photography: A History, 1840-2015 (2015) and co-curated the acclaimed 2011 exhibition Maine Moderns: Art in Seguinland, 1900-1940, which won the New England Art Awards’ Critic’s Choice for Best Historic Show. Recent projects include an exhibit on photographer Chansonetta Stanley Emmons and articles in The History Teacher and Maine Policy Review.

Her research interests span Maine’s social and cultural legacy, the role of friendship in artistic collaboration, and visualizing history through photography and maps. She has secured fellowships from institutions such as the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Beinecke Library at Yale, and the Peter E. Palmquist Foundation to support her work.

In teaching, Bischof offers courses like History of Maine, Photographing American History, and American Popular Culture. She actively mentors students pursuing internships at museums like the Portland Museum of Art, Maine Historical Society, and USM’s Special Collections. She also collaborates with K-12 educators through the Maine Humanities Council, emphasizing community-based learning and historical preservation.

Prof. Bischof’s professional narrative includes leadership in cultural institutions and academic research. Her work bridges history, visual arts, and public engagement, with a focus on Maine’s unique cultural and intellectual landscapes. Beyond academia, she is passionate about photography, letter writing, and documenting Maine’s postcard history via Instagram.