Peter A. Goddard

Peter A. Goddard is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Guelph's College of Arts. His research focuses on Catholic missionary activity, early modern European-Indigenous encounters, and the evolution of poverty concepts in the early modern world. He holds a D.Phil. from Oxford University (1990) and a B.A. from the University of British Columbia (1983).

Dr. Goddard has served as Chair of the Department of History (2008-2013, 2021-2022), Interim Chair (2021-2022), and currently directs the Tri-University Graduate Program in History (2022-2025). His work examines the intersection of religion, colonialism, and cultural exchange, with a particular emphasis on Jesuit missions in New France and early modern theories of origins.

His publications analyze topics like indigenous-European theological exchanges, demonology in colonial contexts, and the role of science in missionary endeavors. He has contributed to major journals such as Church History, Catholic Historical Review, and Canadian Historical Review, alongside edited volumes on colonial missions and early modern thought.