Zara Anishanslin

Zara Anishanslin is an Associate Professor of History and Art History at the University of Delaware, directing the American Civilization Program. Her expertise spans Early American and Atlantic World History, with a focus on material culture and the eighteenth century. She holds a PhD from the University of Delaware’s History of American Civilization program (2009) and dual BAs from UNC Chapel Hill. Anishanslin has held fellowships at institutions including Johns Hopkins, the American Philosophical Society, and Winterthur Museum. Her research bridges academia and public humanities, exemplified by her work as a consultant for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 'Hamilton! The Exhibition' and her co-hosting of the podcast 'Thing4Things.'

Her accolades include the Sypherd Prize (2009) and the Library Company’s Biennial Book Prize (2018). Upcoming works include *The Painter's Fire* (Harvard, 2025), supported by grants from the Mellon/ACLS and the Henry Luce Foundation. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in history, art history, and material culture while advancing public history initiatives through museum collaborations and innovative doctoral training programs.

• Education:
  • PhD, History of American Civilization, University of Delaware (2009)
  • BA in Comparative Literature & History (Honors), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Morehead-Cain Scholar)
• Fellowships: Omohundro Institute, Huntington Library, American Antiquarian Society, CUNY Center for the Humanities
• Public Engagement: Creator of podcast 'Thing4Things'; material culture consultant for museum exhibitions
• Research Networks: Collaborations with Winterthur, American Philosophical Society, and the Museum of the American Revolution