two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference
(Robert Frost)
Department
of History
California State Polytechnic
University Pomona
Pomona, California 91768
(909) 869-3865
jplloyd@csupomona.edu
Welcome to My Website
Introduction:
I've been teaching at Cal Poly since 1993, primarily History
201 and 202, although I've also taught the Civil War and Reconstuction
course and am looking forward to teaching in the Liberal Studies
Department this year. A famous historian once said that history
is a conversation between the past and present about the future,
and I've always thought there was much truth in that statement.
History, when it is most relevant, helps us understand how we
got where we are today and thus enables us to think more clearly
about where we go from here. It is my hope that students will
gain a deeper understanding of the past in order to engage in
a conversation about the issues society faces today. It is my
belief that the study of history, informed by a social conscience,
can both illuminate and inspire.
Scholarly Interests: My doctoral studies were in nineteenth and twentieth century social and political history of the United States, with minor fields in African American and Constitutional history. I've long been interested in the impact of slavery and racism on American society, and believe that any comprehensive understanding of American society must place these historical issues at the center. Much of my current research involves the effect of the Civil War and Reconstruction on basic conceptions of American citizenship. My dissertation, which I am currently completing at the Claremont Graduate University, examines popular perceptions of constitutional change in the North during the Reconstruction period. I am also interested in the industrial revolution in American society, its effect on labor, as well as America's drive for ever-expanding markets and resources. More recently I've pursued interests in environmental history, especially in the American West, and the social and environmental costs of globalization.
Personal: I enjoy reading, movies, music, photography, hiking, and the outdoors. I also enjoy spending time with my wife and son (and another due early next year!), and they help me keep things in perspective.