Uncovering narratives of early captivity
Explore rigorous historical analysis of colonial captivity accounts, examining firsthand testimonies and the cultural contexts of the period.
Core Research Themes
Rigorous analysis of early colonial captivity narratives, exploring the cultural, religious, and political contexts of primary accounts.
Chronicles of the colonial frontier
A mapping of key captivity narratives and manuscript publications that defined the early American historical experience.
Initial accounts of colonial displacement
The outbreak of hostilities in the Massachusetts Bay Colony forced a re-evaluation of settler-indigenous relations. Firsthand accounts from this period serve as the foundational texts for our study of captivity and cultural exchange.
The publication of a seminal captivity text
Mary Rowlandson’s account of her time among the Wampanoag remains the most influential document of the era. We analyze its rhetorical structure and the theological framework used to interpret her experience.
Transatlantic perspectives on the frontier
John Williams’s 'The Redeemed Captive' offers a distinct perspective on the French and Indigenous alliances. This period marks a shift in how captivity narratives were utilized for political and religious propaganda.
Cross-cultural documentation in the north
The Jesuit Relations provide invaluable, albeit biased, records of Indigenous life and captivity. Our research examines these documents to uncover the nuances of diplomatic and social interactions in the colonial north.
Critical analysis of colonial chronicles
Today, we apply interdisciplinary methods to these primary sources, ensuring that the voices of both captives and colonizers are examined with the rigor and historical accuracy required for modern scholarship.
Explore our research archive
Access annotated excerpts and comparative essays on colonial history.
Academic Correspondence & Updates