Dennis B. Downey

Dennis B. Downey (b. 1952) grew up in Chicago and attended Florida State University (B.A. 1974; M.A. 1976) and Marquette University (Ph.D. 1981).  He has taught American social and intellectual history at Millersville University since 1981, with an interest in the period 1870-1920, race and violence, immigration and migration studies. He is the author/editor of five books, including No Crooked Death: Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and the Lynching of Zachariah Walker (1991); A Season of Renewal: The Columbian Exposition and Victorian America (2002); and We Sing to Thee: A History of Millersville University (2004). Downey received the Philip S. Klein Prize and a Best Book Citation from the Gustavus Meyers Center for Human Rights. He has played an active role in the development of ExplorePahistory.com and authored two of the major book-length stories for the website.