History

Faculty - Dr. Howard P. Segal

Professor of History and
Director, Technology & Society Project

Stevens Hall 200 B
Office: 207-581-1920
E-Mail:

Howard.Segal@umit.maine.edu

Ph.D., Princeton University

I have taught at the University of Maine since 1986 and specialize in the history of technology and, secondarily, the history of science. I teach courses in those areas for both undergraduate and graduate students. My history of technology courses cover the beginnings of civilization till the present, where my history of science courses cover American history. My approach is to place technological and scientific advances in their respective social and cultural contexts, integrating them with mainstream historical developments. I also teach survey courses in American history from Reconstruction till now.

My research and writing have been primarily in the history of American technology and in the history of American utopianism.

• Representative Publications:

• Technological Utopianism in American Culture (1985)
• Future Imperfect: The Mixed Blessings of Technology in America (1994)
• Technology in America: A Brief History (with Alan Marcus) (1989; second edition 1999)
• Recasting the Machine Age: Henry Ford’s Village Industries (forthcoming 2001)
• Articles and essays in many journals and edited volumes and in more popular publications as well

Work in Progress:

• “The Wave of the Future: High-Tech Utopias”

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