Doctoral Student in History
About
As a legal historian of the early modern British Atlantic World, Matthew’s research examines how and why everyday individuals utilized judiciaries—especially equity courts—across the Empire. His work often revolves around questions related to the intersections between gender, race, status, and law as he combines legal records with other archival remnants to reveal the worlds people inhabited and navigated centuries ago.
Matthew’s primary project, tentatively titled Women of the Court: Equity and Legal Agency in the Early Modern British Atlantic, explores how women across the British Atlantic used Chancery Courts and a variety of other legal devices to circumvent common law restrictions such as coverture. In addition to the aforementioned project, Matthew is also exploring similar questions related to agency amongst enslaved individuals who sued for their freedom and Indigenous peoples in their interactions with Euro-Americans.
Beyond his research, Matthew is committed to bridging the divide between what is known throughout the academy and taught in secondary education. Recognizing the significance of diverse representation in curricula, he strives to translate his academic work into helpful material for K-12 students and educators through his role in the Remedial Herstory Project, engagement with the American Bar Association’s Division for Public Education, and other such venues.
Publications:
“‘Let Your Women Hear Our Words’: Nanyehi’s Negotiations.” Matrix: A Journal for Matricultural Studies 3, no. 2 (May 2024): 60-93.
