Kiana T. Rubish studies the connections between the Black family, emotions, and expressive material culture in the U.S. nineteenth century. Her dissertation explores how Black men compiled scrapbooks as narratives about themselves and their families, and how African Americans fit into the larger Black diaspora. She is guided by Michael Woods, after having served as his research assistant at the Papers of Andrew Jackson.

Research Interests: Family History, Emotions History, Intellectual History, African American History, The American South, 19th century U.S. History

Publications: K.T. Rubish, “Review of Tangled Journeys: One Family’s Story and the Making of American History,” North Carolina Historical Review (2025)