Stephen Mihm

Stephen Mihm is a distinguished historian who specializes in the American economic system, business, and cultural history of the United States.

His unique explorations into the historical relationship of money, speculation, capitalism and the American experience have yielded new insights into today’s economic and political woes.

His work is far ranging, and his writings on history, science, technology and business have appeared in the New York Times Magazine, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, and numerous scholarly books, journals, and textbooks.

Stephen has appeared as an expert-guest on numerous radio and television programs, including NPR, CNN, CNBC, the History Channel.

He is the author of numerous books and articles, including Crisis Economics: A Crash Course in the Future of Finance and The Country’s Currency: A History of the Dollar from the American Revolution to the American Century*

During the 2017-2018 academic year, Mihm will take up residence as the Arthur Molella Distinguished Fellow at the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, Smithsonian Institution. In previous years, Mihm has been the recipient of numerous fellowships, awards, and grants, including the biennial Harold F. Williamson Prize, given to a mid-career scholar for contributions to the teaching and writing of business history; a two-year, $188,000 grant from the National Science Foundation; and the History Department's Parks Heggoy Graduate Teaching Award in both 2012 and 2014. He has also received a number of major fellowships from, among other institutions, the American Council of Learned Societies; the Library Company of Philadelphia; and the Harvard Business School, where he served as the Newcomen Postdoctoral Fellowship in Business History in 2003-2004.