Email: CowanMB@bc.edu
Education:
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MA in Irish Studies at National University of Ireland, Galway
First Class Honours, November 2004
Thesis Title: The Murder of Dr. Cronin: The Irish-American and Nativist Responses, Chicago, 1889 -
BA in Music at North Central College in Naperville, IL
Dissertation Title: "Immigrants, Nativists, and the Making of Gilded Age Chicago"
Dissertation Committee: Kevin Kenny (Advisor), David Quigley, Jim O'Toole
Research Interests:
Mimi is interested in understanding the impact of nativism on the lives of Irish and German immigrants in late nineteenth century Chicago and how their reactions to nativism were an important part of the development of Gilded Age Chicago. She also studies the connections between Irish-American nationalism and anarchism in the city and how these movements contributed to nativist fears of immigrants.
Conference Presentations:
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“John Finerty: An Irish-American in Mexico,” Society for Irish Latin American Studies Conference, Morelia, Mexico, July 2009
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“Margaret Sullivan: Writer, Republican...and Radical?” Irish Women’s Conference, Drew University, Madison, New Jersey, June 2009
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“The Construction and Destruction of a Radical Identity: Clan na Gael and Anarchism in 19th Century Chicago,” American Conference for Irish Studies, Galway, June 2009
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“Anarchism and the Development of Irish-American Nationalism in Chicago,” Labor and Working-Class History Association Conference, May 2009
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“The Murder of Dr. Cronin, Anarchists, and Chicago’s Irish Nationalists,” Illinois History Conference, Springfield, October 2008
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“‘A Fiery Cross Blazed Forth’: The K.K.K. in Worcester County, Massachusetts, 1924,” New England Historical Association Conference, October 2008
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“John Finerty: ‘Representative Irishman, True American, Consistent Patriot,’” American Conference for Irish Studies, New York, April 2007
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“The Murder of Dr. Cronin & the Chicago Nativist Movement,” New England Regional, American Conference for Irish Studies, Storrs, Connecticut, October 2006
Publications
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“Augusta Lewis Troup,” “Margaret F. Buchanan Sullivan,” "Anne Sullivan," and “Maud O'Farrell Swartz.” In Women in American History: An Encyclopedia, ed. Hasia R. Diner. New York: Facts On File, forthcoming.
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Review of Habits of Compassion: Irish Catholic Nuns and the Origins of New York’s Welfare System, 1830-1920, by Maureen Fitzgerald, New York Irish History 20 (2006): 69-70.
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Review of An Atlas of Irish History, by Ruth Dudley Edwards, H-Albion: http://www.h-net.org/ (August 2006).
Fellowships and Grants
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King V. Hostick Award, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, 2009-2010
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Boston College Graduate Student association Research Grant, summer 2009
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Labor and Working Class History Association Graduate Student Travel Award, 2009
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Boston College Irish Studies Fellowship for Doctoral Studies (2005-2010)