Bio
Fields of specialization include U.S. cultural, religious, gender and recreational history, and the history of the Progressive Era. In addition to teaching U.S. and world history, he has spoken at various academic conferences and published a number of historical books and articles. He is currently writing a book about missionaries to the Pacific region. He has received a number of fellowships and grants, including a Brandeis Crown Fellowship, a Smithsonian Fellowship, and an American Philosophical Society Research Grant.
Professional Memberships
American Historical Association PresentNew England Historical Association 2011 - PresentCongregational Library 2007 - PresentOrganization of American Historians 2018American Society of Church History 2000 - 2015Historical Society 2000 - 2015Awards and Honors
2015, Presidency, New England Historical Association2014, Vice-Presidency, New England Historical Association (NEHA)2008, Bentley College Gregory H. Adamian Award for Excellence in Teaching2006, Bentley College Class of 2006 "Most Animated" Faculty Member Award2005, Bentley College Class of 2005 "Most Popular Faculty or Staff Member" Award2004, Bentley College Greek Council "Outstanding Faculty Member" Award1994, Brandeis Dissertational Writing Fellowship1993, Brandeis Crown Fellowship1992, Smithsonian Graduate Student Fellowship1988, Hampshire Congregational Association Scholarship1988, Leopold Schepp Foundation ScholarshipPublications
Journal Articles
Putney, C. W. (2019). Harry Clark Bentley: A Pioneering Accountant and the Founder of Bentley University, 1877-1967. Historical Journal of Massachusetts, (Winter 2019) 182-207. Putney, C. W., Pratt, M., , ., , . (2017). A Vision and a Leap of Faith: The History of Bentley University, 1917-2017. Bentley Magazine, (Centennial Issue) 11-16. Putney, C. W. (2011). Luther Gulick: His Contributions to Springfield College, the YMCA, and 'Muscular Christianity'. Historical Journal of Massachusetts, (39) 1-2 144-169. Putney, C. W. (2006). Friends House's First Directors, Wesley and October Frost. Beacon Hill Friends House Newsletter. Fall 7-8. Putney, C. W. (2004). Oxenbridge Thacher: Boston Lawyer, Early Patriot. Historical Journal of Massachusetts, (32) 1 90-106. Putney, C. W. (2003). God vs. Sugar: The Gulick Brothers' Fight against King Kamehameha V and the Sugar Planters in Hawaii, 1864-1870. Hawaiian Journal of History, (37) 63-89. Putney, C. W. (2001). The Legacy of the Gulicks, 1827-1964. International Bulletin of Missionary Research, (25) 1 28-35. Putney, C. W. (1995). Shifting Fortunes of a Mainline Parish: The Case of First Church, Amherst. Prism, (9) 1 71-85. Putney, C. W. (1994). Men and Religion: Aspects of the Church Brotherhood Movement, 1880-1920. Anglican and Episcopal History, (63) 4 451-467. Putney, C. W. (1993). Going Upscale: The YMCA and Postwar America, 1950-1980. Journal of Sport History, (20) 2 151-166. Putney, C. W. (1993). Service Over Secrecy: How Lodgestyle Fraternalism Yielded Popularity to Men's Service Clubs. Journal of Popular Culture, (27) 1 179-190. Putney, C. W. (1991). Changing Conceptions of Fatherhood in Early Victorian America. Retrospection, (4) 1 1-18. Putney, C. W. (1991). Character Building in the YMCA, 1880-1930. Mid-America, (73) 1 49-70.
Books
Putney, C. W., Burlin, P. T. (2012). The Role of the American Board in the World: Bicentennial Reflections on the Organization's Missionary Work, 1810-2010. Eugene, Oregon: WIPF & StockPutney, C. W. (2010). Missionaries in Hawai'i: The Lives of Peter and Fanny Gulick, 1797-1883. 272. Amherst, Mass: University of Massachusetts PressPutney, C. W., Spencer, S. (2007). A Jubilee History, Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Beacon Hill Friends House (1957-2007). 136. Boston, Mass: The HousePutney, C. W. (2001). Muscular Christianity: Manhood and Sports in Protestant America, 1880-1920. 300. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press
Book Chapters
Putney, C. W. (2015). The Missionary Gulicks: The Family Behind the Friendship Dolls In , (Eds.) The Sun Shines for Us All: The Friendship Dolls from Japan. 19-29. Valparaiso, Indiana: Brauer Museum, Valparaiso UniversityPutney, C. W. (2012). Overview of the ABCFM In Rodney Petersen, (Eds.) From Ordination and Commissioning to Harbor Sailing. 8-9. Boston Theological InstitutePutney, C. W. (2004). Service over Secrecy: How Lodge-Style Fraternalism Yielded to Men's Service Clubs In Hoyos, Arturo de, Morris, S. Brent, (Eds.) . 105-115. New York: Lexington BooksPutney, C. W. (1997). From Character to Body Building: The YMCA and the Suburban Metropolis, 1950-1980 In Mjagkij, Nina, Spratt, Margaret, (Eds.) . New York, NY: New York University Press
Book Reviews
Putney, C. W. (2022). [Review of the book Theodore Roosevelt: Preaching from the Bully Pulpit ]. Journal of Church and State. Putney, C. W. (2019). [Review of the book Hawaiian by Birth: Missionary Children, Bicultural Identity, and U.S. Colonialism in the Pacific ]. Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth. Putney, C. W. (2014). [Review of the book Christian Masculinity: Men and Religion in Northern Europe in the 19th and 20th Centuries ]. Church History, (83) 1Putney, C. W. (2012). [Review of the book Lottie Moon: A Southern Baptist Missionary to China in History and Legend ]. American Historical Review, (117) 4Putney, C. W. (2011). [Review of the book Fraternities in US History ]. Journal of the History of Children and Youth, (4) 3Putney, C. W. (2010). [Review of the book Creating the College Man: American Mass Magazines and Middle-Class Manhood, 1890-1915 ]. American Historical Review, (115) 5Putney, C. W. (2010). [Review of the book American Missionaries, Christian Oyatoi, and Japan, 1859-73 ]. International Bulletin of Missionary Research, (34) 2Putney, C. W. (2009). [Review of the book Christian Mission: How Christianity Became a World Religion ]. BTI Magazine, (9) 1Putney, C. W. (2008). [Review of the book Disasters, Accidents and Crises in American History: A Reference Guide to the Nation's Most Catastrophic Events ]. Journal of Popular Culture, (41) 6Putney, C. W. (2006). [Review of the book Making Men, Making Class: The YMCA and Workingmen, 1877-1920 ]. Men and Masculinities, (8) 3Putney, C. W. (2005). [Review of the book Stewards of the Land: The American Farm School and Greece in the Twentieth Century ]. Journal of American Culture, (28) 3Putney, C. W. (2005). [Review of the book Sports in Zion: Mormon Recreation, 1890-1940 ]. American Historical Review, (110) 1Putney, C. W. (2004). [Review of the book Occupy until I Come: A. T. Pierson and the Evengelization of the World ]. NEHA News: Newsletter of the New England Historical Association. April (Link)Putney, C. W. (2004). [Review of the book Religious Pluralism in America: The Contentious History of a Founding Ideal ]. Journal of American Culture, (27) 3Putney, C. W. (2002). [Review of the book Building Character in the Boy Scouts ]. Reviews in American History, (30) 2Putney, C. W. (2002). [Review of the book Football: The Ivy League Origins of an American Obsession ]. H-Net. JulyPutney, C. W. (2002). [Review of the book Nothing but Christ: Rufus Anderson and the Ideology of Protestant Foreign Missions ]. Journal of Presbyterian History, (80) 3Putney, C. W. (1994). [Review of the book Sport and Religion ]. International Journal of the History of Sport, (11) 2Putney, C. W. (1991). [Review of the book Manhood in the American Renaissance ]. Retrospection, (4) 2Putney, C. W. (). [Review of the book Island Queens and Mission Wives: How Gender and Empire Remade Hawaii's Pacific World ]. Historian. Forthcoming.
Conference Papers
Putney, C. W. (2012). Overview of the American BoardBoston Theological Institute, American Culture and the Missonary Enterprise: Acknowledging the 200th Anniversary of the Judson Mission and the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
Other(s)
Putney, C. W. (2020). NEHA News (2011-2020)New England Historical Association. 25 pages, roughly, per issue. (Link)Presentations
Putney, C. W. (2022). “Commentary on the Life of Dr. Shields” Presented at the Shields Family Foundation Documentary on the Life of Dr. Edgar Shields, Missionary to ChinaPutney, C. W. (2021). “Missionaries in Hawaii, 1830-1850” Presented at the George Mason University Podcast on Hawaiian History Fairfax, VA (Virtual) Putney, C. W. (2021). “The History of Diversity and Inclusion at Bentley University” Presented at the Bentley Learning Council Address to the Bentley Community Virtual Putney, C. W. (2021). “The History of Bentley” Presented at the Bentley University Address to Bentley Alumni Virtual Putney, C. W. (2021). “Harry Clark Bentley, the Founder of Bentley University” Presented at the Faculti (a scholarly collective) Faculti Interview (Faculti=Scholarly Collective) Virtual Putney, C. W. (2020). “Quakerism--History and Practice” Presented at the Bentley University Sociology Department Prof. Miriam Boeri's Sociology of Religion Class Waltham (Virtual) Putney, C. W. (2020). “Reflections on the Phenomenon of Muscular Christianity” Presented at the King's College, NYC King's College Religious Forum, Hosted by Anthony Bradley New York City (Virtual) Putney, C. W. (2020). “Teaching History through Games: A 25-Year Retrospective” Presented at the New England Historical Association NEHA Spring Conference Sacred Heart University (Virtual) Putney, C. W. (2019). “The Salem Witchcraft Trials, Redux” Putney, C. W. (2018). “The Salem Witchcraft Trials” Putney, C. W. (2018). “"Muscular Christianity--Q. & A."” Presented at the Salem State University/Prof. Brad Austin Sports History Class--Graduate Level Salem, MA Putney, C. W. (2016). “Muscular Christianity and Christian Science” Presented at the Mary Baker Eddy Library Spiritual Intersections in Boston History Boston, MA Putney, C. W. (2016). “Congregational Roots of Middlebury College” Presented at the New England Historical Association NEHA Spring Conference Middlebury, VT Putney, C. W. (2015). “"Fifty Years of NEHA"” Presented at the New England Historical Association 50th Anniversary Conference of the New England Historical Association New Haven, CT Putney, C. W. (2015). “"A Brief Overview of Bentley's History"” Presented at the Bentley University Centennial Steering Committee Kickoff Prudential Center, Boston Putney, C. W. (2014). “"Obtaining Collegiate Status in Massachusetts after World War II: The Case of the Bentley School"” Presented at theSpring Conference of the New England Historical Association Springfield, MA Putney, C. W. (2014). “"Connecticut and Hawai'i: The Missionary Connection"” Presented at the Hartford Consortium for Higher Education Missionary Legacies Conference Hartford, CT Putney, C. W. (2013). “"'The Man Who Works Is the Man Who Wins': Reflections on the Life and Work of Harry Clark Bentley, the Founder of Bentley University"” Presented at the New England Historical Association Fall Conference of the New England Historical Association Hartford, CT Putney, C. W. (2012). “Commentary on papers for a missionary history panel” Presented at the New England Historical Association Fall Conference of the New England Historical Association North Andover, Massachusetts Putney, C. W. (2012). “Commentary on papers for a missionary history panel” Presented at the Pacific Coast Branch of the American Historical Association Annual Conference of the Pacific Coast Branch of the American Historical Association San Diego, California Putney, C. W. (2012). “Overview of the American Board” Presented at the Boston Theological Institute American Culture and the Missonary Enterprise: Acknowledging the 200th Anniversary of the Judson Mission and the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions Cambridge and Salem, Massachusetts Putney, C. W. (2011). “An Analysis of the American Board: the Country's First Sponsor of Overseas Missions” Presented at theFall Conference of the New England Historical Association Boston, Mass. Putney, C. W. (2011). “Luther Gulick, Springfield College, and the YMCA Triangle” Presented at theSpring Conference of the New England Historical Association Worcester, Mass. Putney, C. W. (2010). “Introductory Remarks” Presented at the Bentley University, Boston Theological Institute, Congregational Library Conference on the Bicentennial of the American Board Boston, Mass. Putney, C. W. (2010). “Luther Gulick and the 'Body-Mind-Spirit' Ideal” Presented at the Springfield College 125th Anniversary of Springfield College Springfield, Massachusetts Putney, C. W. (2009). “The Missionary Gulicks: An Evangelical Dynasty” Presented at the International Institute International Institute Symposium Madrid, Spain Putney, C. W. (2009). “Missionary Ranchers: The Work of the Gulicks in Wai-mea, O'ahu” Presented at theWorld History Association Conference Salem, Massachusetts Putney, C. W. (2008). “Koloa, Kauai: Hawaii's First Company Town” Presented at thePacific Conference, American West Center Salt Lake City, Utah Putney, C. W. (2007). “Voyaging to Hawaii: The Experience of Missionaries on the 'Parthian,' 1827-1828” Presented at thePopular Culture Association/American Culture Association Conference Boston, Mass Putney, C. W. (2006). “Muscular Christianity: The Legacy of the Gulicks” Presented at theYMCA General Assembly Nashville, Tennessee Putney, C. W. (2005). “Why the Gulick Family Preserved Non-Christian Objects in Hawaii” Presented at theBoston Theological Institute Symposium Cambridge, Massachusetts Putney, C. W. (2003). “God vs. Sugar: The Gulick Brothers' Fight Against King Kamehameha V and the Sugar Planters in Hawaii, 1864-1870” Presented at theAmerican Historical Association Conference Chicago, IL Putney, C. W. (2001). “The Adoption of Sports by the YMCA, 1851-1917” Presented at the150th-Anniversary Conference of the YMCA New Orleans, LA Putney, C. W. (1999). “Images of Success: Advertisers' Idealizations of American Manhood, 1880-1930” Presented at theNew England Historical Association Conference Boston, MA Putney, C. W. (1999). “The Missionary Gulicks: An Evangelical Dynasty, 1827-1964” Presented at theOverseas Ministries Study Center Research Colloquium Nashville, TN Putney, C. W. (1994). “Men and Religion: Aspects of the YMCA Movement in North America” Presented at theOrganization of American Historians Conference Atlanta, GA Putney, C. W. (1992). “Shifting Fortunes of a Mainline Parish: The Case of First Church, Amherst” Presented at thePopular Culture Association Conference Louisville, KY Service
Department Service
Committee Chair for History Paper Prize Committee 2007 - PresentUniversity Service
Department Chair for History Department 2020 - PresentCommittee Member for Focal Area 2 Governance Committee 2021 - 2021Senate representative from the History Department for Faculty Senate 2018 - 2020Faculty Senate Representative to FEPC for Faculty Evaluations and Procedures Committee 2018 - 2020Committee Chair for Teaching and Scholarly Activities Committee 2016 - 2018Committee Member for Centennial Steering Committee/Historical Subcommittee 2015 - 2017Committee Member for Academic Integrity Board 2010 - 2015Committee Chair for Curriculum Implementation Committee 2011 - 2014Professional Service
Chairperson for New England Historical Association, Nominating Committee 2022 - PresentConference/Workshop Organizer for New England Historical Association - 2022External Reviewer for Misericordia University History Program 2022 - 2022Editor, Journal for New England Historical Association 2011 - 2020
