Peter Stearns on the History of Childhood and the Family

Drawing on 40 years of memories and reading Stearns's work, this essay explores how his investigations of childhood and parenting history transcended his pioneering work in social history, drew upon world/comparative history while branching out daringly to the history of personal life and behavior in his work on emotions. His studies of modern childhood and parenting characteristically contribute nuance and innovation to this still emerging field of study.