L. Ray Gunn papers, 1861-2000

L. Ray Gunn is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Utah. He received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Texas Christian University in 1966 and 1968, respectively, and his Ph.D. from Rutgers University in 1974. A member of the university faculty since 1974, he served as Associate Chair of the department for five years prior to becoming chair in 1994. He served as department chair for eight years. Gunn specializes in nineteenth century American political history and has published articles on various aspects of economic and political development in New York State and a book entitled, The Decline of Authority: Public Economic Policy and Political Development in New York State, 1800-1860 (Cornell University Press, 1988). He is also the co-editor of a book of readings entitled Perspectives on American Civilization (Ginn Press, 1987; 2nd Edition, 1990). He is a co-author of The Empire State: A History of New York (Cornell University Press, 2001), which was a Main Selection of the History Book Club and a Choice Magazine "Outstanding Academic Book" in 2002.