Iona University’s Institute for Thomas Paine Studies Releases Free E-Book Exploring American Revolutions in the Digital Age
New Rochelle, N.Y. – The Institute for Thomas Paine Studies (ITPS) at Iona University is thrilled to announce the publication of its edited collection, “American Revolutions in the Digital Age,” available now through Cornell University Press. Thanks to Iona University’s generous support toward open access, the e-book version is available for free download via Amazon and Cornell University Press.
“American Revolutions in the Digital Age” delves into how digital tools can enhance our understanding of the United States during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries and sheds light on how historical insights can inform our present-day digital landscape. The essays challenge conventional views of the American past by employing innovative digital research methods.
Additionally, the collection offers a unique perspective on how contemporary issues—such as media disinformation, patriarchy, economic inequality and public memory—can be better understood through a historical lens.
“One of the most exciting and inspiring things about this book is how relevant these histories are to our present moment,” said Nora Slonimsky, Ph.D., director of the ITPS and editor of the collection. “There’s no better way to navigate our digital world than by understanding how it came to be, especially as we approach the 250th anniversary of American independence and grapple with its legacies.”
Nora Slonimsky, Ph.D.
This interdisciplinary collection features essays from scholars across the globe, covering a wide range of fields such as history, English, law, library science, data science and the humanities. The collection was edited by the following scholars:
- Nora Slonimsky, associate professor of history and director of the ITPS at Iona University, author of the forthcoming “Copyrighting the State in Early America,” and social media editor for the Journal of the Early Republic.
- Mark Boonshoft, associate professor and Conrad M. Hall '65 Chair in American Constitutional History at Virginia Military Institute, author of “Aristocratic Education and the Making of the American Republic.”
- Ben Wright, associate professor of history at the University of Texas at Dallas, author of “Bonds of Salvation: How Christianity Inspired and Limited American Abolitionism and coeditor of The American Yawp.”
Additional contributors include renowned scholars such as Joseph M. Adelman, Dorothy Berry, Lindsay M. Chervinsky and many others, each bringing their expertise to this groundbreaking collection.
“This volume reveals how a new generation of historians is using digital tools in exciting ways to recover the experiences of individuals, communities, and places long obscured by traditional research practices,” said Michael Hattem, author of “Past and Prologue.”
Founded in 2011 at Iona University, the ITPS is dedicated to the study of Thomas Paine’s writings, life and legacy. The ITPS has since expanded its focus to encompass archival studies, public history, and digital humanities, while supporting interdisciplinary research on early American history, especially during the revolutionary and early national periods.
Upcoming Conference: Teaching American and Digital Revolutions
The ITPS is also excited to present its upcoming conference, "Teaching American and Digital Revolutions," to be held from September 27-28, 2024. The conference will take place at Iona University in New Rochelle, N.Y., with virtual participation available via Zoom Webinar. This event will bring together educators, historians, and digital humanities practitioners to explore the intersections of American history and digital scholarship.
Learn more about the conference and register today via the ITPS website.
To purchase the book or download a free eBook, visit Amazon or Cornell University Press.
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona is widely recognized in prestigious rankings, including The Princeton Review’s 2025 national list of “The Best 390 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” which ranked Iona at #66 in the nation overall and #8 in the nation among Catholic schools. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just six percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2023.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian. Connecting to its Irish heritage, the University also recently announced it is expanding abroad with a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.