McMaster University

Faculty Member, History

About

I am a historical geographer who is also cross-appointed to a history department.

I continue to do research on, and write about, the history of housing, housing policy, and suburban development in Canada and the United States in the twentieth century. I have been particularly interested in the building industry, and with the practice of owner-building. I am currently (spring 2010) polishing a manuscript on the rise of the home improvement industry, 1905-1960, and beginning to think about a study of the historical emergence of the housing market in North America.

In recent years, I have also been doing research on housing and urban development in British colonial territories up to their independence. With Robert Lewis, I am currently studying the social geography of Bombay and Calcutta, c.1901, using the unparalleled Indian census.

Last, but by no means least, I am working on two books: a survey of Cities in World History, and an equally ambitious survey of suburbanisation.

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