Jonathan van Harmelen

I am a historian of 19th and 20th century U.S. history. I write about a myriad of topics, though my work often examines topics such as immigration, civil rights, the federal government, and culture. Much of my research focuses on the United States, though I incorporate global perspectives in my research and think of the relationship between the U.S. and other nations. I particularly enjoy writing about individuals who have gone unnoticed for their contributions to American culture – whether through film, literature, art, or music – and who bring out the best in humanity.

I am also a specialist in Asian American history. I am a columnist for the Japanese American National Museum’s publication Discover Nikkei, and I share my work for several newspapers and publications. I am also passionate about public history. I am an editor for the Densho Encyclopedia, and I have previously worked for the National Museum of American History and Japanese American National Museum.

I also work with organizations outside of the U.S. Since 2022, I have been a member of the research team for the Past Wrongs, Future Choices Initiative at the University of Victoria, Canada, where I started as a visiting scholar. Currently I am a researcher for the legal spotlight, where I work with other scholars on creating an archive of legal documents related to the incarceration of Nikkei communities in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Brazil.