Thomas A. Foster

About the Author

Thomas A. Foster is a distinguished historian specializing in the cultural and social dimensions of sexuality in early America. With a PhD from Rutgers University, he has held faculty positions at institutions such as Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and the University of New Hampshire, where he teaches courses on gender, sexuality, and American history. Foster's research draws on a wide array of primary sources to illuminate the intimate lives of ordinary people, challenging traditional narratives and revealing the complexities of historical sexual practices. His seminal work, Documenting Intimate Matters: Primary Sources for a History of Sexuality in America, provides an invaluable collection of documents that guide scholars and students through the evolving discourse on intimacy from the colonial era to the nineteenth century. Through his scholarship, Foster bridges academic rigor with accessible storytelling, making the hidden histories of personal relationships come alive for contemporary audiences.