photo courtesy of Tracy Barnett
Dr. Tracy Barnett has built a graduate career rooted in uncovering the historical forces that continue to shape American society today. A Ph.D. graduate from the Department of History at the University of Georgia, Barnett was awarded the Excellence in Research Award. Her work explores the historical connections between American gun culture and the history of white supremacy.
Her dissertation examines the origins and expansion of firearms in the United States and their role in systems of racial violence.
“My dissertation and now first book manuscript, ‘Yankee Invention, Southern Obsession: Mass-Produced Firearms and the Arming of White Supremacy,’ analyzes the historic origins of America’s gun culture and its mutually constitutive relationship with white supremacist ideology.”
Tracing the period from slavery through Reconstruction, Barnett highlights how firearms became a central tool of control and terror, particularly as manufacturers expanded their markets in the post-Civil War South. Her research sheds light on the ways industry and ideology intersected, shaping patterns of violence that still affect people today.
photo courtesy of Tracy Barnett
Receiving the Excellence in Research Award was a notable moment for Barnett. “I feel honored to have my writing, research, and scholarship recognized by the UGA Graduate School,” she shares, reflecting on the impact of her academic journey.
Throughout her time at UGA, Barnett was supported by mentors who helped guide her research and teaching.
“Stephen Mihm was a very supportive advisor, both in terms of providing research and writing feedback and connecting me with relevant opportunities,” she explains. She also credits Benjamin Ehlers, who “modeled excellent undergraduate teaching and, later on, provided mentorship as I navigated the process of developing a class of my own.” These relationships left a lasting impact for Barnett as both a scholar and educator.
photo courtesy of Tracy Barnett
Beyond her dissertation, Barnett continued to contribute to projects that connect academic research with broader audiences. From her work on the Athens Death Project to her role in developing exhibit content for the Atlanta History Center, her experience reaches far beyond the classroom. Reflecting on her time at UGA, she also appreciated the quieter moments on campus. “On campus, I really valued the quiet seclusion of the Founder’s Garden, especially in the Spring when all the flowers are blooming. I also enjoyed working and writing over a London Fog at Walker’s Coffee & Pub.” Through her research, teaching, and public engagement, Tracy Barnett continues to make a lasting impact in the field of history.
The Excellence in Research award recognizes outstanding research by graduate students. Five awards are given annually, one from each of the following five areas: Fine Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, and Professional and Applied Studies. Students who graduate in the calendar year prior to the award being presented at the Annual Research Award banquet in the spring are eligible. Each graduate department may nominate one student and recipients are selected by a faculty committee.
