PhD'22 (US history), University of Chicago

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Religious history; law and religion; history of childhood and the family; legal history; theories of religion

BIOGRAPHY

Jacob Betz’s research sits at the intersection of law, religion, and the family. His current book project is tentatively titled For the Souls of Children: American Faith and State Support of Religion, 1870-1970, which explores how religious groups harness state power on behalf of their youngest members. He has published articles and book chapters on such topics as immigrant children’s religious practices, Native American religious freedom, and the legality of religious contracts.

He received his Ph.D. in History from the University of Chicago, where he held a prize lectureship in the Human Rights Program. While completing his dissertation, he taught at Harvard, UIC, and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.