Bruce H. Mann is a Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, specializing in American Legal History. With a passion for legal history, Bruce has taught at prestigious universities such as Washington University, University of Connecticut, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Houston. His research focuses on the intricate relationship between economic, social, and legal changes in early America. Bruce is the author of “Neighbors and Strangers: Law and Community in Early Connecticut” and “Republic of Debtors: Bankruptcy in the Age of American Independence,” which has received several prestigious awards. He has also contributed essays and articles to various history journals and co-edited “The Many Legalities of Early America” with Christopher Tomlins.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Bruce Hartling Mann
- Age: 73 Years, 73 Year Old Males
- Family: Spouse/Ex-: Elizabeth Warren (m. 1980)
- American Men
- Education: Brown University, Yale University
- Political ideology: Democratic Party
- U.S. State: Massachusetts
Childhood & Early Life
Bruce Hartling Mann was born on April 27, 1950, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America. He attended Hingham High School and graduated in 1968. Bruce then went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University. He continued his education at Brown University and obtained a Master of Arts degree. He later enrolled at Yale University, where he earned a Master of Philosophy degree and a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 1975. In 1977, he received his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Yale University. His final assignment before receiving his doctorate was titled “Rationality, Legal Change, and Community in Connecticut, 1690–1760.” Bruce also obtained his license to practice law in Connecticut in 1975.
Career
Bruce H. Mann began his career as a teacher at various universities. He taught at The University of Connecticut School of Law and then joined the Faculty of Law at Washington University in St. Louis. He went on to teach at the University of Houston, University of Michigan, University of Texas at Austin, and Princeton University. In 1987, he started teaching at The University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he became known for his expertise in Legal History, Property, and Trusts & Estates. Bruce described the university as “the academic equivalent of a gigantic toy store” due to its access to early American history. In 2006, he began working at Harvard Law School, where he currently serves as a Professor of Law. He is also an elected member of the American Antiquarian Society and a Fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society. From 2011 to 2013, he served as the president of the American Society for Legal History.
Other Major Works
Bruce H. Mann has written several books, including “Neighbors and Strangers: Law and Community in Early Connecticut,” published in 1987, and “Republic of Debtors: Bankruptcy in the Age of American Independence,” published in 2002. He has also authored numerous essays and articles in history journals and law reviews. In addition, he co-edited a book titled “The Many Legalities of Early America” in 2001 and served as an editor of Law and History Review, a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal.
Awards & Honors
Bruce H. Mann has received several teaching awards throughout his career. In 1996, he was honored with the Harvey Levin Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching by Penn Law. In 1999, he received the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching, the highest recognition for teaching excellence given by the University of Pennsylvania. He has also been honored with the SHEAR Book Prize by the Society for Historians of the Early American Republic, the Littleton-Griswold Prize by the American Historical Association, and the J. Willard Hurst Prize by the Law and Society Association for his book “Republic of Debtors.”
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1980, Bruce H. Mann married American politician Elizabeth Ann Warren. He became the stepfather to Elizabeth’s two children from her previous marriage. Both Bruce and Elizabeth have taught at Harvard Law School. Bruce is a strong supporter of his wife’s political career and often accompanies her during campaigns and conferences. Despite their busy schedules, they enjoy watching movies together at home. Bruce is highly regarded as a passionate teacher, and his students at The University of Pennsylvania Law School have praised his teaching abilities.