Justin Nystrom, assistant professor of history, recently released his latest book "New Orleans After the Civil War: Race, Politics, and A New Birth of Freedom," which was published by the Johns Hopkins University Press. The book, an original study of the aftermath of emancipation in New Orleans, takes a different perspective, arguing that the politics of the era were less of a struggle over political supremacy and morality than they were about a quest for stability in a world rendered uncertain and unfamiliar by the collapse of slavery. Find out more about the book »

Nystrom joined the Loyola faculty in the fall of 2009 as a specialist in the Civil War Era, fulfilling a long-term dream of working in the city and at a job that he loves. He is the author of numerous peer-reviewed articles, reviews, and published essays.

Nystrom is currently working on a combined book and documentary film project titled Making Groceries: Corner Markets and the Food Culture of Italian New Orleans. This new project will explore the cultural and historical forces that shaped important elements of the city's identity in the century between 1850 and 1950.