Brian Craig Miller

Department of History

Department Chair
Professor

View CV

brian.miller@ucf.edu

Phone

407-823-0981

Campus Location

Trevor Colbourn Hall 319B

Biography

Brian Craig Miller (he/him/his) is Professor of History and Chair of the Department. He comes to Orlando after serving as Dean of Humanities, Social Sciences and Fine Arts at Mission College in Santa Clara, California. He previously taught U.S. History at Emporia State University and the University of Mississippi. He previously served as the Editor-in-Chief and the Book Review Editor for the journal Civil War History.

Education

Ph.D. in 19th Century U.S. History from University of Mississippi (2006)
M.A. in History from University of Mississippi (2002)
B.A. in History from The Pennsylvania State University (2000)

Research Interests

19th Century American History, Popular Culture and Memory in History, Abraham Lincoln, LGBTQIA+ History, Disney and History, Community Studies related to Civil War Commemoration

Recent Research Activities

I am currently working on a book manuscript that will explore how Walt Disney utilized the memory of the Civil War in creating his iconic World's Fair of 1964 attraction, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. Through research materials from the New York Public Library and the Walt Disney Archives, the manuscript will explore how the attraction emerged, evolved, and endured to be one of the most visited public memory sites pertaining to Abraham Lincoln outside of the memorial in Washington, D.C.

I am also interested in potentially expanding this project in the future, with a larger and more comprehensive study of Disney and History through cinema, television, merchandise, and theme park attractions.

Publications

Books

Empty Sleeves: Amputation in the Civil War South
A Punishment on the Nation: An Iowa Soldier Endures the Civil War
John Bell Hood and the Fight for Civil War Memory

Awards

Selected Fellowships and Grants

2015 Andrew W. Mellon Research Fellowship, The Huntington Library, San Marino, CA

2015 Andrew W. Mellon Research Fellowship, Virginia Historical Society

2014 Frances S. Summersell Center for the Study of the South Research Fellowship

2014 Kentucky Historical Society Research Fellowship

2014 Andrew W. Mellon Research Fellowship, Virginia Historical Society

2014 Ballard Breaux Visiting Fellowship, The Filson Historical Society

2011 Reynolds Associates Research Fellowship in the History of the Health Sciences, University

of Alabama at Birmingham

2010 Kentucky Historical Society Research Fellowship

2008 Kansas Humanities Council Grant

2005 University of Mississippi Graduate Council Research Grant

2003 Society of Military Historians Travel Grant

Selected Professional Awards and Honors

2018-Hughesville High School Academic Hall of Fame

2014- Assessment Champion, Emporia State University

2012- College of Liberal Arts Annual Award for Teaching Excellence, Emporia State

2010, 2011, 2013- Honor for Teaching Excellence, Sigma Sigma, Sigma, Emporia State

2009-15 Kansas Humanities Council Distinguished Lecturer

2009 Nominee, Phi Eta Sigma Outstanding Professor, Emporia State

2007 Honor for Teaching Excellence, Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, Emporia State

2007 Honor for Teaching Excellence, Phi Mu, Kappa Delta, Delta Gamma, Univ. of MS

2006 Nominee, Frist Faculty/Staff Service Award, Univ. of MS

2006 Recognition by Class of 2006 for excellence in teaching, Univ. of MS

Courses

Spring 2026

Course #	Course	Title	Mode	Days/Times	Syllabus
20274	AMH3642	Disney and American History	Mixed Mode (M)	M,W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM	Unavailable

Course #	Course	Title	Mode	Days/Times	Syllabus