Stewart Tolnay

Stewart Tolnay is S. Frank Miyamoto Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Washington. During his 36-year career, he held faculty appointments at the University of Georgia, University of New York at Albany, and the University of Washington. His is author or co-author of the following three award-winning nonfiction books that focus primarily on the African American experience in the U.S., ranging from family-related behavior to the Great Migration to the history of racially motivated terrorism in the form of lynching.

A FESTIVAL OF VIOLENCE: AN ANALYSIS OF SOUTHERN LYNCHINGS, 1882 to 1930, with E.M. Beck (University of Illinois Press, 1995): recipient of the Social Science History Association President's Book Award; the Mid-South Sociological Association Book Award; and the Outstanding Book Award: Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Human Rights in North America

THE BOTTOM RUNG: AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY LIFE ON SOUTHERN FARMS (University of Illinois Press, 1999): recipient of the Otis Dudley Duncan Award, Sociology of Population Section, American Sociological Association

LYNCHED: THE VICTIMS OF SOUTHERN MOB VIOLENCE, with Amy Kate Bailey (University of North Carolina Press, 2015): recipient of the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS) Research Award

More recently, Tolnay has turned to writing fiction. His first novel, LESS THAN RIGHTEOUS, draws from his academic expertise to tell the story of two generations of the Booker family. His second novel takes the reader on a much different journey. CARRYING ON follows the ups and downs of the career of Professor Lucas Brodie after his wife leaves him and he is asked to serve as the chair of his academic department.

Tolnay lives in Shoreline, Washington with his spouse, Patty Glynn, and their four canine beasts, Allie, Jake, Merry, and Skippy. In addition to walking with their dogs, Stew and Patty enjoy bird watching and supporting progressive social, political, and animal welfare organizations.