Profile: Kerry W. Buckley

Kerry W. Buckley is a writer and historian specializing in American History and a working artist whose paintings have been inspired by the neorealist school of American art. 

He earned his Ph.D. in history from the University of Massachusetts. He is author of Mechanical Man: John Broadus Watson and the Beginnings of Behaviorism, co-editor, with Christopher Clark, of Letters from an American Utopia: The Stetson family and the Northampton Association, 1843–1847, and editor of A Place Called Paradise: Culture and Community in Northampton, Massachusetts, 1654–2004. He has taught at Wellesley College, the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and Smith College. Chapters from his books have been reprinted in anthologies and his articles and reviews have appeared in: The New England Quarterly, The Journal of American History, The Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences, The Social Science Encyclopaedia, The National American Biography, and The Oxford Companion to American History.

He has written for newspapers and periodicals and is a member of the Authors Guild.  His work has been featured on the PBS Nova television series and on NPR's Here and Now.  He has also written and produced documentary films and videos. He is a Vietnam-era veteran and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal.  He is married to Cecelia O. Buckley. They have four children and two grandchildren.

Since his retirement from academic life he has renewed a lifelong passion for painting and drawing. He is a Professional Artist Member of the Copley Society of Art in Boston. His paintings have won several awards and have been featured in juried exhibits throughout the region. He is a Master Artist member of the Cape Cod Art Center where his work has regularly appeared in juried exhibits including the annual National and All New England shows.  His artwork is represented by the Blue Heron Gallery, Wellfleet, MA.

He and his wife live on Cape Cod.