Professor of History
Office: 213 Willingham Hall
Email: deburton@una.edu
Phone: 256.765.4539

Profile

Burton was raised in rural Indiana before going to Purdue University in Physics.  Very late in his undergraduate career he was pulled by Tolkien and the Inklings into Medieval Studies (BA, MA).  For many years he worked in rare books and manuscripts at the Lilly Library (Indiana University, MLS).  At IU, his interests in both the Middle Ages and Science combined in the History and Philosophy of Science (MA, PhD), where he taught the History of Science, Medieval History and History of the Occult.  Before coming to UNA, Burton taught "Tech and Civ" at Auburn for two years.  In 1995, he won the National Distinguished University Credit Course Award of the NUCEA for distance learning.  His curious courses include "Guts to Gunpowder" and "Harry Potter and Philosophy." He and his wife, Donna, enjoy international travel, old movies, and games of all types.  Burton is currently being trained by two corgis.

Education

Ph.D., History and Philosophy of Science, Indiana University (2000)
M.A., History and Philosophy of Science, Indiana University (1992)
M.L.S., School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, Indiana University, (emphasis on Rare Books and Manuscripts) (1986)
M.A., European History, Purdue University (1986)
B.A., Medieval Studies/European History, Purdue University (1981)

Recent Courses Taught

HI 101/102                           World Civilization I and II
HI 340/341                           Medieval History I and II
HI 382/383                           History of Science and Technology I and II
HI 484                                  Philosophical Borderlands of Science and Religion
HI 417                                  History of Rome
HI 490                                  History of the Vikings
HI 490                                  History of Esoterica American Technology
HI 490                                  Ancient Popular Culture
HI 490                                  Weird History: Witches to UFOs

Selected Publications

Magic, Mystery and Science: A History of the Occult in the West (2004). Co-authored with David Grandy

Nicole Oresme's 'On Seeing the Stars (De visione stellarum)': A Critical Edition of Oresme's Treatise on Optics and Atmospheric Refraction, with an Introduction, Commentary, and English Translation (2006)

Honors and Awards

UNA Academic Affairs Award for Outstanding Scholarship/Research, 2011
Faculty Member of the Year Award, 2007 – International Students, UNA.  International Student Services (Center for International Programs, UNA)
Top Ten University Press Books of 2003 – Number One Position for the History Category, presented by Foreword, the publishing trade journal