Henry Kirby is a postdoctoral lecturer and early Americanist. He mainly studies American Literature and culture before 1860 with a particular emphasis on Indigenous literature, history, and politics. His current work focuses on the role of humor in nineteenth-century Native authors’ English-language political writing. Dr. Kirby usually teaches First-Year Composition and Writing in the Workplace. His Spring 2025 sections of ENGL 102, “Inquiry into Humor in American Culture,” asks why we find funny stuff funny and investigates the ubiquity of humor in American life, including in our popular culture and political rhetoric. He enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons, reading biographies, and his favorite movie is Jaws.