Paul R. Mullins

Paul R. Mullins
Born(1962-09-22)September 22, 1962
DiedApril 16, 2023(2023-04-16) (aged 60)
OccupationAnthropologist
Academic background
EducationJames Madison University (BS)

University of Maryland (MA)

University of Massachusetts (PhD)
Alma materUniversity of Massachusetts
ThesisThe contradictions of consumption: An archaeology of African America and consumer culture, 1850-1930
Academic work
DisciplineAnthropology
Sub-disciplineMaterial culture
InstitutionsIndiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

Paul R. Mullins (September 22, 1962 - April 16, 2023)[1] served as a professor of Anthropology at Indiana University Purdue-University Indianapolis. His research contributed to the public history of Black neighborhoods in Indianapolis.[2]

Early life and education

Mullins' was born on September 22, 1962.[1] His father, Wayne, served in the U.S. Air Force as a mechanic.[3]

Mullins graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1984.[4] Afterwords, he received graduate degrees from the University of Maryland (M.A., 1990[4]) and the University of Massachusetts (Ph.D., 1996[4]).[2]

Career

Mullins worked at George Mason University for three years as a visiting professor prior to joining the faculty at IUPUI in 1999.[2][4][5] Soon after starting at IUPUI, Mullins won the John L. Cotter Award in Historical Archaeology in recognition of his monograph studying African American communities in Annapolis, Maryland, Race and Affluence: An Archaeology of African America and Consumer Culture.[4]

In addition to his role at IUPUI, Mullins served as the president of the Society for Historical Archaeology (SHA) from 2012 to 2013.[2]

His research focused on historical archaeology as an approach to understanding culture, history, and place. In Indianapolis, his work helped to build public histories of Black neighborhoods in the city.[2] In 2008 he conducted an archaeological dig to better understand the Black neighborhood that had been displaced by the IUPUI campus.[6]

Mullins also studied elements of material culture in Finland and took research trips to the country. In 2012 he received a Fulbright Scholarship to conduct research in Oulu. Later the University of Oulu honored Mullins with the title of docent.[2]

In 2016 he received the Chancellor's Fellowship. The fellowship funded a research project entitled, "Invisible Indianapolis: Race, Heritage, and Community Memory in the Circle City".[2]

Mullins' academic writings were supplemented with two blogs that he maintained for a general readership, “Invisible Indianapolis” and “Archaeology and Material Culture”.[5] In these writings, Mullins drew attention to how IUPUI displaced the African American neighborhoods that once occupied the campus location.[7] These blogs also provided a public account for the neighborhoods where he conducted his community-engaged research.[2]

Mullins' work in Indianapolis contributed to the reclassification of the death of George Tompkins as a lynching.[8][9]

In 2022, the Indianapolis City-County Council adopted a resolution recognizing Mullins for "advancing the public’s understanding of the role of the color line in shaping the history and contemporary landscape of Indianapolis.”[2]

Honors and awards

  • John L. Cotter Award in Historical Archaeology, Society for Historical Archaeology (2000)[4]
  • Fulbright Scholarship (2012)
  • 2016 IUPUI Chancellor's Fellowship (with coauthor, Susan Hyatt)
  • Dorothy Riker Hoosier Historical Award, Indiana Historical Society (2020)
  • Chancellor's Professor, IUPUI (2022)[2]
  • J. C. Harrington Award, Society for Historical Archaeology (2024)[5][10]

Selected works

Mullins authored four books and more than fifty peer reviewed journal articles.[5] Selections include:

  • "The Landscape of Black Placelessness: African American Place and Heritage on the Postwar Campus." Historical Archaeology 57, 828–841 (2023)[11]
  • Revolting Things An Archaeology of Shameful Histories and Repulsive Realities. (UP of Florida, 2021)[12]
  • The Archaeology of Consumer Culture. (UP of Florida, 2011)[13]
  • The Archaeology of Consumption. Annual Review of Anthropology 40, 133-144 (2011)[14]
  • Glazed America: A History of the Doughnut. (UP of Florida, 2008)[15]
  • "Representing colonizers: An archaeology of creolization, ethnogenesis, and indigenous material culture among the Haida." Historical Archaeology 34, 73–84 (2000)[16]
  • Race and the genteel consumer: Class and African-American consumption, 1850–1930. Historical Archaeology 33, 22–38 (1999).[17]
  • Race and Affluence: An archaeology of African America and Consumer Culture. (Kluwer Academic, 1999).[18]

Personal life

Mullins married Marlys Johanne Pearson with whom he raised a son, Aidan.[5][3] He enjoyed cycling, popular culture, and sweets. His fondness for sweets and his interests in popular culture were combined to produce an academic book about doughnuts.[3] He also was an avid runner. Mullins ran his last half marathon two months before receiving a diagnosis of cancer.[2]

Mullins died at the age of 60 from glioblastoma on April 16, 2023.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b "Dr. Paul R. Mullins Obituary April 16, 2023". Eric MD Bell Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Ylimaunu, Timo; Hyatt, Susan B. (2023-09-01). "Memorial: Paul R. Mullins (1962–2023)". Historical Archaeology. 57 (3): 811–813. doi:10.1007/s41636-023-00468-2. ISSN 2328-1103.
  3. ^ a b c Aamidor, Abe (November 10, 2008). "Doughnuts to dollars: IUPUI expert on pop culture tells the treat's hole story in a new book". The Indianapolis Star. pp. E.1.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "John L. Cotter Award in Historical Archaeology" (PDF). sha.org. 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-04-26. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Memorial Resolution On Behalf of Paul Mullins". IU Indianapolis Faculty Council.
  6. ^ Robison, Daniel (2009-07-23). "Dig Finds A Thriving Cultural Mecca In Indianapolis". NPR. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  7. ^ Tunis, Lukas (May 23, 2025). "Paul Mullins: A tribute". The Campus Citizen. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  8. ^ Rafford, Claire (April 19, 2023). "IUPUI professor remembered for commitment to justice". The Indianapolis Star. pp. A.3.
  9. ^ Smith, Jordan (March 18, 2025). "New plaque tells story of Black man whose lynching was ruled a suicide in 1922". The Indianapolis Star. pp. A.2.
  10. ^ "Awards and Prizes – Welcome to the Society for Historical Archaeology". Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  11. ^ Mullins, Paul R.; Ryan, Jordan; Keith, Shauna (September 2023). "The Landscape of Black Placelessness: African American Place and Heritage on the Postwar Campus". Historical Archaeology. 57 (3): 828–841. doi:10.1007/s41636-023-00469-1. ISSN 0440-9213.
  12. ^ Mullins, Paul R. (2020-12-22). Revolting Things: An Archaeology of Shameful Histories and Repulsive Realities. University Press of Florida. ISBN 978-0-8130-6572-4.
  13. ^ Mullins, Paul R. (2011). The Archaeology of Consumer Culture. University Press of Florida. ISBN 978-0-8130-3750-9.
  14. ^ Mullins, Paul R. (2011-10-21). "The Archaeology of Consumption". Annual Review of Anthropology. 40 (1): 133–144. doi:10.1146/annurev-anthro-081309-145746. ISSN 0084-6570.
  15. ^ Mullins, Paul R. (2008-09-07). Glazed America: A History of the Doughnut. University Press of Florida. ISBN 978-0-8130-4079-0.
  16. ^ Mullins, Paul R.; Paynter, Robert (September 2009). "Representing colonizers: An archaeology of creolization, ethnogenesis, and indigenous material culture among the Haida". Historical Archaeology. 34 (3): 73–84. doi:10.1007/BF03373643. ISSN 0440-9213.
  17. ^ Mullins, Paul R. (March 1999). "Race and the genteel consumer: Class and African-American consumption, 1850–1930". Historical Archaeology. 33 (1): 22–38. doi:10.1007/BF03374278. ISSN 0440-9213.
  18. ^ Mullins, Paul R. (2005-12-02). Race and Affluence: An Archaeology of African America and Consumer Culture. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-0-306-47163-6.
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