Biography

Maury Klein taught United States history at URI for 44 years.  During that time he also served as chairman of the Theatre Department for four years and performed in more than a dozen university and other productions.  The subjects of his 18 books include a three-volume history of the Union Pacific Railroad, biographies of Jay Gould and E. H. Harriman, the coming of the Civil War, the stock market crash of 1929, the steam and power revolution, and a study of how the nation mobilized for World War II.  He has published innumerable articles in both professional journals and popular magazines such as Sports Illustrated.  He enjoys an international reputation in the fields of business and economic history.  In 2014 he was awarded an Emmy for best writing of a documentary, and in 2011 he was elected to the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame.  Along with writing, speaking engagements, and consulting work he continues to teach in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at URI.