Wayne A. Huss , Ph.D.

Dr. Huss is a professor of history (since 1998), history program coordinator (since 2000), and chairperson (since 2000) of the Humanities Division at Gwynedd-Mercy College. 

His education includes: a B.A. in history from Ursinus College (1971); an M.A. in European history since 1500 and American history to 1865 from Villanova University (1973); and a doctorate (Ph.D.) in American, English, and French History (17th to 19th centuries) from Temple University (1984).  He also earned 33 graduate credits in Early Modern European history (1599-1789), Modern European history (since 1789), and art history (Renaissance period) from the University of Virginia (1973-1975).

Dr. Huss’ specialization in graduate school was intellectual and social history, and accordingly, his master’s thesis was on  "The Influence of the Thought of Fontenelle . . . upon the Intellectual Development of Voltaire," and his dissertation was titled, "Pennsylvania Freemasonry:  An Intellectual and Social Analysis, 1727-1826.”

At Gwynedd-Mercy College since 1988, Dr. Huss has taught a total of 214 sections of 23 different courses and in May 1993 he received the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching.  His favorite courses are American Civil War and Reconstruction, French Revolution and Napoleon, Early Modern Europe, Jefferson and Jackson, and the History of Philadelphia.  He has also served on many college committees and task forces.     

Dr. Huss has written several articles about Pennsylvania Freemasonry, as well as a three- volume history, entitled The Master Builders: A History of the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted

Masons of  Pennsylvania, Vol. I, 1731-1873 (1986); Vol. II, 1874-1986 (1988); Vol. III, Grand Master Biographies (1989).  He also has complied and edited Whitpain Township, a Tricentennial Reflection, 1701-2001 (2002).  Dr. Huss’ current scholarly work is the compiling, transcribing, and editing of a large collection of unpublished Civil War letters of Major Griffith Jones, 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, in conjunction with a SEPCHE faculty-student research grant.