A native of Belfast, Northern Ireland, Stephanie McCurry is a historian of US history, specializing in the US Civil War and the Reconstruction era. Her areas of specialty also include the experiences of women, poor white farmers, and how families interacted with governments during and immediately after the US Civil War. She received her BA in History from the University of Western Ontario (also known as Western University) in London, Ontario, in 1981, her MA in History from the University of Rochester in New York in 1983, and her PhD in History from State University of New York in Binghamton, New York in 1988. Over the course of her career, she has taught at the University of California in San Diego, Northwestern University in Chicago, and the University of Pennsylvania.

In her historical work, Stephanie McCurry focuses on what is termed “history from below.” This means her research focuses on the perspectives and experiences of marginalized groups such as women and the rural poor. This is in contrast to the more traditional concept of “Great Men (or Great Person) History,” where the focus is on political leaders, who are assumed to be the main drivers of history and change. While she does address political history, which is typically seen as a staple of traditional history, she is interested in topics such as how poor women and men interact with their governments and shape political thought.