Stephen Nissenbaum obtained his A.B. from Harvard University. In 1961, he received his M.A. from Harvard College. In 1963, he received his B.A. from Columbia University and his Ph.D. from Harvard University. In 1968, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin. Since 1968, he has taught history at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he is currently a professor.

The National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Council of Learned Societies, the American Antiquarian Society, the Massachusetts Historical Society, and the Charles Warren Center at Harvard have all given him fellowships. He was also known as James P. From 1989 to 1990, he was the Harrison Professor of History at the College of William & Mary. He has been a member and president of the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities, as well as a historical counselor for various film productions, and is active in the public humanities.

In 1997, The Fight for Christmas was a nominee for the Pulitzer Prize in History.