In 1999-2000, Lowell and his wife Ellen traveled by bicycle throughout England and Portugal and flew to the remote West African island of São Tomé. They researched a libel trial involving the Cadbury chocolate company of Birmingham, England, and its purchase of cocoa beans worked by slave labor. The result is his book, Chocolate on Trial: Slavery, Politics, and the Ethics of Business. In the process of uncovering the story, they examined many facets of human rights and slavery, yesterday and today. Lowell studied at Augustana College (SD) and received graduate degrees from the University of South Carolina. For thirty-five years he taught British and European history at Youngstown (OH) State University, retiring in 2003.