Harmsworth Professor of American History

Harmsworth Professor of American History is a prestigious academic chair at the University of Oxford, established in 1919 through an endowment from the Harmsworth family. It is the oldest established professorship of American history outside the United States, situated within the Faculty of History. The position is dedicated to the study and teaching of the history of the United States, fostering academic exchange between Britain and North America.

History and establishment

The chair was founded in 1919, funded by a generous endowment from the Harmsworth family, prominent figures in British publishing and philanthropy, notably including Alfred Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Northcliffe. The establishment followed a growing academic recognition of the importance of American history in the aftermath of World War I and the increasing global influence of the United States. The first appointment, H. E. Egerton, was made in 1922, formally inaugurating the professorship within the structures of the University of Oxford. Its creation marked a significant commitment by a major British university to the systematic study of American affairs, predating similar chairs at institutions like Harvard University and Yale University.

List of Harmsworth Professors

Since its inception, the position has been held by a distinguished succession of historians. The inaugural holder was H. E. Egerton (1922–1926), followed by scholars such as D. W. Brogan (1939–1968), whose tenure spanned the Second World War and the early Cold War. Later professors included John M. Blum (1974–1977), a noted expert on the Progressive Era, and George Dangerfield, renowned for his work on the decline of the British Liberal Party and the American Revolution. More recent holders include Howard Temperley (1980–1995), Richard Carwardine (2002–2009), who later became President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and the current incumbent, Stephen Tuck, appointed in 2014 and a scholar of the Civil rights movement.

Role and responsibilities

The primary role of the professor is to advance scholarship and teaching in American history at Oxford. This involves delivering an annual series of public lectures, known as the Harmsworth Lectures, which are often published as significant monographs. The professor supervises graduate students, particularly those pursuing DPhil degrees in fields related to American studies, and contributes to the undergraduate curriculum in the Faculty of History. A key responsibility is to act as a bridge between academic communities in the United Kingdom and the United States, often engaging with institutions like the Rothermere American Institute at Oxford.

Selection and appointment

Appointment to the chair is made by an Electoral board convened by the University of Oxford, typically comprising senior members of the History Faculty, representatives from other colleges such as The Queen's College (the professorship's traditional fellowship), and sometimes external assessors from other universities like Princeton University or the University of Chicago. The process is highly competitive, seeking candidates of international scholarly reputation with a distinguished record of publication in U.S. history. The term is typically five years and is renewable, subject to review, ensuring the position is held by active, leading researchers in the field.

Notable works and impact

Holders of the chair have produced seminal works that have shaped the study of American history. D. W. Brogan authored influential surveys like The American Character, while John M. Blum's multivolume work, The Republican Roosevelt, remains a classic on Theodore Roosevelt. Richard Carwardine's Lincoln: A Life of Purpose and Power won the Lincoln Prize. The annual Harmsworth Lectures have resulted in landmark publications, such as those addressing the American Civil War, Jacksonian democracy, and the history of slavery. The professorship has significantly influenced generations of scholars at Oxford and beyond, cementing the university's role as a leading global centre for the study of the United States.