Marie Underhill Noll Professor of History

Marie Underhill Noll Professor of History. It is a distinguished endowed chair in the Department of History at the University of Rochester. Established in 1974 through a bequest from Marie Underhill Noll, the professorship supports a senior faculty member of exceptional scholarly reputation. The chair has been held by several prominent historians whose work has significantly shaped their fields and enriched the university's intellectual community.

History of the Endowment

The professorship was created in 1974 following a bequest from Marie Underhill Noll, a notable benefactor of the University of Rochester. Her gift was intended to permanently endow a senior faculty position, ensuring sustained excellence in historical scholarship and teaching. The establishment of the chair coincided with a period of significant growth and ambition for the College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering at the university. This endowment aligns with a tradition of philanthropic support from the Noll family and other donors like Edwin A. Link and Joseph C. Wilson, who have bolstered the university's academic resources. The creation of such a named chair is a common practice among elite institutions, similar to endowments at Harvard University, Yale University, and Stanford University, designed to attract and retain preeminent scholars.

List of Professors

The inaugural holder of the chair was the renowned intellectual and social historian Christopher Lasch, who was appointed in 1974. Lasch, author of influential works like The Culture of Narcissism and The True and Only Heaven, held the professorship until his death in 1994. He was succeeded by Stewart Weaver, a scholar of British imperial history and the Himalayas, who held the position for over two decades. In 2021, the professorship was conferred upon Joan Shelley Rubin, an expert in American cultural history, particularly the history of the book, middlebrow culture, and poetry in the United States. The succession of holders reflects the department's evolving strengths in intellectual history, cultural history, and transnational studies.

Academic Focus and Distinction

Holders of the chair have been recognized for producing transformative scholarship that crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries. Christopher Lasch's work critically analyzed American liberalism, the family, and social criticism, influencing debates well beyond the academy. Stewart Weaver's research on exploration, colonialism, and environmental history in regions like Tibet and New Zealand contributed to the fields of world history and post-colonial studies. Current professor Joan Shelley Rubin's investigations into print culture, reading practices, and cultural authority have reshaped understanding of twentieth-century America. Their collective work has been honored with major awards, including the Bancroft Prize, the Francis Parkman Prize, and fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Associated Publications and Research

Professors have authored seminal texts that are central to historical discourse. Christopher Lasch's The Culture of Narcissism was nominated for the National Book Award, while his Haven in a Heartless World and The Revolt of the Elites remain widely cited. Stewart Weaver co-authored the acclaimed Fallen Giants: A History of Himalayan Mountaineering from the Age of Empire to the Age of Extremes, which won the Boardman Tasker Award. He also wrote The Scottish Diaspora and A Vision of Empire. Joan Shelley Rubin is the author of The Making of Middlebrow Culture, Songs of Ourselves: The Uses of Poetry in America, and the co-edited The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Cultural and Intellectual History. Their research frequently appears in journals like The American Historical Review, The Journal of American History, and Past & Present.

Relationship to the University and Department

The professorship is a cornerstone of the Department of History at the University of Rochester, symbolizing its commitment to high-level research and mentorship. Holders typically teach advanced undergraduate seminars and graduate courses, supervise PhD candidates, and contribute to interdisciplinary programs such as the Susan B. Anthony Institute for Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies and the Frederick Douglass Institute for African and African-American Studies. The chair enhances the university's profile within the consortium of the Association of American Universities and strengthens its connections with other research centers like the American Antiquarian Society and the Huntington Library. The presence of a Noll Professor directly supports the mission of the College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering to foster rigorous humanistic inquiry alongside scientific and technological innovation.

Category:University of Rochester Category:Academic chairs Category:History education