The History of Historical Writing in America

The History of Historical Writing in America
Topic	American Historical Writing
Caption	The Library of Congress is home to a vast collection of historical documents and accounts

The History of Historical Writing in America is a rich and diverse field that spans centuries, with notable historians such as David McCullough, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Joseph Ellis contributing to the narrative. The development of historical writing in America is closely tied to the country's founding, with influential figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams leaving behind a wealth of historical documents and accounts, including the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. The study of American history is also deeply connected to institutions like the National Archives and Records Administration and the Smithsonian Institution, which house valuable historical artifacts and documents, such as the Gettysburg Address and the Emancipation Proclamation. Historians like Arthur Schlesinger Jr. and C. Vann Woodward have also played a significant role in shaping the field, with their works, including The Age of Jackson and The Origins of the New South, offering insightful analyses of American history.

Introduction to American Historical Writing

American historical writing has its roots in the early colonial period, with historians like William Bradford and John Winthrop recording the experiences of the Pilgrims and the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The American Revolution and the War of 1812 also generated a significant amount of historical writing, with figures like King George III, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Andrew Jackson playing important roles in shaping the narrative. The Library of Congress and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission have been instrumental in preserving and promoting American historical writing, with their collections including the works of notable historians like Frederick Jackson Turner and Charles Beard. The American Historical Association and the Organization of American Historians have also played a crucial role in advancing the field, with their publications, including the American Historical Review and the Journal of American History, featuring the work of prominent historians like Eric Foner and Nell Irvin Painter.

Colonial Era Historical Accounts

During the colonial era, historical accounts were often written by clergy and government officials, who sought to record the experiences of the early American settlers, including the Puritans and the Quakers. Historians like Cotton Mather and Jonathan Edwards wrote extensively about the Salem witch trials and the Great Awakening, while others, like John Smith and William Penn, recorded the history of the Virginia Colony and the Pennsylvania Colony. The French and Indian War and the Proclamation of 1763 also had a significant impact on the development of historical writing in America, with figures like George III and Benjamin Franklin playing important roles in shaping the narrative. The British Museum and the New York Historical Society have extensive collections of colonial-era historical accounts, including the works of notable historians like David Ramsay and Mercy Otis Warren.

19th Century Developments in American Historiography

The 19th century saw significant developments in American historiography, with the emergence of notable historians like George Bancroft and Francis Parkman. The Mexican-American War and the American Civil War generated a vast amount of historical writing, with figures like Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, and Ulysses S. Grant playing important roles in shaping the narrative. The Reconstruction Era and the Gilded Age also saw the rise of prominent historians like William Archibald Dunning and Charles Francis Adams Jr., who wrote extensively about the Ku Klux Klan and the Robber Barons. The Harvard University and the University of Chicago have been at the forefront of advancing American historiography, with their faculty including notable historians like Arthur Schlesinger Sr. and Richard Hofstadter.

The Rise of Professional Historians in America

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the rise of professional historians in America, with the establishment of organizations like the American Historical Association and the Mississippi Valley Historical Association. Historians like Frederick Jackson Turner and Charles Beard became prominent figures in the field, with their works, including The Frontier in American History and An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States, offering insightful analyses of American history. The New Deal and the Great Depression also generated a significant amount of historical writing, with figures like Franklin D. Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover playing important roles in shaping the narrative. The National Archives and Records Administration and the Library of Congress have been instrumental in preserving and promoting American historical writing, with their collections including the works of notable historians like Dwight D. Eisenhower and Harry S. Truman.

20th Century Trends in American Historical Writing

The 20th century saw significant trends in American historical writing, with the emergence of new approaches and methodologies, such as social history and cultural history. Historians like Eric Foner and Nell Irvin Painter became prominent figures in the field, with their works, including Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877 and Sojourner Truth: A Life, A Symbol, offering insightful analyses of American history. The Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War also generated a vast amount of historical writing, with figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Lyndon B. Johnson playing important roles in shaping the narrative. The University of California, Berkeley and the Columbia University have been at the forefront of advancing American historical writing, with their faculty including notable historians like Leon Litwack and David M. Kennedy.

Contemporary Historical Writing in America

Contemporary historical writing in America is a diverse and vibrant field, with historians like Doris Kearns Goodwin and Joseph Ellis contributing to the narrative. The September 11 attacks and the War on Terror have generated a significant amount of historical writing, with figures like George W. Bush and Barack Obama playing important roles in shaping the narrative. The Digital Public Library of America and the Google Books have made it possible for historians to access and analyze vast amounts of historical data, including the works of notable historians like Gordon S. Wood and Linda Kerber. The American Historical Association and the Organization of American Historians continue to play a crucial role in advancing the field, with their publications featuring the work of prominent historians like Annette Gordon-Reed and Taylor Branch.

Category:American Historiography