First published 2013
Leading American historians gather to celebrate Sheldon Hackney, the respected scholar who shaped higher education across four decades. Hackney built his career around the most challenging questions facing the nation. He served as Provost at Princeton, led both Tulane and the University of Pennsylvania as president, and chaired the National Endowment for the Humanities. The contributors knew Hackney as teacher, mentor, colleague, and friend. They write about the themes that drove his work and life. Civil rights struggles emerge throughout the collection. Social justice movements take center stage. The authors examine how race, class, and regional identity shaped American culture. They explore tensions between local traditions and national ideals. Each essay reflects Hackney's belief that historians must engage with the urgent issues of their time. The collection reveals how one educator influenced generations of scholars and students while wrestling with America's most persistent challenges.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, american, education, 21st-century, academia, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: academic, mentor-mentee, social-commentary
Setting: Princeton, Tulane, University of Pennsylvania
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
506 pages · Kindle Edition · NewSouth Books