Becoming Historians

by James M. Banner Jr. (Editor), John R. Gillis (Editor)

In this unique collection, the memoirs of eleven historians provide a fascinating portrait of a formative generation of scholars. Born around the time of World War II, these influential historians came of age just before the upheavals of the 1960s and ’70s and helped to transform both their discipline and the broader world of American higher education. The self-inventions they thoughtfully chronicle led, in many cases, to the invention of new fields—including women’s and gender history, social history, and public history—that cleared paths in the academy and made the study of the past more capacious and broadly relevant. In these stories—skillfully compiled and introduced by James Banner and John Gillis—aspiring historians will find inspiration and guidance, experienced scholars will see reflections of their own dilemmas and struggles, and all readers will discover a rare account of how today’s seasoned historians embarked on their intellectual journeys.

Genres: History, Education, Nonfiction

290 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2009

About the author

A 1957 graduate from Yale University, James M. Banner, Jr. earned his Ph.D. degree in 1968 at Columbia University under Richard Hofstadter and Eric L. McKitrick. Banner taught at Princeton University from 1966 until 1980, when he resigned to found the American Association for the Advancement of the Humanities.

Reviews

[Susan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A series of essays by historians- their backgrounds, their motivations, and their professional careers. Interesting read for those who are interested in the field or becoming professionals.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Becoming Historians includes 11 essays from historians born around the end of World War II who examine their path to becoming a historian. Interestingly, only one Rhys Isaac, knew early on that he wanted to be a historian. Others landed on the path through a variety of circumstances and inclinations.

A good look at some of the backgrounds of those who are in the historical discipline. Rightly self-conscious about the effect of memoir and oral history in such a task; it is interesting to read with a mind toward what the authors' choose to include as part of their path to becoming a historian and those parts they chose to ignore in order to create a cohesive story of their own path.