Carl Bridenbaugh
Encyclopedia
Carl Bridenbaugh was an American historian
of Colonial America
. He had an illustrious career, writing fourteen books and editing or co-editing five more, and he was acclaimed as a historian and teacher.
in 1925, studied at the University of Pennsylvania
for two years, and completed his master's and doctoral degrees at Harvard University
in 1930 and 1936, respectively. Here he met his close mentor, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Sr.
. He taught at MIT from 1927-1938, Harvard in 1929-30, and Brown University
from 1938-1942 before leaving to serve in the U.S. Navy.
In 1938, the American Historical Association
awarded Bridenbaugh's Cities in the Wilderness the Justin Winsor Prize
for the best book by a young scholar on the history of the Americas, and the book quickly became a classic among historians. He was an organizer and the first director (1945-1950) of the Institute of Early American History and Culture, which he moved to Williamsburg, Virginia
for five years to oversee. He was a fellow of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences
(1956-8) and a Guggenheim fellow (1958-62). He later taught at the University of California, Berkeley
1950-62 and again at Brown from 1962 until his retirement in 1969. He was also president of the American Historical Association
in 1962, stirring debate with a speech asserting that urbanite academics were unsuited to study Colonial American history because they did not understand rural culture.
, Providence
.
He was a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society
.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
of Colonial America
Colonial America
The colonial history of the United States covers the history from the start of European settlement and especially the history of the thirteen colonies of Britain until they declared independence in 1776. In the late 16th century, England, France, Spain and the Netherlands launched major...
. He had an illustrious career, writing fourteen books and editing or co-editing five more, and he was acclaimed as a historian and teacher.
Career
Born in Philadelphia, he received his bachelor's degree from Dartmouth CollegeDartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in 1925, studied at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
for two years, and completed his master's and doctoral degrees at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1930 and 1936, respectively. Here he met his close mentor, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Sr.
Arthur M. Schlesinger, Sr.
Arthur Meier Schlesinger, Sr. was an American historian. His son, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. was also a noted historian.-Life and career:...
. He taught at MIT from 1927-1938, Harvard in 1929-30, and Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
from 1938-1942 before leaving to serve in the U.S. Navy.
In 1938, the American Historical Association
American Historical Association
The American Historical Association is the oldest and largest society of historians and professors of history in the United States. Founded in 1884, the association promotes historical studies, the teaching of history, and the preservation of and access to historical materials...
awarded Bridenbaugh's Cities in the Wilderness the Justin Winsor Prize
Justin Winsor Prize (history)
The Justin Winsor Prize was awarded by the American Historical Association to encourage new authors to pursue the study of history in the Western Hemisphere at a time when the study of European history predominated...
for the best book by a young scholar on the history of the Americas, and the book quickly became a classic among historians. He was an organizer and the first director (1945-1950) of the Institute of Early American History and Culture, which he moved to Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
for five years to oversee. He was a fellow of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences
Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences
The Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences is an American interdisciplinary research body in Stanford, California focusing on the social sciences and humanities . Fellows are elected in a closed process, to spend a period of residence at the Center, released from other duties...
(1956-8) and a Guggenheim fellow (1958-62). He later taught at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
1950-62 and again at Brown from 1962 until his retirement in 1969. He was also president of the American Historical Association
American Historical Association
The American Historical Association is the oldest and largest society of historians and professors of history in the United States. Founded in 1884, the association promotes historical studies, the teaching of history, and the preservation of and access to historical materials...
in 1962, stirring debate with a speech asserting that urbanite academics were unsuited to study Colonial American history because they did not understand rural culture.
Personal life
Bridenbaugh married twice, first in 1931 to Jessica Hill, who died in 1943, and then a short time later to Roberta Haines Herriot (1902-1996). He died of cancer in Rhode Island HospitalRhode Island Hospital
Rhode Island Hospital is a private, not-for-profit hospital located in Providence, Rhode Island.-Overview:Rhode Island Hospital is the main teaching hospital of the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. A major trauma center for southeastern New England, the hospital is dedicated to...
, Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
.
He was a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society
Massachusetts Historical Society
The Massachusetts Historical Society is a major historical archive specializing in early American, Massachusetts, and New England history...
.
Works
- Cities in the Wilderness: The First Century of Urban Life in America, 1625-1742 (1938)
- Rebels and Gentlemen: Philadelphia in the Age of Franklin (1942)
- Peter Harrison: First American Architect (1949)
- Seat of Empire (1950)
- Cities in Revolt: Urban Life in America, 1743-1776 (1955)
- Mitre and Sceptre: Transatlantic Faith, Ideas, Personalities, and Politics (1962)
- Myths and Realities: Societies of the Colonial South (1963)
- Vexed and Troubled Englishmen, 1590-1642: The Beginnings of the American People (1968)
- No Peace Beyond the Line (1971)
- Fat Mutton and Liberty of Conscience: Society in Rhode Island, 1636-1690 (1974)
- The Spirit of '76': The Growth of American Patriotism Before Independence' (1975)
- Jamestown 1544-1699 (1980)
- Early Americans (1981)
- The Colonial Craftsman (1990)