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Alan Taylor (Historian)

Alan Shaw Taylor

!Taylor in 2019

Born Alan Shaw Taylor (1955-06-17) June 17, 1955 (age 68) Portland, Maine, U.S.

Education Colby College (BA) Brandeis University (PhD)

Occupation Historian

Years active 1977–present

Notable work William Cooper's Town: Power and Persuasion on the Frontier of the Early American Republic, The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772-1832

Awards 1996 Bancroft Prize 1996 Beveridge Award 1996 Pulitzer Prize 2014 Pulitzer Prize

Alan Shaw Taylor, born on June 17, 1955, is an American historian and an accomplished scholar whose work has significantly shaped contemporary understanding of the early United States. Most recently, he held the esteemed position of Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation Professor of History at the University of Virginia, a fitting role given his deep engagement with the foundational eras of the nation. Taylor's academic focus is squarely on the initial centuries of American development, and he has, with an almost relentless productivity, authored numerous influential works examining the intricate fabric of the colonial history of the United States, the tumultuous period of the American Revolution, and the complex formation of the early American Republic.

His rigorous scholarship has garnered considerable recognition, marking him as a formidable presence in the field. Taylor is notably a recipient of two distinct Pulitzer Prizes for History, an achievement that places him among a select few. Beyond the Pulitzer, he has also been honored with the prestigious Bancroft Prize, further solidifying his standing. His intellectual contributions have not gone unnoticed by other major literary institutions, as evidenced by his status as a finalist for the National Book Award for non-fiction, a testament to the broad appeal and scholarly depth of his writing. In 2020, his enduring contributions to historical understanding were acknowledged with his election to the venerable American Philosophical Society, one of the oldest learned societies in the United States, an institution dedicated to promoting useful knowledge.

Early life and education

Alan Shaw Taylor entered the world on June 17, 1955, in the distinctly American city of Portland, Maine. His familial background offered a predisposition towards intellectual pursuits; he is the son of Ruel Taylor, Jr. and Virginia C. Taylor, the latter being an author in her own right. This environment undoubtedly provided an early foundation for his later academic endeavors.

His formal education commenced at Colby College, located in Waterville, Maine, where he pursued his undergraduate studies. He successfully completed his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1977, demonstrating an early aptitude for historical inquiry. Following this, Taylor advanced his academic career by undertaking doctoral studies at Brandeis University. He meticulously honed his research and analytical skills there, ultimately earning his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in 1986. This rigorous academic training provided the critical framework for the groundbreaking historical narratives he would later produce.

Career

Before accepting his distinguished professorship at the University of Virginia, Alan Taylor cultivated his academic career at several other prominent institutions. He previously imparted his knowledge and guided students at the University of California, Davis, where his research interests in early American history began to coalesce. Subsequently, he also held a faculty position at Boston University, further broadening his pedagogical and scholarly experience before moving to the historic grounds of Charlottesville.

Taylor's methodology has become a hallmark of his work, particularly his significant contributions to the field of microhistory. This approach, which meticulously examines small-scale events, communities, or individuals to illuminate larger historical trends and structures, is perhaps best exemplified in his seminal work, William Cooper's Town: Power and Persuasion on the Frontier of the Early American Republic, published in 1996. For this particular study, Taylor delved deep into a wealth of primary sources, including obscure court records, detailed land records, personal letters, and intimate diaries. Through this painstaking process, he meticulously reconstructed the intricate background of the enigmatic founder William Cooper, who hailed from Burlington, New Jersey. More than just a biography, Taylor masterfully wove together the economic, political, and social history surrounding the land speculation, the actual founding, and subsequent settlement of Cooperstown, New York, in the volatile aftermath of the American Revolutionary War. This detailed examination of a seemingly localized narrative provided profound insights into the broader forces shaping the early American frontier.

His expertise is not confined to the written page; Taylor's authoritative voice and deep understanding of American history have also led to his involvement in broader public history projects. He is slated to appear in Ken Burns's eagerly anticipated PBS series, The American Revolution (2025), lending his scholarly perspective to a wider audience.

Taylor is recognized as a leading figure among a generation of historians who have committed themselves to the revival of narrative history. This movement emphasizes storytelling and engaging prose while rigorously incorporating a diverse array of historical methods—spanning political, social, cultural, and environmental perspectives, among others—to construct a comprehensive understanding of human experiences in the past. It’s a necessary antidote to the sometimes dry, overly specialized academic writing that can obscure the human element of history.

His book, The Divided Ground: Indians, Settlers, and the Northern Borderland of the American Revolution (2006), further showcased his nuanced approach. In this work, Taylor meticulously explored the complex and often brutal history of the fluid borders between what would become Canada and the nascent United States in the immediate aftermath of the American Revolution. He also critically examined the persistent efforts of the Iroquois Confederacy to maintain control over their ancestral lands amidst encroaching colonial expansion. Building on these themes, his subsequent work, The Civil War of 1812: American Citizens, British Subjects, Irish Rebels, & Indian Allies (2010), continued to address this contentious borderland area, analyzing the diverse strategies and allegiances pursued by various groups—Americans, British, Irish, and indigenous peoples. This perspective offers a compelling argument that the War of 1812 was not merely a standalone conflict but could accurately be characterized as a continuation, or perhaps a second phase, of the Revolutionary War, with unresolved tensions and territorial disputes fueling further bloodshed.

In an academic landscape where single accolades are often the zenith of a career, Taylor stands out as one of only five authors to have been twice awarded the coveted Pulitzer Prize for History, a truly rare distinction.

His intellectual contributions also extend to broader discussions about national identity and historical interpretation. In 2019, Taylor contributed to the anthology Our American Story, a collection that grappled with the elusive possibility of a truly shared American narrative. In his contribution, Taylor offered a characteristically skeptical and pragmatic approach, asserting, "There is no single unifying narrative linking past and present in America. Instead, we have enduring divisions in a nation even larger and more diverse than that of 1787. The best we can do today is to cope with our differences by seeking compromises, just as the Founders had to do, painfully and incompletely in the early Republic." This statement, delivered with the quiet authority of someone who has sifted through countless historical complexities, underscores his belief that the American story is one of persistent, often uncomfortable, negotiation rather than a monolithic, harmonious journey. It's a truth that some might find inconvenient, but it’s a truth nonetheless.

Awards

Alan Shaw Taylor's extensive and impactful scholarship has been consistently recognized with numerous prestigious awards throughout his career. These accolades highlight the profound influence and rigorous quality of his historical research and writing.

Works

Alan Shaw Taylor's extensive bibliography reflects a dedicated career focused on illuminating various facets of early American history. His works are characterized by meticulous research, compelling narrative, and a commitment to exploring the complex interplay of social, economic, and political forces that shaped the United States.

Books as author

  • Liberty Men and Great Proprietors: The Revolutionary Settlement on the Maine Frontier 1760-1820, Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1990. ISBN 0807819093. OCLC 20421513. This foundational work explored the often-overlooked struggles and negotiations defining the post-Revolutionary frontier in Maine.
  • William Cooper's Town: Power and Persuasion on the Frontier of the Early American Republic, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1995. ISBN 0394580540. OCLC 32665643. The groundbreaking study that earned him his first Pulitzer Prize, meticulously detailing the microhistory of Cooperstown.
  • American Colonies: The Settling of North America, New York: Viking/Penguin, 2001. ISBN 0670872822. OCLC 45804613. A comprehensive and engaging overview of the diverse colonial experiences across North America, from the earliest settlements to the eve of the Revolution.
  • Writing Early American History, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2005. ISBN 0812238834. OCLC 57429326. This work offers insights into the craft of historical writing and the methodologies employed in studying the early American period.
  • The Divided Ground: Indians, Settlers, and the Northern Borderland of the American Revolution, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. ISBN 0679454713. OCLC 58043162. A deep dive into the contested territories and complex relationships between indigenous peoples, American settlers, and British subjects in the post-Revolutionary North.
  • The Civil War of 1812: American Citizens, British Subjects, Irish Rebels, & Indian Allies, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2010. ISBN 1400042658. OCLC 503042145. This book reinterprets the War of 1812 as a multifaceted conflict driven by diverse loyalties and grievances across the North American continent.
  • Colonial America: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, USA: 2012. ISBN 9780199766239. OCLC 781680690. A concise yet authoritative primer on the colonial period, making complex history accessible.
  • The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772-1832, New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2013. ISBN 9780393073713. OCLC 840934500. The recipient of his second Pulitzer Prize, this work explores the profound impact of slavery and armed conflict on Virginia's society during a pivotal era.
  • American Revolutions: A Continental History, 1750–1804, W. W. Norton & Company, 2016. ISBN 0393082814. This book offers a sweeping, continental perspective on the American Revolution, transcending traditional narratives focused solely on the thirteen colonies.
  • Thomas Jefferson's Education, W. W. Norton & Company, 2019. ISBN 0393652424. A focused examination of the intellectual development and influences that shaped one of America's most complex founding fathers.
  • American Republics: A Continental History of the United States, 1783–1850, W. W. Norton & Company, 2021. ISBN 9781324005797. This volume continues his continental approach, tracing the evolution of the American republics across a vast and diverse landscape in the early 19th century.
  • American Civil Wars: A Continental History, 1850–1873, W. W. Norton & Company, 2024. ISBN 9781324035282. The latest installment in his continental history series, delving into the American Civil War and its aftermath with a broad geographical and cultural scope.

Books as contributor

  • "One Nation Divisible," in Joshua Claybourn, ed. (2019). Our American Story: The Search for a Shared National Narrative. Potomac Books. ISBN 978-1640121706. In this contribution, Taylor critically examines the challenges and complexities inherent in attempting to forge a singular, unified narrative of American history, reflecting his nuanced view of the nation's past and present divisions.