National Humanities Medalist Edmund Morgan is known for both his historical scholarship and his woodturning. He is pictured here with some of his creations.

National Humanities Medal awarded to historian Morgan

As pleased as Edmund S. Morgan was to receive the 2000 National Humanities Medal, the Sterling Professor Emeritus of History says he is still somewhat dazzled by it. Morgan -- a leading scholar of American colonial history who has reaped several other major awards, including one of Yale's foremost teaching prizes -- is known for his modesty. But during a recent interview at his New Haven home, the 84-year-old scholar admitted his pride in the engraved certificate he received along with his National Humanities Medal at the award ceremony held for the 12 recipients on Dec. 20 at the D.A.R. Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. The Yale scholar was genuinely flattered by the certificate's commendation: "To Edmund S. Morgan, for his brilliant scholarship as one of America's most distinguished historians. With elegant prose, fresh perspective, and exhaustive research, he has enhanced our understanding of American colonial history by challenging traditions and assumptions about the birth of our nation and by bringing to life the people and ideas that shaped America's destiny." Morgan and this year's other National Humanities Medalists were selected by President Bill Clinton for the honor, which has been given annually since 1997 to recognize distinguished individuals or groups who have made "extraordinary contributions to American cultural life and thought." The other winners of this year's award are sociologist Robert N. Bellah; civil rights activist Will D. Campbell; documentary writer, producer and director Judy Crichton; scholar and curator David C. Driskell; novelist and short-story writer Ernest J. Gaines; philanthropist and humanist Herman T. Guerrero; writer Barbara Kingsolver; musician, composer and preservationist Quincy Jones; author Toni Morrison; humanities education proponent and writer Earl Shorris; and Native American author Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve. Morgan says he is still unsure how he was chosen for the national award, but admits that it was a thrill being selected for the honor. As part of the celebration for this year's medalists, he and the other recipients attended a ceremony at the White House and were the guests of honor at a White House dinner with Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. "One of the things I enjoyed most about receiving the honor was getting to meet the other recipients," he says. "It was a lot of fun to be in the company of these very talented people." The "extraordinary contributions" that Morgan's National Medal for the Humanities recognizes include the dozen books he has authored on Puritan and early colonial history, which are acclaimed for both their scholarly focus and their appeal to a general audience. These include "Inventing the People: The Rise of Popular Sovereignty in England and America" (1988), which won Columbia University's Bancroft Prize in American History in 1989, and "American Slavery, American Freedom" (1975), which won the Society of American Historians' Francis Parkman Prize, the Southern Historical Association's Charles S. Sydnor Prize and the American Historical Association's Albert J. Beveridge Award. Two of his early books, "Birth of the Republic" (1956) and "The Puritan Dilemma" (1958) have for decades been required reading in many school history courses. The historian's other works include biographies of Ezra Stiles and Roger Williams, and a book on George Washington. Morgan, who joined the Yale faculty in 1955 and retired in 1986, received many other honors during his long teaching career at Yale. In 1971 he was awarded the Yale Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa's William Clyde DeVane Medal for outstanding teaching and scholarship, considered one of the most prestigious teaching prizes for Yale faculty. One year later, he became the first recipient of the Douglas Adair Memorial Award for scholarship in early American history, and in 1986 he received the Distinguished Scholar Award of the American Historical Association. He has also won numerous fellowships and garnered a number of honorary degrees and named lectureships. He became Sterling Professor, one of Yale's highest distinctions, in 1965. Morgan's own interest in history grew while he was an undergraduate at Harvard, where he went on to earn his doctorate. Since he became a historian, he has witnessed a major change in his field. "For the last 25 years, there has been greater focus on social history -- issues of class and gender -- which was not in vogue when I started out," he explains, noting that political and intellectual history was then the emphasis. Morgan can take credit, however, for being a pioneer in social history long before it became the fashion by writing a book describing the family life of Puritans. That work, "The Puritan Family," was published in 1942. Looking back on his career as a teacher, Morgan says that his greatest reward in the classroom was "getting students to talk back and challenge my ideas." He adds, "I always had large classes, but I encouraged students to interrupt me at any time." A front-page Yale Daily News article announcing his retirement attests to his popularity with students and colleagues in the history department, who praised his "colorful" lectures, scholarly research and teaching skills. One student is quoted as saying, "Morgan doesn't teach history, he narrates it. Listening to his lectures is like listening to a story." "My view has always been that an analysis of historical developments should be embodied in narrative," Morgan says of his approach as both teacher and writer of history. "A historian should not be didactic -- that is a word that makes my blood run cold." Since retiring, the noted scholar has continued to be active both in his field and in pursuing new interests. Putting to use a love of machinery he acquired as a young man while working as a tool-and-die maker, he has been a professional woodturner for the past decade or so, working on large lathes and other equipment in the basement of his home. His walnut bowls and other creations have been exhibited at the Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven and at the League of New Hampshire Craftsman in New Hampshire, where Morgan maintains a vacation home. He and his wife, Marie Morgan, have also crafted tables and other furniture for their home in New Haven. Currently the chair of the board of The Benjamin Franklin Papers -- the University's massive project publishing materials related to the Founding Father and inventor -- Morgan is now at work on a study of Franklin, who, he believes, is one of the most interesting people who ever lived. "There wasn't anything that didn't pique his curiosity," says the historian, noting some of Franklin's interests and inventions. "He was incredibly smart, but took pains never to put himself forward, or in the limelight. And he had a better sense of humor than any of the other Founding Fathers. My fascination with him is one of the things keeping me occupied now." -- By Susan Gonzalez T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S Scientists find debris from ancient galaxies in Milky Way Team identifies 168 young stars in nearby Orion complex National Humanities Medal awarded to historian Morgan 'Up With a Shout!' will celebrate Judeo-Christian songbook of psalms Study: Anti-depressant use renews cell growth in critical area of brain Recently honored expert shares views on health care policy New deans are appointed at two colleges Exhibit explores how the past serves as inspiration for contemporary Asian artists Post-war corporate landmarks are focus of events MEDICAL SCHOOL NEWS Study offers new guidelines for spotting 'shaken baby syndrome' Scientists say 'mistuned' brain cells may cause loss of coordination in people with MS Survey shows nearly half of terminally ill patients . . . 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