Paul Herman Buck
American historian (1899–1978)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paul Herman Buck (August 25, 1899 – December 23, 1978) was an American historian.[1] He won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1938 and became the first Provost of Harvard University in 1945.
Jerry Green
Paul Herman Buck | |
|---|---|
Buck in 1958 | |
| 1st Provost of Harvard University | |
| In office October 15, 1945 – June 1953 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished until 1992 Jerry Green |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 25, 1899 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | December 23, 1978 (aged 79) Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Spouse | Sally Betts (m. 1927) |
| Alma mater | Ohio State University (BA, MA) Harvard University (MA, PhD) |
| Occupation | Historian |
Early life and education
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Buck was born in Ohio. He received a bachelor's degree in 1921 and an MA in 1922 from Ohio State University. While an undergraduate, Buck was initiated into the Kappa Sigma fraternity.[2] In 1922 he published his first book Evolution of the National Parks System. He went to Harvard University for his graduate studies, and received a Master's degree in 1924. After studying for one year in Britain and France under a Sheldon traveling fellowship, he joined Harvard as an instructor in history in 1926. He received his PhD from Harvard in 1935.[3]
Career
In 1936 he became assistant professor of American history at Harvard. While he was a history professor at Harvard, Buck was involved in extensive research which resulted in his study of the Reconstruction era in the American South.[4] Buck won the 1938 Pulitzer Prize for History for The Road to Reunion, 1865-1900 (1937),[5] about the history of politics and government during this era.[6]
He was appointed Associate Dean of Faculty in 1938, Associate Professor in 1939, and Dean of Faculty in 1942 at Harvard.[6] In 1943, while serving as dean, Buck negotiated an agreement that resulted in Harvard taking over the education for students at Radcliffe College.[7]
On October 15, 1945, he became Harvard's first provost, retiring in June 1953 following the resignation of Harvard President James Bryant Conant.[7][8][9] While he was provost, Buck headed a faculty committee on general education. The committee's report, titled "General Education in a Free Society," later became the basis for a general education curriculum at Harvard.[10] After Buck's retirement, the position was abolished until Neil Rudenstine appointed Jerry Green to the position in 1992.[11][12]
In 1955 he became Francis Lee Higginson Professor of History, followed in 1958 by Carl H. Pforzheimer University Professor. In 1955-64 he was director of the university's library. He later published The Role of Education in American History in 1957 and Libraries & Universities: Addresses and Reports in 1964.[6]
Personal life
In 1927, Buck married Sally Betts.[13] Buck died in 1978.[6]
In 1951, Buck received the Legion of Honour.[14][13]