Writing American History: Essays on Modern Scholarship

Writing American History: Essays on Modern Scholarship examines the evolution of historical writing in the United States from the late 19th through the 20th century. The book collects nine essays by historian John Higham, originally published between 1954-1968. Higham analyzes major shifts in how American historians approached their craft during this transformative period. He explores changing methodologies, interpretive frameworks, and the influence of social sciences on historical scholarship. The essays cover topics including Progressive-era historiography, consensus history of the 1950s, and the emergence of professional academic standards. Higham pays particular attention to influential historians like Frederick Jackson Turner and Charles Beard. This collection provides insight into how American historical writing both shaped and reflected broader intellectual and cultural developments of its time. The essays trace historians' ongoing efforts to balance scholarly rigor with broader questions about national identity and purpose.

This book has limited online reader reviews available, making it difficult to assess broad reader sentiment. The few academic reviews mention that Higham examines how American historians approached writing history across different periods, but little feedback exists from general readers. Readers appreciated: - Clear analysis of historiographical trends - Examination of social history methodologies Readers noted concerns: - Academic writing style can be dense - Focus on older historical approaches from 1960s-70s - Limited relevance to contemporary historical methods Available Ratings: Goodreads: No ratings Amazon: No customer reviews Google Books: No user reviews The book appears to be primarily used in graduate-level historiography courses rather than by general readers. Most discussion comes from academic journal reviews rather than public reader feedback. The lack of online reviews suggests limited readership outside academic circles.

The American Historical Profession by John Higham This analysis of how American historical writing evolved from the 19th to 20th centuries explores the transformation of history from an amateur pursuit to a professional discipline.

That Noble Dream: The 'Objectivity Question' and the American Historical Profession by Peter Novick This examination of American historians' quest for objectivity traces the development of the profession's methodological standards and intellectual frameworks.

The Future of the Past by C. Vann Woodward The book presents essays on the changing nature of historical interpretation and the role of historians in American intellectual life.

The Purpose of the Past: Reflections on the Uses of History by Gordon S. Wood The work examines how different generations of historians have approached and interpreted America's past through changing methodological frameworks.

Historians' Fallacies: Toward a Logic of Historical Thought by David Hackett Fischer This analysis of historical methodology identifies common errors in historical thinking and presents frameworks for improved historical interpretation.

🔷 John Higham coined the term "nativism" in its modern usage through his influential 1955 book "Strangers in the Land," defining it as intense opposition to an internal minority on the grounds of its foreign connections. 🔷 The book was published in 1970 during a pivotal moment in American historiography, when the field was transitioning from consensus history to social history with greater focus on minorities and marginalized groups. 🔷 Higham served as president of the Organization of American Historians and taught at the University of Michigan and Johns Hopkins University, shaping generations of American historians. 🔷 The essays in this collection explore how American historical writing evolved from the late 19th century through the 1960s, examining the influence of progressive thought, scientific methods, and changing social perspectives. 🔷 The book challenges the then-dominant consensus school of American history, which emphasized agreement and unity in American history rather than conflict and diversity – a view that would be largely overturned in subsequent decades.