Eric Foner

Eric Foner is one of the United States' most accomplished historians, whose comprehensive scholarship and penetrating insights have made important contributions to the fields of American history and politics. Throughout his 45-year career, he has published major volumes on key aspects of the nation’s past, received numerous honors and awards, and earned the respect and admiration of both his colleagues and his students.

Eric Foner was born on February 7, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York, to non-academic parents. Inspired by his parents, who were active in the civil rights movement, Foner decided to pursue a career in teaching, obtaining his bachelor’s degree in 1964 from Columbia University before receiving a PhD in history in 1969.

Foner initially focused his research on the Reconstruction era and its associated topics, such as the rise of Jim Crow laws in the South and the struggle for African American civil rights. He published two seminal books on the period, Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution (1988) and Forever Free: The Story of Emancipation and Reconstruction (2005).

Foner's academic career, spanning both the private and public sector, has been marked with major achievements, most notably in the form of more than two dozen books, two textbooks, and numerous articles. His books combine exemplary research with clear and vivid storytelling, making them both accessible and deeply insightful. His works are particularly notable for their focus on the history of African Americans, and their in-depth explorations of social and political conflicts during important periods of United States history, such as the civil war era and the civil rights movement.

Foner has received numerous awards and honors for his groundbreaking and inspiring scholarship, including being named the person of the year by the Organization of American Historians (1997) and given the Laurence Gipson Medal for lifetime achievement in British imperial history (2005). He was also recognized by the National Humanities Center with its James A. Rawley Prize for lifetime achievementin the Humanities (2002) and awarded the National Humanities Medal (2011)

In addition to his academic accomplishments, Foner is also highly esteemed for his teaching. For many years, he taught classes at Columbia University and Rutgers University, and his classes, notably the Columbia summer seminar in American history, are legendary for their thought-provoking questions, inspiring debates, and captivating lectures.

Beginning in 2006, Foner shifted his focus from academic research to writing books to a broader audience. He wrote several books over the next decade, many of which sought to shed light on some of the controversial issues in American history. In Why it's still called the 'Civil War' (2008), he explored the arguments surrounding the use of the term 'Civil War' to describe the conflict between the North and the South. In Gateway to Freedom: The Hidden History of the Underground Railroad (2015), he examined an oft-ignored part of the United States' history and traced the role of individuals and institutions in helping runaway slaves find freedom in the North.

The contributions of Eric Foner to the field of American history have been significant, and his scholarship continues to inspire both new and established scholars. His books have unlocked the complexities of some of the most influential periods of United States history, offering understanding, empathy, and insight. As a professor and historian, Foner's legacy will continue to live on for years to come.