Remembering John Hope Franklin
The Duke History Department mourns the loss of our colleague, John Hope Franklin (2 January 1915 – 25 March 2009). John Hope joined the Department in 1982, as James B. Duke Professor of History, thanks in part to the efforts of then chair, Dick Watson. We quickly learned to admire John Hope's personal charisma, his profound convictions, and his steady judgment.
John Hope called himself a historian of the American South who specialized in the history of African-Americans. His vision, and his hope for the future, were close to those of Martin Luther King and his followers, the vision of an American democracy that lived up to its original ideals; and it was in part from that vision that his critical skills, and his remarkable grace, to say nothing of his courage, in speaking difficult truths about history, gained their persuasive power. John Hope was gratified at the election of Barack Obama to the presidency, noting that his very nomination by the Democratic Party reflected the "willingness and the ability of this nation to turn a significant corner toward full political equality." As John Hope would have been the first to point out, turning a significant corner is not the same as reaching the end of the road. Yet it was also something he said he never thought he would see in his life time.
William Chafe, who knew John Hope and his work well, writes, "John Hope Franklin personified the dignity, empowerment and faith of a generation of African-Americans who persisted, and succeeded, in making their country live up to its promise as a land of equal opportunity. He never permitted anyone to take away his dignity or sense of self. ... He was a wonderful mentor, a dear friend and a colleague who loved to celebrate the achievements of his fellow scholars. He will be sorely missed."
Many of us in the Department also remember John Hope as a friendly, engaging colleague whose sense of dignity was matched by his great sense of humor. Here are a few memories colleagues have sent along.
John French remembers one occasion, the inauguration of his official portrait in the Gothic Reading Room in Perkins. "Hundreds were in attendance, including all of the administrators, the artists, his colleagues, friends, news reporters. And a lot was said about him by the many who spoke, aware of the historic significance of the event and the man. When his turn came to speak in this room with very high ceilings and crowded walls, he spoke very deliberately about looking up at the many portraits on the wall and realizing that this event was an historic one for Duke University; with the audience sure they knew what was to come next, there was a pause and John Hope continued: this will be the first portrait of Duke faculty member to grace these walls!"
Anne Firor Scott, W. K. Boyd Professor Emerita, writes, "I have never forgotten an occasion in 1974. I was teaching a 12 week seminar for high school teachers at Stanford and John Hope was up on the hill at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences. My students were particularly eager to meet authors of books they had read. Two Stanford professors whose books they had read were "just too busy" to meet with them. John Hope on the other hand left his own work cam to spend a whole session with the high school teachers and agreed to have individual conferences with a couple of them. Needless to say I was VERY grateful to him. And I know from comments in later years that the teachers did not forget him or his words. "
Kristen Neuschel writes: "I remember the simple fact that, while I was a lowly assistant professor when he came to Duke, John Hope learned my name, always remembered who I was and greeted me whenever he saw me. His graciousness and courtliness -- which his treatment of me reflected -- were not trivial behaviors, they were among his most powerful tools, I think.... because he could say, under that guise, things he could not have said as effectively otherwise and because it enabled him always to be greater than those he would criticize."
Links to other coverage of John Hope Franklin:
Sunday's New York Times Week in Review
Events/Announcements
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR PHI ALPHA THETA HONOR SOCIETY GRADUATES!
1st MAJORS
Cage Brewer
Catherine Daniel
Alden Denegre
David Graham
Jessica Hatch
Peter Henle
Frank Holleman, IV
Marc Murinson
Katherine O'Neil
Keith Orgel
Javier Peral
Alyssa Reichardt
Gillet Rosenblith
Robert Shapiro
Angela Silak
Ryan Thornton
2nd MAJORS
Corina Apostol
Tyler Evans
Owen Gehrett
Julie Matthews
Anayansi Rodriguez
Rian Sutton
MINORS
Timothy Britton
Jamie Grischkan
Andrew Keaton
Katherine Mikush
Amy Streitwiewser
Graduate Certificate in Anthropology and History is now available
The Graduate Certificate in Anthropology and History program will launch in fall 2009 with 24 affiliated faculty.
For more information, see www.duke.edu/~wmr/anthandhist.htm
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