John Hope Franklin Dies at 94

Pioneering historian John Hope Franklin died yesterday. He was 94.

Among his many accomplishments, Franklin was Professor Emeritus of History at Duke University, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1995. He is best known as the author of From Slavery to Freedom: A History of African Americans. The book was first published by Knopf in 1947 and has never been out of print. It is currently in its eighth edition and has sold over three million copies.

Duke University has prepared an online memorial to Dr. Franklin:

“John Hope Franklin lived for nearly a century and helped define that century,” said Duke President Richard H. Brodhead. “A towering historian, he led the recognition that African-American history and American history are one. With his grasp of the past, he spent a lifetime building a future of inclusiveness, fairness and equality. Duke has lost a great citizen and a great friend.”

The same Web page says that there will be “a celebration of his life and of his late wife Aurelia Franklin at 11 a.m. June 11 in Duke Chapel in honor of their 69th wedding anniversary.”

That memorial is here.