Edward L. Ayers
Encyclopedia
Edward Lynn Ayers is an American historian. He is the current president of the University of Richmond
, having served in this capacity since July 1, 2007. Prior to his appointment, he had been on the faculty of the University of Virginia
since 1980, most recently as the Buckner W. Clay Dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
. In 1997, Ayers helped found the Virginia Center for Digital History and served as its director until 2001. Ayers also oversaw the Valley of the Shadow
project and has long been an advocate of digital history
. He serves on the editorial board of the Papers of Abraham Lincoln
.
In June 2008, Ayers and Brian Balogh and Peter Onuf, two former colleagues at the University of Virginia
, began hosting a public radio call-in program called BackStory with the American History Guys'.
degree (1974) in American Studies
from the University of Tennessee
and his Master of Arts
degree (1977) and Ph.D.
(1980) in American Studies from Yale University
.
University of Richmond
The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
, having served in this capacity since July 1, 2007. Prior to his appointment, he had been on the faculty of the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
since 1980, most recently as the Buckner W. Clay Dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
University of Virginia College of Arts & Sciences
The University of Virginia College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is the largest of the University of Virginia's ten schools. Consisting of both a graduate and an undergraduate program, the College comprises the liberal arts and humanities section of the University...
. In 1997, Ayers helped found the Virginia Center for Digital History and served as its director until 2001. Ayers also oversaw the Valley of the Shadow
The Valley of the Shadow
This page is about an American Civil war project. For other uses, see Valley of the Shadow The Valley of the Shadow is a digital history project hosted by the University of Virginia detailing the experiences of Confederate soldiers from Augusta County, Virginia and Union soldiers from Franklin...
project and has long been an advocate of digital history
Digital history
Digital history is the use of digital media and tools for historical practice, presentation, analysis, and research. It is a branch of the Digital Humanities and an outgrowth of Quantitative history, Cliometrics, and History and Computing...
. He serves on the editorial board of the Papers of Abraham Lincoln
The Papers of Abraham Lincoln
]The Papers of Abraham Lincoln is a long-term documentary editing project dedicated to identifying, imaging, and publishing all documents written by or to Abraham...
.
In June 2008, Ayers and Brian Balogh and Peter Onuf, two former colleagues at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, began hosting a public radio call-in program called BackStory with the American History Guys'.
Education
Ayers received his Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree (1974) in American Studies
American studies
American studies or American civilization is an interdisciplinary field dealing with the study of the United States. It traditionally incorporates the study of history, literature, and critical theory, but also includes fields as diverse as law, art, the media, film, religious studies, urban...
from the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
and his Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree (1977) and Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
(1980) in American Studies from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
.
Honors
- Bancroft PrizeBancroft PrizeThe Bancroft Prize is awarded each year by the trustees of Columbia University for books about diplomacy or the history of the Americas. It was established in 1948 by a bequest from Frederic Bancroft...
, In The Presence of Mine Enemies: War in the Heart of America, 1859-1863 (2004) - National Council on the Humanities, Presidential Appointee (2000–2004)
- U.S. Professor of the Year for Doctoral and Research Universities, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and Council for Advancement and Support of EducationCouncil for Advancement and Support of EducationThe Council for Advancement and Support of Education is a nonprofit association of educational institutions. It serves professionals in the field of educational advancement...
(2003) - Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesAmerican Academy of Arts and SciencesThe American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
(elected 2001) - James A. Rawley PrizeJames A. Rawley PrizeThe James A. Rawley Prize is an annual book award made by the Organization of American Historians . The award goes to the best book dealing with the history of race relations in the United States. The prize is given in memory of Professor James A. Rawley, Carl Adolph Happold Professor of History...
from the Organization of American HistoriansOrganization of American HistoriansThe Organization of American Historians , formerly known as the Mississippi Valley Historical Association, is the largest professional society dedicated to the teaching and study of American history. OAH's members in the U.S...
for The Promise of the New South (1993) - Pulitzer PrizePulitzer PrizeThe Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
Finalist - History, The Promise of the New South(1993) - National Book AwardNational Book AwardThe National Book Awards are a set of American literary awards. Started in 1950, the Awards are presented annually to American authors for literature published in the current year. In 1989 the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization which now oversees and manages the National Book...
Finalist - Nonfiction, The Promise of the New South(1992)
Books
- The Crucible of the Civil War: Virginia from Secession to Commemoration (edited with Gary Gallagher and Andrew Torget), University of Virginia PressUniversity of Virginia PressThe University of Virginia Press , founded in 1963, is a university press that is part of the University of Virginia.-External links:*...
, 2006. ISBN 978-0-8139-2552-3. - What Caused the Civil War? Reflections on the South and Southern History, W. W. Norton & Company, 2005. ISBN 978-0-3930-5947-2.
- In the Presence of Mine Enemies: War in the Heart of America, 1859–1863, W. W. Norton & Company, 2003. ISBN 978-0-3933-2601-7.
- The Valley of the Shadow: Two Communities in the American Civil War - The Eve of War (CD-ROM and book, co-authored with Anne S. Rubin), W. W. Norton & Company, 2000. ISBN 978-0-3930-4604-5.
- American Passages: A History of the United States, (co-author) Harcourt, 2000; (second edition) Thomson Wadsworth, 2003; (third edition) Thomson Wadsworth, 2006. ISBN 978-0-4950-5015-5.
- The Oxford Book of the American South: Testimony, Memory, and Fiction (edited with Bradley Mittendorf), Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 1997. ISBN 978-0-1951-2493-4. - All Over the Map: Rethinking American Regions (co-editor and co-author), Johns Hopkins University PressJohns Hopkins University PressThe Johns Hopkins University Press is the publishing division of the Johns Hopkins University. It was founded in 1878 and holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously running university press in the United States. The Press publishes books, journals, and electronic databases...
, 1996. ISBN 978-0-8018-5392-0. - The Promise of the New South: Life after Reconstruction, Oxford University Press, 1992; paperback edition, 1993; abridged edition, 1995; 15th Anniversary Edition, 2007. ISBN 978-0-1953-2688-8.
- The Edge of the South: Life in Nineteenth-Century Virginia (co-edited with John C. Willis) University Press of VirginiaUniversity of Virginia PressThe University of Virginia Press , founded in 1963, is a university press that is part of the University of Virginia.-External links:*...
, 1991. ISBN 978-0-8139-1298-1. - Vengeance and Justice: Crime and Punishment in the Nineteenth-Century American South, Oxford University Press, 1984; paperback edition, 1986. ISBN 978-0-1950-3988-7.
Digital Projects
- The Differences Slavery Made: A Close Analysis of Two American Communities with William G. Thomas III
- The Valley of the ShadowThe Valley of the ShadowThis page is about an American Civil war project. For other uses, see Valley of the Shadow The Valley of the Shadow is a digital history project hosted by the University of Virginia detailing the experiences of Confederate soldiers from Augusta County, Virginia and Union soldiers from Franklin...
http://valley.vcdh.virginia.edu with William G. Thomas III - Consulting Editor, Voting America: United States Politics, 1840-2008Voting AmericaVoting America: United States Politics, 1840-2008 is a digital history project created by the Digital Scholarship Lab at the University of Richmond. Voting America analyzes data from Presidential elections, both at the state and county level...
http://americanpast.richmond.edu/voting/ - The Civil War and Emancipation 150 Years On, Southern Spaces 17 May 2011.