Kenneth S. Davis
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Sydney Davis was a historian
and university professor, most renowned for his series of biographies of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Davis also wrote biographies of Charles Lindbergh
, Adlai Stevenson, and authored the first biography of General Dwight D. Eisenhower
, entitled Dwight D. Eisenhower: Soldier of Democracy.
, and raised in Manhattan, Kansas
. He was a 1934 graduate of Kansas State University
with a degree in journalism, and received a master of science degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
in 1936. During his varied career, Davis was a journalism instructor at New York University
, a war correspondent
attached to General Eisenhower's headquarters during World War II
, a member of the UNESCO
Relations Staff of the Sate Department, and a professor of history at both Kansas State and the University of Kansas
. He also worked as speech writer for Presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson during the 1956 campaign
.
in 1973 for his book FDR: The Beckoning of Destiny, which was also a nominee for the National Book Award
. In addition, his next two volumes on Roosevelt were both chosen as among the ten best books of the year by The New York Times
. Davis was also a Guggenheim Fellow
in 1974.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
and university professor, most renowned for his series of biographies of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Davis also wrote biographies of Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
, Adlai Stevenson, and authored the first biography of General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
, entitled Dwight D. Eisenhower: Soldier of Democracy.
Biography
Davis was born in Salina, KansasSalina, Kansas
Salina is a city in and the county seat of Saline County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 47,707. Located in one of the world's largest wheat-producing areas, Salina is a regional trade center for north-central Kansas...
, and raised in Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan is a city located in the northeastern part of the state of Kansas in the United States, at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River. It is the county seat of Riley County and the city extends into Pottawatomie County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 52,281...
. He was a 1934 graduate of Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
with a degree in journalism, and received a master of science degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in 1936. During his varied career, Davis was a journalism instructor at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, a war correspondent
War correspondent
A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories firsthand from a war zone. In the 19th century they were also called Special Correspondents.-Methods:...
attached to General Eisenhower's headquarters during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, a member of the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
Relations Staff of the Sate Department, and a professor of history at both Kansas State and the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
. He also worked as speech writer for Presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson during the 1956 campaign
United States presidential election, 1956
The United States presidential election of 1956 saw a popular Dwight D. Eisenhower successfully run for re-election. The 1956 election was a rematch of 1952, as Eisenhower's opponent in 1956 was Democrat Adlai Stevenson, whom Eisenhower had defeated four years earlier.Incumbent President Eisenhower...
.
Awards
Davis was awarded the prestigious Francis Parkman PrizeFrancis Parkman Prize
The Francis Parkman Prize, named after Francis Parkman, is awarded by the Society of American Historians for the best book in American history each year. Its purpose is to promote literary distinction in historical writing...
in 1973 for his book FDR: The Beckoning of Destiny, which was also a nominee for the National Book Award
National Book Award
The 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...
. In addition, his next two volumes on Roosevelt were both chosen as among the ten best books of the year by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. Davis was also a Guggenheim Fellow
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
in 1974.
Partial bibliography
- Dwight D. Eisenhower: Soldier of Democracy (ISBN 0-7567-6051-8, 2004) (reissue)
- FDR: The Beckoning of Destiny, 1882-1928 (ISBN 0-9650867-6-3, 2004) (Francis Parkman Prize Edition)
- FDR: New York Years (ISBN 0-394-51671-0, 1985)
- FDR: The New Deal Years (ISBN 0-394-52753-4, 1986)
- FDR: Into the Storm, 1937-1940 (ISBN 0-679-41541-6, 1993)
- FDR: The War President, 1940-1943 (ISBN 0-679-41542-4, 2000)
- Water (Series: LIFE Science LibraryLife Science LibraryThe Life Science Library was a popular series of hardbound books published by Time-Life between 1963 and 1967. Each of the 26 volumes explored a major topic of the natural sciences. They were intended for, and written at a level appropriate to, an educated lay readership...
) with Luna B. Leopold (1966) - Experience of War: The United States in World War II (1965)
- The Hero: Charles A. Lindbergh (1959)