William H. Goetzmann facts for kids
William Harry Goetzmann (born July 20, 1930 – died September 7, 2010) was an important American historian. He taught at the University of Texas at Austin for many years. He was known for his amazing work on the history of the American West.
His books and research won him top awards for historians, like the Parkman Prize and the Pulitzer Prize. He also wrote a lot about American ideas, politics, and art. Goetzmann believed history should be discussed by everyone. He even helped with TV shows and movies for PBS. His last book, Beyond the Revolution, came out in 2009.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Education
William Goetzmann was born in Washington. He grew up in the American Midwest, especially in St. Paul, Minnesota. An interesting fact from his childhood is that his family once lived in an apartment that a famous bank robber, John Dillinger, had used.
This experience, and others, made him interested in history. He saw history as a dramatic story filled with interesting people and big changes. He went to Yale University for his college degrees.
Teaching and Research
After finishing his studies, Goetzmann taught at Yale from 1955 to 1964. While there, another historian, Howard R. Lamar, helped him become interested in the history of the American West.
Later, he moved to the The University of Texas at Austin. He helped build their American Studies programs there. These programs study American culture, history, and society.
His early writings were about American diplomacy and how the United States grew. In 1966, he published his famous book, Exploration and Empire: The Explorer and the Scientist in the Winning of the American West. This book quickly won two of the most important awards for American history writing: the Parkman Prize and the Pulitzer Prize.
Over the next 50 years, he wrote many books and articles. He became one of the best historians in the country. He studied many different areas, including the history of ideas, culture, art, science, and philosophy.
Influence and Legacy
William Goetzmann was also a very dedicated and important teacher. He guided many students who went on to become successful historians and writers themselves. Some of his students even won major awards, like the MacArthur "Genius Award".
Goetzmann passed away in Austin, Texas, in 2010. He was survived by his wife, Mewes Goetzmann, his children, and his grandchildren.
Awards and Honors
William Goetzmann received several important awards and honors for his work:
- 1967 Francis Parkman Prize and 1967 Pulitzer Prize for History, both for his book Exploration and Empire.
- 1968 Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
- 1999 Became a member of the American Philosophical Society.
- 2000 Became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
