Paul Herman Buck

Paul Herman Buck (August 25, 1899 – December 23, 1978) was an American historian.^[1] He won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1938 and became the first Provost of Harvard University in 1945.

Buck was born in Ohio. He received a bachelor's degree in 1921 and an MA in 1922 from Ohio State University. While an undergraduate, Buck was initiated into the Kappa Sigma fraternity.^[2] In 1922 he published his first book Evolution of the National Parks System. He went to Harvard University for his graduate studies, and received a Master's degree in 1924. After studying for one year in Britain and France under a Sheldon traveling fellowship, he joined Harvard as an instructor in history in 1926. He received his PhD from Harvard in 1935.^[3]

In 1936 he became assistant professor of American history at Harvard. While he was a history professor at Harvard, Buck was involved in extensive research which resulted in his study of the Reconstruction era in the American South.^[4] Buck won the 1938 Pulitzer Prize for History for The Road to Reunion, 1865-1900 (1937),^[5] about the history of politics and government during this era.^[6]

He was appointed Associate Dean of Faculty in 1938, Associate Professor in 1939, and Dean of Faculty in 1942 at Harvard.^[6] In 1943, while serving as dean, Buck negotiated an agreement that resulted in Harvard taking over the education for students at Radcliffe College.^[7]

On October 15, 1945, he became Harvard's first provost, retiring in June 1953 following the resignation of Harvard President James Bryant Conant.^[7][8][9] While he was provost, Buck headed a faculty committee on general education. The committee's report, titled "General Education in a Free Society," later became the basis for a general education curriculum at Harvard.^[10] After Buck's retirement, the position was abolished until Neil Rudenstine appointed Jerry Green to the position in 1992.^[11][12]

In 1955 he became Francis Lee Higginson Professor of History, followed in 1958 by Carl H. Pforzheimer University Professor. In 1955-64 he was director of the university's library. He later published The Role of Education in American History in 1957 and Libraries & Universities: Addresses and Reports in 1964.^[6]

In 1927, Buck married Sally Betts.^[13] Buck died in 1978.^[6]

In 1951, Buck received the Legion of Honour.^[14][13]

Notes

Bibliography

• Fischer, Heinz-Dietrich; Erika J. Fischer (2002). Complete biographical encyclopedia of Pulitzer Prize winners, 1917-2000. Munich, Germany: K. G. Saur. ISBN 3-598-30186-3.
• Brennan, Elizabeth A.; Elizabeth C. Clarage (1999). Who's who of Pulitzer Prize Winners. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 1-57356-111-8.

• Oral history interview transcript for Paul Herman on 2 March 1977, American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library & Archives - interview conducted by Katherine Sopka