Colby Magazine

Volume 91 Issue 1 Winter 2002 Article 9

January 2002

The Pulitzer Guy: Historian Alan Taylor has his eye on everything but the prize

Douglas Rooks

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Recommended Citation Rooks, Douglas (2002) "The Pulitzer Guy: Historian Alan Taylor has his eye on everything but the prize," Colby Magazine: Vol. 91 : Iss. 1 , Article 9. Available at: https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/colbymagazine/vol91/iss1/9

This Contents is brought to you for free and open access by the Archives at Digital Commons @ Colby. It has been accepted for inclusion in Colby Magazine by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ Colby. THE PULITZER GUY Historian Alan Taylor has his eye on everythihgbut the prize By Douglas Rooks '76

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:i::� '1. Winning major prizes can have a chilling effect on unprepared authors who worry that their next book might not measure up. When Alan Taylor '77 won both the

Pulitzer and Bancroft prizes in 1996 for his book 's To wn: Power and Persuasion on the Frontier of the

Early American Republic, he was stunned.

" I didn't even know I was a finalist, much

less that I could be a winner;' he sa id.

Though he almost saw the initial

press attention spin out of control, the University of California at Davis professor of history recovered and has suffered no writer's. cramp in the aftermath of the prizes. Moreover, the acclaim brought some prestigious opportunities, which he has fielded

nimbly-as lead-off author in an

important book series, as a contributor to a top national magazine and as the

recipient of what may be the most enviable job offer in all of academe. The Pulitzer Prizes are announced ,,·ith no Davis is now the third largest campus in the The Penguin History series were assigned at notice to the winner . In ne\\'Srooms, where C system, with 25,000 students, a growing once, American Colonies was first to appear, most Pulitzers are directed, announcements history deparm1ent and a chance to eclipse in Iovember 2001, and Publisher's We ekly produce cheers, toasts and hugs. At UC­ the more geographically constrained Berkeley predicted: "This bold new view of early Davis, where Ta ylor has taught since 199-+, his and CLA in enrollments. America should be widely and well reviewed, 1996 Pulitzer produced confusion. \Valking through the downtown next to and will attract a broad range of students of He had just returned from a tennis match the campus on an 80-degree late October day, American hjstory." ("my opponent had trounced me pretty Ta ylor said, "My friendsfrom Maine all think Finally the prizes led-indirectly-to the thoroughly," he said) when his office phone I must hate it here." He doesn't, though. offer of a coveted fa culty chair at Harvard, started ringing. "I was sitting there, tired and orthern Caufornja, he said, "appeals to my seemingly the pinnacle of a Tew England sweaty, and I had no idea ,,·hat I was supposed outdoors side." historian's profession. In 1997 one of Ta ylor's to say." Things didn't get any better. "Assoon Ta ylor has no plans to pull up academjc mentors, (who had as I put the phone dm111 it would ring again. stakes, though winning the big history prizes won both the Pulitzer and Bancroft in 1991 They ,,·anted to send photographers, and while just into his 40s has opened doors for A Midwife's Tale) asked him to participate soon they were in my office, too." for him. on a search commjnee to rebuild Harvard's Finally, he persuaded the paparazzi to let He received an invitation from Th e New hjstory department after it had been depleted him go home, change and return for photos Republic to become a contributor, and his by retirements, and he agreed. As sometimes and a news conference-his first and, so far, quarterly essays in the journal cover an happens, the rest of the search committee his only. The story ran on the front page of extensive range of subjects, among them turned its attention to Ta ylor as a possible

TAYLOR, AS A CONTEMPORARY HISTORIAN, GIVES FULL VOICE TO THOSE FORMERLY EXC LUDED FROM AME RICAN NARRATIVES. YET HE IS, IN HIS OWN ESTIMATION, O LD­ FASHIONED IN HIS CONVICTION THAT ''TRUTH IS AN OBJECTIVE WORTH PURSUING."

the Sa cra111e11to Bee, and for a time he was George \i\Tashington, Benjamin Franklin and candidate, and reluctantly he consented. "It a local celebrity. colleague recounts that De\Vitt Clinton, the powerful New Yo rk was an absurd situation, really," he said. "I there was e\'en a pizza cleli,,ery boy who, when governorwho never qujte became president. told them there was almost no chance of my Ta ylor opened the door to his condo, said, The prizes also brought him to the notice accepting." Ye t the offer, when it came, was "I le�·, aren't you the Pulitzer guy)" of , the DeWitt Clinton Professor tempting. "You expect Harvard to be, well, \ \ nen one sits in Ta ylor's cramped office­ of llistory at Columbia Unjversity (and the snobbish, and it wasn't like that at all," he said. standa rd issue for the C-Davis history son of the late Jack Foner, who taught hjstory "They were warm and welcomjng." department-it' ea y to imagine that scene. to Ta ylor at Colby). Foner, who served on Ultimately, though, he turned doW11 Har­ Ta ll metal shekes filled with books take up the 1996 committee, was vard. He was deeply involved in a similar most of three walls, and the fourth wall also planning an ambitious new series-The rebilllillng process at Davis and fe lt, according \1 ould be filled with books, except that they'd Penguin llistory of the njted States-and to Ulrich, "as if he'd be leavi11g them in the co,·er a '' indow. A bicycle-the campus is he wanted Ta ylor to write the first volume, lurch." He also was concerned about his built around bike path and Ta ylor doesn't A111eriw11 Colonies. Ta ylor pointed out that partner, Emily Albu, who had just ga ined 0\1 n a car--<:omume much of the remaining his field was the early republic, not colorual a tenured position in classics at Davis after �pace. Though profe sor joke that their history, and Foner said he was welcome to years of searching. 1993 concrete building is "1970s Stalinist" write that volume instead. After thinking it "I fi gured he was gone," said Charles in �r� le, the architecture doc n't dampen the over, though, Ta ylor decided that rather than Wa lker, an ebullient older colleague of camaraderie imide. sticking to what he knew best he would take Ta ylor's at UC-Davis. The two men, who L C-Da' i� might �eem an odd place for on the new challenge. "I already taught the bow and call each other "doctor," had bet on a nati\ e \lainer and a hi�torian of the earl�· Colonial merica course, and decided this it, in fact. "I lost a hundred dollars on him," republic. Once an agricultural �chool amid \1 ould be a great way to go deeper into the \Valker said. "I went clown to the ATM and ,,1Jifornia\ Ll�t and ferti le Central \'alle�·, period," he said. Though all fi ve parts of got five crisp twenties. He was disappointed. I

20 c B y . .•. T E R '0c 2 think he was expecting a hundred-dollar bill, Ta ylor learned his lessons well, according claim one bit of influence. "I rarely advise my so he could frame it." to Raymond, who still lives with his wife students to do anything, but when I found he Alan Ta ylor was born in West Buxton, in Waterville and gets periodic visits from was under some fa mily pressure to go to law Maine, and grew up in Wi ndham, graduating his former student. Asked if Ta ylor is his school, I decided to say something." Pointing from Bonny Eagle High School. He decided most accomplished student, Raymond agreed, out Ta ylor's uncanny research abilities, "I told to apply to liberal arts schools, and Colby adding, "One of the two best." He also had him he had something that's really unusual, accepted him. There he took a history class '64, who, he notes, a rare gift." from Harold Raymond, and from then on he was a government major: "Alan is more solidly Research remains at the heart of Ta ylor's took every Raymond class he could. enn-enchecl as a member of the profession. He historical enterprise, though he succeeds with Raymond, who retired in 1994, was the was my best student in terms of the pleasure engaging narrative and memorable characters History Department's "utility supersta r," of worlcingand ta I Icing with him." Raymond as well. In an article in the Chronicle o/ Higher Ta ylor said. Raymond threw himself into four was equally impressed with Ta ylor's teaching Education, Harvard's lrich mentioned that, or five diffe rent specialties. His Civil vVa r during a one-year stint in 1984-85 when they when she first met and befriended Taylor, he course was perhaps best known, but he also both taught at Colby. They still talk history was doing research-and living in a tent. offered seminars on the Napoleonic Wa rs intensely, "even when he's gone way beyond True, says Ta ylor. purely practical and Russian history. my ability to contribute to his knowledge," arrangement; a way for a graduate student "Your first impression was someone who Raymond said. to economize. He was studying early- 19th­ was quite shy and retiring," Ta ylor said of When Ta ylor received an honorary doctor­ century town and county records from the his mentor, "but he just lit up in front of a ate from Colby in 1997 he spoke fondly of border of what was then the district of class .... He's the best lecturer I've every his old professor. "I'd like to believe that Maine-work that led to his doctoral dis­ heard, and I've heard a lot." it's all n-ue," said Raymond, though he does sertation and his first book, Liberty Menand

TAYLOR ON THE MARGINS

"In a place and a time that celebrated sincerity while practicing "The historical imagination works best, surely, when it takes us insincerity, [Benjamin] Franklin seemed far too accomplished at beyond the self, beyond personal and contemporary limits and the latter.... Owing to his smooth manner and shifting tactics, into the lives of people who have been rendered alien by the Franklin invited suspicions far beyond his actual intent to n-ick. passage of time." The New Republic, Dec. 9, 1996 Even when he was frank and honest-especially when he was frank and honest-he aroused the distrust of rivals and colleagues "Smashing open the cabin door, the vigilantes quickly butchered certain that he must be up to something especially devious." Th e the Indian families, then plundered and set ablaze their homes. New Republic, March 19, 2001 Later that clay,coloni sts rummaging through the smoldering ashes and the scorched bones found a bag containing the Conestoga's "Inpast generations, Virginia's and ew England's historians most precious possessions: two wampum belts and six old docu­ competed to claim the birthplace of democracy; but now they ments, all produced at past treaty councils to certify the Indians' contend over when and where racism emerged. The common status as allies of Pennsylvania. The longest and oldest docun1ent denominator is a persistent pride in their chosen region as more was a cherished copy of the treaty made in 1701 with William important in defining 19th-century America-which used to be Penn, the colony's Quaker fow1der. By the terms of that n-eaty, the known as a land of liberty but is now seen primarily as a domain Indians a11d the colonists pledged 'that they shall forever hereafter of inequality and injustice." The New Republic, April 13, 1998 be as one Head & One Heart, & live in n-ue Friendship & Am ity as one People."' The New Republic, Aug. 9, 1999 "The elusive border that so frustrated national and imperial officialsin the early 19th century holds a lesson for historians "As the first president over the empire of liberty, [George] Wa sh­ of Maine. Fundamentally, that porous border reveals that Maine ington created and mastered an almost impossible role that has has long been much more than the northeastern margin of the consumed most of his successors: somehow to appear always, . Instead of accepting a marginal status within a perfectly, and simultaneously imperial and democratic." Th e ew nation-centered story, we should recognize that, as a borderland, Republic, Jan. 19, 1998 it is a region that draws people together, rather than one that keeps people apart." Maine Hist01y, spring 2000

COLBY · WINTER 2002 \ 21 Great Proprietors. He haunted public libraries fictionalized account of the life of Cooper's Among the papers sent to f lartwick, Ta ylor by day and campground at night. "After all, fa ther, YVilliam. But unlike most 19th-century eventually saw the drafts Paul Fenimore it was summer in ;\Iaine," he said. "Lots of documents, which repose in public archives, Cooper had written. "ft was kind of sad," people camp out." the Cooper fa mily papers were still in the Ta ylor said. "He always got stuck at the same Taylor rarely seem impressed by his own hands of a lineal fa mily descendant, Paul place-a classic case of writer's block." research fe ats. One of the more intriguing, Fenimore Cooper Jr. Asked whether he ever suffered from the in William Cooper's1i rn:11, invokes an analysis Paul Cooper had been approached by malady, Ta ylor said, "Thank God, no." To of Cooper's electoral popularity a the town scholars but had turneddown their sometimes the contrary, he writes "quickly and a lot," he spread. By analyzing 19th-century voting high-handed requests for access. He hoped to said-a method that requires much rewriting. record (,·oters' preferences,,·ere then public), write a book himself and, in fact, made several He spent almost two years converting his Ta ylor show that the farther from the village false starts. By the time Ta ylor approached doctoral dissertation into Libe1·ty Men and a voter lived, the less likely he was to support h_im, Cooperwas 70 and doubtless realized he G1wt Proprietors, halving its length. For his Cooper. ked about that discovery, Ta ylor would never write the book. He gave Ta ylor most recent book, American Colo11ies, based said it was no big deal. a tour of tl1e collection, which, 1aylorqwckly on secondary sources ratl1er than archives, he "That's Alan all over," Ulrich said. In realized, was a historical treasure. worked one chapter at a time. retro pect, it may look easy, but "it involves Once the ice was broken, Cooper warmed Ta ylor needs six to seven years to produce hundred of hours of going through census to the younger man. "By the end of the week, a book, he said. He describes a laborious record town by town. And of course it he had practically adopted me," Ta ylor said. process that depends on summers, sabbaticals, requires a keen analytical mind to phrase Cooper eventually gave full access, asking only research fe llowships and presenting papers the question to get the answer you want," that Ta ylor not write about \Villiam Cooper's at conferences. he said. storekeeping or maple sugaring-subjects Along witl1 his success as a scholar and An archi,·e that was an essential source for about which Cooper still hoped to write autl1or, 1aylor remains committed to teach­ fVi//iam Cooper's1i n1:11 represents another facet articles. Paul Cooper died only a fe w months ing and excels at it, colleagues say. "The of Ta �·I r's abilities-people skills. Ta ylor later. The papers were given to Hartwick traditional way college teachers are evaluated had been curious about the Coopers since College and, after a suitable interval, Ta ylor is in scholarship, teaching and service," said hi own boyhood when he read The Pioneers resumed his research with a plan for the book one, Karen Halttunen at Davis. " ormally, b�· Jame Fenimore Cooper-in large part, a already in hand. you find a teacher whose books are stimulat-

RECLAIMING TOWNBALL

For tho e who imagine tl1at a hi torian' lifeis all work and fielders rather than to swing for the fe nces. One out-on a no play, tl1ere' something to see every Friday afternoon on caught Ay, or a throw that hits a runner, who need not keep the athletic field of the niver ity of California at Davis. It is to the basepaths-is all the batting team gets. Games are won to\1 nhall, a game Alan Ta ylor learned during his many stays in with 11 or 21 runs. Cooper town, X.Y., and introduced first to the Boston rnver­ Ta ylor describes townball as "less competitive," but aftera si� campu when he taught there. match with his junior and senior undergraduates, tl1is visiting One of a number of ball games that, by a process till dimly writer-who joined the seniors-attests that it's certainly not under. tood produced the modern American game of baseball for the faint-hearted. Keeping up with the students was tough (and the British game of cricket), town ball probably most closely enough that an imminent engagement after seven innings pro­ rc�emblcs rounder , a game still played by British schoolgirls. vided a welcome ex_it. In Cooper to11 n, the Farmer' ;\ I use um organized a team in the \Nhile his colleagues can't fault Ta ylor's integrity as a scholar 19 0�, and e\·entuaJJ�· a league, tO re\•ive the game. or writer, they do have occasional questions about his town ball There arc four bases, but the batter stands between home performances. Ta king advantage of his position as the local plate and fir t, and the base are actually take . in cricket, townball authority, "He's been known to bend the rules a bit," an� hit h� the batsman i. in play; there is no foul or fair ter­ one colleague said. dds anotl1er, "I wouldn't bet against him rito� . The mo. t effecti,·e offcn ive strategy i to hit between on that field."

22 B t. ER 02 ing, but whose lectures are dull, or one who's Revolution, immigrated to . The ing that eventually he found a new advisor. uninvolved in the community. Alan excels book will focus on upstate New Yo rk and Overcoming marginalization is at the root in all three." the Lake Ontario region. Ta ylor sees similar of Ta ylor's achievement, according to his The two courses Ta ylor was teaching phenomena along the Maine border, though, fr iend and colleague Charles Walker. Wa lker last fa ll offered striking contrasts. On one and he discusses them in a ,V faine Hist01y praises Ta ylor's "brilliant w1derstanding of the particular Friday his upper-level class in article about the tragicomic career of George first political party system" in William Cooper� colonial history studied images, from Queen lmer, assigned during the \Var of 1812 to To wn, where he uncovered the transition

TAY LOR'S GRADUATE ADVISOR IMPLORE D HIM TO FORSAKE HIS DESIRE TO WRITE A THESIS ABOUT MAINE.... TH E ADVISOR SUGGESTED THREE POSSIBLE TOPICS: A HISTORY OF DREAMING, A HISTORY OF THE CHICKEN IN AME RICAN SOCIAL LIFE OR A COMMUN ITY STUDY ON CAPE COD. "FOR A TIME I JOKED THAT MY DISSERTATION WOULD BE A HISTORY OF DREAMS ABOUT CHICKENS ON CAPE COD."

Elizabeth to the Virginia settlements. Ta ylor Eastport, across the border from St. Stephen, from the Federalists to the Jeffe rsonians who was quiet as he moved around the classroom which was tlien in the hands of the British. succeeded them. "It's deeply moving to see seeking responses, willing to wait. Most of Ulmer, fa iling to perceive the local and how people who were marginalized were the students were history majors whom he'd regional interest in commerce as opposed to empowered," Wa lker said. "His discovery is had before. an embargo, was ultimately sacked. one of tlie great conu-ibutions to historical In a freshman-level survey of American his­ "As historians redeem the places and writing in the last century." tory through tlie Civil Wa r, a large afternoon peoples previously dismissed as marginal, Ta ylor, as a contemporary hjstorian, gives lecture, Ta ylor's demeanor changed. He as peripheral, we can perceive the truth fu ll voice to those formerly excluded from paced tlie stage, spoke dramatically using a that every region is in the center of some American narratives. Ye t he is, in his own microphone and drove home his points about wider network of human exchange of people, estimation, old-fashioned in his conviction tlie Constitutional Convention with bullet­ goods, and cultures," Ta ylor writes. "We that "truth is an objective worth pursuing. like precision. Asked about the contrast, start to perceive a fu ller North American Many academics have given up on it, even he said, "You have to be able to adjust to a history where borders are invitations rather as an ideal." Such relativism comes at great diffe rent audience." than walls." cost, he said. "It drains academic work of a Tuylor's next project, already well under The article strikes a rare personal note lot of its excitement." way, is a study of the borderlands of the as well, detailing Ta ylor's experience as a i\ 1aking judgments isn't something Ta ylor Northeast-a hot topic among historians graduate student at Brandeis, where his shies away from. "[He's] a master of clarity who are intrigued by questions of identity fa culty advisor implored him to fo rsake and analysis." Ulrich said. "\Vhatever topic and how people do or do not fit into existing his desire to write a thesis about i\1aine, he takes on, he illuminates." social, racial and ideological fra meworks. As warningtliat it would kill his job prospects. He does so witl1out a lot of fuss. \Nhetl1er in previous works, he includes marginalized Maine was too marginal. "Historians treated it's his Maine upbringing, his desire to balance people so long left out of formal history. Plymouth, Dedham, Andover, and New­ familywit h career considerations or his deci­ The paradox of borders, Ta ylor said, "is buryport as if they were microcosms of the sion to remain at a less-famous institution, that they are intended to separate people, but American whole," Tuylor said. The advisor Ta ylor seems content to continue his work end up atu-acting tliem instead." That is also suggested three possible topics: a history in unexplored corners of history. He isn't the case along the Canadian border, which of dreaming, a history of the chicken in looking for any new prizes, which are, in the continues to be a magnet for settlement and American social life or a community study case of the Pulitzer and Bancroft, generally development on both sides. on Cape Cod. "For a time I joked that my once-in-a-lifetime events. "I have all the Tuylor's book will examine tlie "late loyal­ dissertation would be a history of dreams prestige I need," he said. "1 want to be able to ists," former colonists who, well after the about chickens on Cape Cod," he writes, not- go where my principles take me." @

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