Mckitrick, Eric L.

Born on July 5, 1919, in Battle Creek, Michigan, Eric L. McKitrick graduated from Flint Central High School in 1937, and attended Flint Junior College (1937-1939) and Hillsdale College (1940-1941). He served in the United States Army from 1941-1945, and spent time stationed in New York City. In 1947, he enrolled in the Columbia University School of General Studies. He received a Bachelor's degree in 1949, and subsequently received two degrees in history from Columbia University; a Master's degree in 1951 and a Ph.D. in 1959. He was also a Columbia University Fellow (1951-1952) and taught as a Lecturer in American History in the School of General Studies (1952-1954).

McKitrick taught at the University of Chicago (1955-1959) and Douglass College at Rutgers University (1959-1960) before joining the history department faculty at Columbia University in 1960. McKitrick became a full professor in 1965 and a professor emeritus upon his retirement in 1989. During his career, McKitrick also held visiting professorships at Vassar College, Smith College, Cambridge University, and Oxford University.

Much of McKitrick's research focused on the development of the American party system and slavery and the Old South. His best-known work is "Andrew Johnson and Reconstruction" (1960). In this book, McKitrick argued that Johnson was at fault for the failures of his policies, a position that challenged the prevailing theory that these failures were caused by Republican Radicals. The book received the American History Association's John H. Dunning Prize. It was reissued in 1988, and remains an important work in the historiography of the Reconstruction. He also co-authored "The Age of Federalism: The Early American Republic, 1788-1800" (1993) with Stanley M. Elkins of Smith College. The book represented the culmination of over twenty-five years of research work. It received the Bancroft Prize in 1994 and the Cox Book Prize from the Society of the Cincinnati in 1995.

Outside of his professional career, McKitrick devoted many years of service to Grace Church and served on many of its committees. He was also involved in the Century Association and the Historical Society of the Episcopal Church.

McKitrick married Edyth Carol Stevenson of Flint, Michigan on December 26, 1946. The couple had two sons and two daughters. McKitrick died on April 24, 2002 in New York City.

From the description of Eric L. McKitrick papers, 1934-2001. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 606944694

BIOGHIST REQUIRED Born on July 5, 1919, in Battle Creek, Michigan, Eric L. McKitrick graduated from Flint Central High School in 1937, and attended Flint Junior College (1937-1939) and Hillsdale College (1940-1941). He served in the United States Army from 1941-1945, and spent time stationed in New York City. In 1947, he enrolled in the Columbia University School of General Studies. He received a Bachelor's degree in 1949, and subsequently received two degrees in history from Columbia University; a Master's degree in 1951 and a Ph.D. in 1959. He was also a Columbia University Fellow (1951-1952) and taught as a Lecturer in American History in the School of General Studies (1952-1954).

BIOGHIST REQUIRED McKitrick taught at the University of Chicago (1955-1959) and Douglass College at Rutgers University (1959-1960) before joining the history department faculty at Columbia University in 1960. McKitrick became a full professor in 1965 and a professor emeritus upon his retirement in 1989. During his career, McKitrick also held visiting professorships at Vassar College, Smith College, Cambridge University, and Oxford University.

BIOGHIST REQUIRED Much of McKitrick's research focused on the development of the American party system and slavery and the Old South. His best-known work is Andrew Johnson and Reconstruction (1960). In this book, McKitrick argued that Johnson was at fault for the failures of his policies, a position that challenged the prevailing theory that these failures were caused by Republican Radicals. The book received the American History Association's John H. Dunning Prize. It was reissued in 1988, and remains an important work in the historiography of the Reconstruction. He also co-authored The Age of Federalism: The Early American Republic, 1788-1800 1993) with Stanley M. Elkins of Smith College. The book represented the culmination of over twenty-five years of research work. It received the Bancroft Prize in 1994 and the Cox Book Prize from the Society of the Cincinnati in 1995.

BIOGHIST REQUIRED Outside of his professional career, McKitrick devoted many years of service to Grace Church and served on many of its committees. He was also involved in the Century Association and the Historical Society of the Episcopal Church.

BIOGHIST REQUIRED McKitrick married Edyth Carol Stevenson of Flint, Michigan on December 26, 1946. The couple had two sons and two daughters. McKitrick died on April 24, 2002 in New York City.

From the guide to the Eric McKitrick Papers, 1934-2001., (Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library, )