National Humanities Medal
The National Humanities Medal honors individuals or groups whose work has deepened the nation’s understanding of the humanities, broadened citizens’ engagement with the humanities, or helped preserve and expand Americans’ access to important resources in the humanities.
The award, given by the National Endowment for the Humanities, was established in 1988 as the Charles Frankel Prize. In 1997 it was renamed the National Humanities Medal.
Walter Berns
Ph.D.; M.A.; Faculty, 1984, 1989
National Humanities Medal, 2005
“He is a political scientist, and a leading authority on the history of the U.S. Constitution.”
Mary Ann Glendon
J.D.; A.B.
National Humanities Medal, 2005
“She writes and teaches in the fields of human rights, comparative law, constitutional law, and legal theory.”
Gertrude Himmelfarb
Ph.D. ’50
National Humanities Medal, 2004
“For her critical analysis of history, which has yielded insights into Victorian England and the foundations of our culture.”
Thomas Sowell
Ph.D. ’68
National Humanities Medal, 2002
“For prolific scholarship melding history, economics, and political science. He has applied lessons from diverse times and places to the greatest challenges of our day.”
Eileen Jackson Southern (1920–2002)
A.B. ’40; Ph.D. ’41
National Humanities Medal, 2001
“Musicologist who helped transform the study and understanding of American music and founding editor of the journal Black Perspectives in Music .”
Richard Franke
University trustee
National Humanities Medal, 1997
“Businessman and former investment firm CEO, creator of the annual Chicago Humanities Festival, longtime leader of national and state cultural commissions promoting the arts and humanities.”
Luis Leal
A.M. ’41; Ph.D. ’50
National Humanities Medal, 1997
“Literary scholar whose life’s work is a major contribution to cultural understanding of Latin America and Hispanic communities in the United States.”
Martin Marty
Ph.D. ’56; Professor in the Divinity School, 1963–78; Fairfax M. Cone Distinguished Service Professor, 1978–98; Fairfax M. Cone Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus, 1998–present.
National Humanities Medal, 1997
“Renowned scholar of American religious history and director of the University of Chicago’s Public Religion Project.”
Studs Terkel
Ph.B. ’32; J.D. ’34.
National Humanities Medal, 1997
“Longtime radio talk-show host, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, oral historian whose published interviews chronicle 20th-century life in the words of hundreds of ordinary Americans.”
Hanna Gray
Assistant Professor in History, 1961–64; Associate Professor of History, 1964–72; President of the University of Chicago, 1978–93; Harry Pratt Judson Distinguished Service Professor of History, 1994–present.
Charles Frankel Prize, 1993
“University of Chicago President Emerita and longtime spokesperson for excellence in liberal arts curricula in higher education.”
John Hope Franklin
Professor in History, 1964–69; Chairman, Department of History, 1967–70; John Matthews Manly Distinguished Service Professor, 1969–82.
Charles Frankel Prize, 1993
“Historian of the American South, educator and pioneering scholar of African-American studies.”
Allan Bloom (1930–1992)
A.B. ’49; A.M. ’53; Ph.D. ’55; Professor in History, 1964–69; Chairman, Department of History, 1967–70; John Matthews Manly Distinguished Service Professor; Professor in the Committee on Social Thought, 1979–92; John U. Nef Distinguished Service Professor, 1992.
Charles Frankel Prize, 1992
“Philosopher, educator and author of the best-selling The Closing of the American Mind , an influential critique of American higher education.”
Mortimer Adler (1902–2001)
Associate Professor in Philosophy of Law, 1930–42; Professor in Philosophy of Law, 1942–52; Visiting Lecturer, 1963–68.
Charles Frankel Prize, 1990
“Director of the Institute for Philosophical Research in Chicago and author of numerous works on education and philosophy.”
Daniel Boorstin (1914–2004)
Professor in History, 1944–64; Preston and Sterling Morton Distinguished Service Professor, 1964–69.
Charles Frankel Prize, 1989
“Librarian of Congress Emeritus and author of several books on American history and culture for a general audience.”