About
Daniel J. Boorstin (1914-2004) was a major American historian, known for his 'The Americans' trilogy and works on the history of ideas. He taught at the University of Chicago for 25 years, directed the Smithsonian's National Museum of History and Technology, and served as the 12th Librarian of Congress from 1975 to 1987. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1974, he founded the Center for the Book and the American Folklife Center. His work explores American culture, innovation, and the quest for knowledge.
Major works
- The Americans: The Colonial Experience (1958)history
- The Americans: The National Experience (1965)history
- The Americans: The Democratic Experience (1973)history
- The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America (1964)essay
- The Discoverers (1983)history
Key milestones
- 1974Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for History for 'The Americans: The Democratic Experience'.
- 1975Appointed 12th Librarian of Congress by President Gerald Ford, serving until 1987.
- 1977Established the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress.
Themes
American historyInnovation and discoveryMass culture and pseudo-eventsNational unityQuest for knowledge
Sources: loc.gov · si.edu · loc.gov