Former CEU Board member and eminent social historian Natalie Zemon Davis was one of 12 recipients of the 2012 U.S. National Humanities Medal recognized by President Barack Obama at a July ceremony. The award honors individuals or groups whose work has deepened the country's understanding of the humanities, broadened its citizens' engagement with the humanities, or helped preserve and expand Americans' access to important resources in the humanities.
Zemon Davis's historical research stands out precisely because it does not focus on royalty or the aristocracy but, rather, on common people and outsiders. A citation from the National Endowment for the Humanities says Davis was honored for her "insights into the study of history and her exacting eloquence in bringing the past into focus. With vivid description and exhaustive research, her works allow us to experience life through our ancestors' eyes and to truly engage with our history."
CEU hosts the Natalie Zemon Davis Annual Lecture Series that features talks from various fields including history, medieval studies, religious studies, and gender studies.
For more information on the award, visit: http://news.utoronto.ca/natalie-zemon-davis-receives-national-humanities-medal





