Jared Sparks

Jared Sparks (1789–1866) was an American historian, editor, and educator who served as Harvard University’s president from 1849 to 1853. He edited influential collections of American historical documents and writings.

George Washington: George Washington was commander of the Continental Army and the first president of the United States. Sparks edited Washington’s papers and published a multivolume biography of him.
The Writings of George Washington: A twelve-volume edition of George Washington’s papers edited by Jared Sparks and published from 1833 to 1837. This major editorial project established Sparks’s reputation as an organizer of national historical records.
Documentary Editing: Documentary editing is the preparation and publication of historical documents with transcription, annotation, and contextual explanation. Sparks helped make edited collections a prominent form of American historical scholarship.
Harvard College: Harvard College is the undergraduate liberal arts college of Harvard University. Sparks graduated from Harvard College in 1809 before entering the ministry and historical scholarship.
Benjamin Franklin: Benjamin Franklin was an American statesman, scientist, writer, and diplomat. Sparks edited Franklin’s writings as part of his effort to document the early republic.
The Life of George Washington: Jared Sparks’s multivolume biography of George Washington, published from 1839 to 1840. The biography turned Sparks’s editorial research into a widely read narrative of Washington’s life.
Historical Revisionism: Historical revisionism is the reinterpretation of established accounts of the past using new evidence or changed perspectives. Later scholars reassessed Sparks’s editorial choices and the narratives built from them.
New England: New England is a region of the northeastern United States comprising six states. Sparks was born in Connecticut and built his academic career in the region.
John Lothrop Motley: John Lothrop Motley was an American historian and diplomat known for histories of the Dutch Republic. Motley succeeded Sparks as Harvard’s president in 1861.
Harvard University: Harvard University is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, founded in 1636. Sparks led Harvard during a period of institutional change as its president from 1849 to 1853.

Linked from 1 page

Peter ForceRelated: Sparks and Force were leading nineteenth-century editors of documents from the American past.