John Hope Franklin, one of the United States’ greatest historians, died today.

January 2, 1915-March 25, 2009

Photo by Derek Anderson for the New York Times

Read his obituary in the New York Times, as well as his website at Duke University.

Click on ‘Quotations’ on the Duke site to get a glimpse of how this man’s mind worked. One of my favorites:

“I have never regretted the decision to remain a student and a teacher of history. …I have been a student and advocate of the view that the exchange of ideas is more healthy and constructive than the exchange of bullets.”
Charles Homer Haskins lecture
April 14, 1988

Rest in peace, Professor Franklin.