In one of his many provocative essays, Carl Becker suggested in 1938 that historiographic analysis would be far more meaningful if treated as a phase of intellectual history. Since then a host of monographs, articles, and dissertations have appeared in the field of United States history following Becker’s admonition. Now, Harvey Wish, Professor of History at Western Reserve University, has given us in The American Historian the first, and an excellent, over-all survey of historical writing in the United States “from a socialintellectual point of view.”
This work, unlike Michael Kraus’ outstanding and pioneer History of American History, is more concerned with general trends than with complete coverage. The author is not interested in the kind of minutiae per se which for so long have been the concern of historiographers. Rather, he directs his primary attention to the social ideas of the major historians of the United States and the changing “social determinants” which have invariably molded their efforts. The organization of the book is reminiscent of Kraus’ but its substance reflects and records the scholarship of the past quarter of a century. The first part of the volume is chronological and includes perceptive assessments of the Puritan, Enlightenment, and early nationalistic influences on historical writing. In the second half of the work, covering the past seventy-five years, Wish shifts to a thematic approach in which he analyzes in successive chapters the growth of newer types of historical writing, including the institutional, social, economic, and intellectual.
Ever conscious of the societal forces which have shaped the activities of his predecessors, the author is cautious throughout. One regrets that his references are a bit sparse, particularly for those wishing to explore further some of the fascinating points raised in the text. Still, this work, obviously the fruit of extensive labor and considerable thought, is a significant new synthesis by an able historian. It is well-written, reliable, and contains many original and stimulating insights. Clearly, Wish’s volume is basic reading for all students interested in the historiography of the United States.
