Boston College History Professor and Acclaimed Author Heather Cox Richardson to receive 2021 Governor’s Awards in the Humanities on October 24
Mass Humanities to also honor John Burgess, Annette Gordon-Reed, and Sonia Nieto for enhancing civic life in Massachusetts
Mass Humanities announced Heather Cox Richardson as one of the recipients of this year’s Governor’s Awards in the Humanities 2021 which recognizes individuals for their public actions, grounded in an appreciation of the humanities, to enhance civic life in the Commonwealth. Each year the Mass Humanities Board of Directors selects nominees who are confirmed by Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts.
Heather Cox Richardson is professor of history at Boston College and the author of six acclaimed books about American politics, most recently How the South Won the Civil War: Oligarchy, Democracy, and the Continuing Fight for the Soul of America. Her books, West from Appomattox and To Make Men Free: A History of the Republican Party were Editor’s Choice selections of the New York Times Book Review. Richardson is a national commentator on American political history and the Republican Party. She is a leading #Twitterstorian, and the author of Letters from an American, a chronicle of modern political history that appears on Facebook and in newsletter format. With Professor Joanne Freeman, she is the co-host of the podcast Now & Then where they make sense of the week in news by discussing the people, ideas, and events that got us here today.
Heather Cox Richardson will be honored along with three other recipients, John Burgess, Annette Gordon-Reed, and Sonia Nieto, on Sunday, October 24, 2021 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m at a virtual event. Proceeds from sponsorships, ticket sales, and direct donations will be put to use in the coming year to maintain and enhance the Clemente Course, Reading Frederick Douglass Together, and other humanities-based programming that reaches people throughout Massachusetts.
About Mass Humanities
Mass Humanities, a non-profit based in Northampton, conducts and supports programs that use history, literature, philosophy, and the other humanities disciplines to enhance and improve civic life throughout Massachusetts. Since its founding in 1974, the organization has provided millions of dollars in support of thousands of humanities projects across the Commonwealth. Established as the state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Mass Humanities is an independent programming and grant-making organization that receives support from the NEH and the Massachusetts Cultural Council as well as private sources. For more information, visit