Charlottesville Daily Progress
Noted Jefferson scholar, UVa professor dies
By Brian McNeill
Published: September 25, 2009
Merrill D. Peterson, a noted Thomas Jefferson scholar and University
of Virginia history professor, died Wednesday in Charlottesville.
He was 88.
Peterson was author or editor of 37 books, including the definitive
Library of America edition of the writings of Thomas Jefferson and a
1994 study of Abraham Lincoln titled `Lincoln in American Memory’ that
was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
UVa’s Board of Visitors established a professorship in his name eight
years ago, calling him `without a doubt the most distinguished living
Jefferson scholar in the country.’
Peterson’s scholarly work focused primarily on Jefferson and what he
called the `second generation of American statesmen,’ as well as on
Lincoln and his place in `American thought and imagination.’
His first book, `The Jefferson Image in the American Mind,’ won the
Bancroft Prize ‘ one of the most prestigious awards in American
history ‘ in 1961.
His second book, which Peterson considered his best, was a biography
of Jefferson called `Thomas Jefferson and the New Nation.’
`His one-volume biography of Thomas Jefferson is still considered
among the very best that have ever been written on our university’s
founder,’ Edward Ayers, a historian and former dean of the College and
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, said in 2005.
Peterson’s son, Jeffrey W. Peterson of Falls Church, said: `He had a
real consciousness of the importance of American democracy and how
individuals can make an important contribution to that.’
Peterson added that his father sought to live a life of public
service.
`He always set for us a really good example of doing things for
others,’ he said.
At the age of 76, Peterson volunteered with the Peace Corps and served
in Armenia. Before leaving, he told The Daily Progress that he decided
to join the Peace Corps after receiving a brochure in the mail.
`I noti
said. `I’ve really had very little experience as a volunteer outside
the academy. I think I would like to be in a situation where I have a
sense that I am serving and making a contribution.’
He was the second oldest Peace Corps volunteer serving at the time.
Peterson’s time in Armenia inspired a book he wrote after returning,
`Starving Armenians: America and the Armenian Genocide, 1915-1930.’
In 2005, Peterson became the eighth recipient of the Library of
Virginia’s lifetime achievement award, which recognizes Virginia
writers, living or dead. Previous recipients included Booker
T. Washington and Edgar Allan Poe.
Peterson joined UVa as the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Professor of
History in 1963.
He served as dean of the faculty of the College of Arts & Sciences
from 1981 to 1985. And he was elected professor emeritus upon his
retirement from UVa’s faculty in 1987.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Rotunda Room
of Westminster-Canterbury of the Blue Ridge.
Among the service’s speakers will be Daniel P. Jordan, the retired
head of Monticello. Jordan studied for his doctorate under Peterson
and was a longtime friend.
Jordan could not be reached for comment Thursday. Jordan’s wife, Lou
Jordan, however, said Peterson was an outstanding scholar and that her
husband said of Peterson, upon hearing of his death, `We owe him a
lot.’