Dr. Gregory S. Taylor Receives Highest Prize for North Carolina Historian
Dr. Gregory S. Taylor Receives Highest Prize for North Carolina Historian
Dr. Gregory S. Taylor Distinguished Professor of History at 麻豆视频 has received recognition by the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association (NCLHA). His most recent work, Central Prison: A History of North Carolina鈥檚 State Penitentiary was named the winner of the 2021 Ragan Old North State Award for Nonfiction. In the email announcement, John Blythe, NCHLA president, noted that this 鈥渁ward is presented for achievement in non-fiction and honors Sam Ragan, poet, critic, publisher, and the first secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources,鈥�
Recognizing the significance of this award from North Carolina鈥檚 oldest civic organization, fellow historian and University Provost Dr. Danny Moore shared, 鈥渢his is the highest prize a North Carolina historian can win.鈥� Dr. Taylor, honored by the NCHLA recognition, said, 鈥渋t is a high point in my career as a historian. Earning the respect of my peers and knowing that they saw something of value in my work is both rewarding and humbling, and I cannot thank the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association enough for this honor.鈥�
Dr. Taylor joins a distinguished list of other award winners noted by NCHLA President Blythe in his email. The list includes, 鈥淲illiam 鈥淪andy鈥� Darity and Kirsten Mullen for From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-first Century, Jerry Gershenhorn for Louis Austin and the Carolina Times, David Cecelski for The Fire of Freedom: Abraham Galloway and the Slaves鈥� Civil War, and Rob Christensen for The Paradox of Tar Heel Politics and The Rise and Fall of the Branchhead Boys.鈥�
Dr. Taylor鈥檚 book, Central Prison: A History of North Carolina鈥檚 State Penitentiary, focuses on the institution, but uses it as a lens through which to explore the state鈥檚 history and historical development. 鈥淭hrough prison鈥檚 prism, we can see the state鈥檚 political, cultural, economic, regional, and racial evolution from a new perspective that both broadens and deepens our knowledge. I thus hope the book proves informative about the prison and revelatory about the state,鈥� shared Dr. Taylor.
Due to the pandemic, the NCLHA is unable to meet this November. Dr. Taylor has been invited to accept his award through a virtual celebration. His acceptance speech will be shared through social media platforms of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources鈥� Office of Archives and History.
Please join Chowan in congratulating Dr. Gregory S. Taylor as the recipient of the 2021 Ragan Old North State Award for Nonfiction award from the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association.
For more information on NCLHA please visit their website at .