Pulitzer Prize-Winning Biographer and Historian Jon Meacham Recognized as 2023 Empire State Archives and History Award Laureate

Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer and historian Jon Meacham will be honored as the 2023 Empire State Archives and History Award Laureate, the New York State Archives Partnership Trust, Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr., and State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced today. The award recognizes his outstanding contribution of using historical records as a bridge to better understand the world today. Meacham will be honored at a special event titled “A Conversation with Jon Meacham,” at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 8, at the Cultural Education Center at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, New York. The event will feature an intimate armchair-style conversation with Meacham hosted by renowned Lincoln Scholar and Trust Board Member Harold Holzer.

Chancellor Young said, “We are honored to recognize Jon Meacham with the 2023 Empire State Archives and History Award. As an accomplished Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and biographer, he has broadened our understanding of the lives of iconic figures from our nation's rich history and has enabled us to better comprehend the complex world we live in today. This prestigious award is a recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of historical research and his tireless dedication to preserving and sharing the stories that shape our nation's identity and cultural values.”

Commissioner Rosa said, “Jon Meacham's expansive body of work has left an indelible mark within the historical biography and literature genres and will undoubtedly inspire future generations of historians and writers. His deep insights into the lives of American leaders and pivotal moments in American history have enriched our collective knowledge and understanding of the past. We are proud to honor Mr. Meacham with the 2023 Empire State Archives and History Award and look forward to celebrating his accomplishments.”

Archives Partnership Trust Board President Stephen Pagano said, “We are proud to present this award of distinction to Jon Meacham. The Empire State Archives and History Award acknowledges the outstanding contributions by a national figure to advance the understanding and uses of history in society. His use of archives is a testament to the importance of preservation, outreach, and educational programs that keep our rich and diverse history accessible for today and future generations.”

Jon Meacham is the author of numerous New York Times bestsellers including: And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle; His Truth Is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope; Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power; American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House; Franklin and Winston, Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush; and The Soul of America. Meacham holds the Carolyn T. and Robert M. Rogers Chair in the American Presidency and is a distinguished visiting professor at Vanderbilt University. He is also a fellow of the Society of American Historians.

Jon Meacham joins an illustrious list of Empire State Archives and History Award Laureates. The award program is open to the media and will also be simulcast to virtual ticket holders across the nation. Tickets are available to the public and are on sale at the Archives Partnership Trust website.

The 2023 Empire State Archives and History Award event sponsors include: Crowne Plaza Albany; The Desmond Hotel; Charter Communications; Greenberg Traurig LLC; Christine & George R Hearst III; History Channel; Humanities New York; The Rutledge Family Foundation; Times Union; Lamar Advertising; and WMHT.

The New York State Archives Partnership Trust is a statewide non-profit whose mission is to keep over 350 years of New York’s rich documentary heritage preserved by the New York State Archives accessible and alive through education, preservation, and outreach programs. The New York State Archives is the largest repository of state government records in the nation, holding over 270 million records of state and colonial governments dating back to the Dutch colonial period in 1630. The New York State Archives is a program of the State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education.