Frederic C. Lane
Encyclopedia
Frederic C. Lane was a historian
who specialized in Medieval history with a particular emphasis on the Italian
city and region of Venice
.
from Cornell University
in 1921, his M.A.
from Tufts College in 1922, where he wrote a master's thesis on "The economic history of Europe during the first half of the sixteenth century", and his Ph.D.
from Harvard University
in 1930 with a doctoral thesis on "Venetian Ships and Shipbuilders of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries." He began his graduate studies at the University of Bordeaux
in 1923-24, then studied at the University of Vienna
in 1924, before going to Harvard University
in 1925-26. While a Harvard graduate student he was John Thornton Kirkland Fellow for Research in Italy in 1927-28. He married Harriet Whitney Mirick on 4 June 1927. The couple had three children
in 1926, before being hired at The Johns Hopkins University
aas an instructor. There, he served as an assistant professor from 1931 to 1935. Promoted to associate professor in 1936, and full professor in 1946, he retired in 1966 as professor emeritus.
Lane's research interests focused on the Italian city-state of Venice. His research on the city as a maritime trading center, particularly with his research in economic history, helped establish a standard for examining the development and growth of other Italian city-states. He applied his skills and interests in economic and maritime history to write the history of American wartime shipping during World War II
.
From 1951 to 1954, he was assistant director, Social Science division, Rockefeller Foundation
, and advised on European policy.. He served as historian of the U.S. Maritime Commission, 1946-47.
A member of the American Historical Association
, he served as a member of council from 1959 to 1962, and was elected President of the Amercian historicakl Association for 1964-1965...
Active in a number of other professional organizations, he was editor of the Journal of Economic History, president of the Society for Italian Historical Studies in 1961-63, president of the Economic History Association
1956-58, and president of the International Economic History Association
, 1966-1968. He was a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
and of the Medieval Academy of America
.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
who specialized in Medieval history with a particular emphasis on the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
city and region of Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
.
Early Life, Education, ande Family
The son of Alfred Church Lane and his wife Susanne Foster (Lauriat) Lane, Frederic Lane received his A.B.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1921, his M.A.
Master of Arts
A Master of Arts is a high academic degree offered at many universities in Europe and the United States.A Master of Arts, Magister Artium, or Magister in Artibus may also refer to:...
from Tufts College in 1922, where he wrote a master's thesis on "The economic history of Europe during the first half of the sixteenth century", and his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1930 with a doctoral thesis on "Venetian Ships and Shipbuilders of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries." He began his graduate studies at the University of Bordeaux
University of Bordeaux
University of Bordeaux is an association of higher education institutions in and around Bordeaux, France. Its current incarnation was established 21 March 2007. The group is the largest system of higher education schools in southwestern France. It is part of the Academy of Bordeaux.There are seven...
in 1923-24, then studied at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
in 1924, before going to Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1925-26. While a Harvard graduate student he was John Thornton Kirkland Fellow for Research in Italy in 1927-28. He married Harriet Whitney Mirick on 4 June 1927. The couple had three children
Academic Career
He was appointed instructor in history at the University of MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
in 1926, before being hired at The Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
aas an instructor. There, he served as an assistant professor from 1931 to 1935. Promoted to associate professor in 1936, and full professor in 1946, he retired in 1966 as professor emeritus.
Lane's research interests focused on the Italian city-state of Venice. His research on the city as a maritime trading center, particularly with his research in economic history, helped establish a standard for examining the development and growth of other Italian city-states. He applied his skills and interests in economic and maritime history to write the history of American wartime shipping during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
From 1951 to 1954, he was assistant director, Social Science division, Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
, and advised on European policy.. He served as historian of the U.S. Maritime Commission, 1946-47.
A member of the American Historical Association
American Historical Association
The American Historical Association is the oldest and largest society of historians and professors of history in the United States. Founded in 1884, the association promotes historical studies, the teaching of history, and the preservation of and access to historical materials...
, he served as a member of council from 1959 to 1962, and was elected President of the Amercian historicakl Association for 1964-1965...
Active in a number of other professional organizations, he was editor of the Journal of Economic History, president of the Society for Italian Historical Studies in 1961-63, president of the Economic History Association
Economic History Association
Economic History Association is an organization founded in 1940, dedicated to "encourage and promote teaching, research, and publication on every phase of economic history, broadly defined"....
1956-58, and president of the International Economic History Association
International Economic History Association
The International Economic History Association serves as an umbrella organization, which has been established in 1960 and unites economic historians from all over the world. Beside national economic history associations, it welcomes as member organizations also societies, which specialize in a...
, 1966-1968. He was a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
and of the Medieval Academy of America
Medieval Academy of America
The Medieval Academy of America is the largest organization in the United States promoting excellence in the field of medieval studies. It was founded in 1925 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts...
.
Published Works
- Venetian ships and shipbuilders of the Renaissance (1934, 1975, 1979, 1992)
- Andrea Barbarigo, merchant of Venice, 1418-1449 (1944, 1967)
- The world’s history, Frederic C. Lane with Eric F. Goldman [and] Erling M. Hunt. Drawings by Robert Velde; maps by Harold K. Faye.(1947, 1950, 1954, 1959)
- Enterprise and secular change: readings in economic history. Edited for the American Economic Association and the Economic History Association by Frederic C. Lane, editor [and] Jelle C. Riemersma, assistant editor. (1953)
- Ships for victory : a history of shipbuilding under the U.S. Maritime Commission in World War II by Frederic C. Lane ; with the collaboration of Blanche D. Coll, Gerald J. Fischer, David B. Tyler; charts by Joseph T. Reynolds (1951; with a new preface by Arthur Donovan, 2001).
- Navires et constructeurs à Venise pendant la Renaissance (Paris, 1965)
- Venice and History: The Collected Papers of Frederic C. Lane, edited by a committee of colleagues and former students. Foreword by Fernand BraudelFernand BraudelFernand Braudel was a French historian and a leader of the Annales School. His scholarship focused on three main projects, each representing several decades of intense study: The Mediterranean , Civilization and Capitalism , and the unfinished Identity of France...
(1966) - Studies in Venetian social and economic history by Frederic C. Lane; edited by Benjamin G. Kohl and Reinhold C. Mueller (1987).
- Venice, a Maritime Republic, 1973, Longitude Books
- Profits from power : readings in protection rent and violence-controlling enterprises (1979)
- Money and Banking in Medieval and Renaissance Venice vol. 1, Coins and moneys of account by Frederic C. Lane and Reinhold C. Mueller (1985); vol. 2, The Venetian money market: banks, panics, and the public debt, 1200-1500 by Reinhold C. Mueller (1997).
Recognition
International recognition of his scholarship included:- The Journal of Economic History dedicated its December 1980 edition to him on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
- In 1980 he received the International Galileo Galilei Prize, awarded annually to a non-Italian scholar for notable contributions to Italian culture and history.
- In 1984 he was awarded the International Prize of the Francesco Saverio Nitto Foundation.