James Basker
Encyclopedia
Professor James G. Basker is an American scholar, writer, and educational leader. He studied English at Harvard College
(Phi Beta Kappa) and Cambridge University, and graduated from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, with a D. Phil in English. Basker is currently the Richard Gilder Professor in Literary History at Barnard College
, Columbia University
, having previously taught at Harvard, Cambridge and NYU. He is also the president of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
, founder of the Oxbridge Academic Programs
and a Fellow of The Society of American Historians. He was elected to the board of the American Association of Rhodes Scholars in 2007.
Basker’s scholarly work focuses on 18th Century literature, specifically the life and writings of Samuel Johnson
and the history of slavery and abolition. Among his books are Amazing Grace: An Anthology of Poems about Slavery
(Yale University Press, 2002), Tobias Smollett (University of Delaware Press, 1988), Tradition in Transition (OUP 1996, edited with Alvaro Ribeiro SJ) and Early American Abolitionists (Paperback, 2005).
Basker currently lives in New York with his wife, the diversity consultant Angela Vallot, and their two daughters.
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
(Phi Beta Kappa) and Cambridge University, and graduated from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, with a D. Phil in English. Basker is currently the Richard Gilder Professor in Literary History at Barnard College
Barnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
, Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, having previously taught at Harvard, Cambridge and NYU. He is also the president of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, founded in New York by Richard Gilder and Lewis E. Lehrman in 1994, was set up to promote the study and love of American history.The Institute serves teachers, students, scholars, and the general public...
, founder of the Oxbridge Academic Programs
Oxbridge Academic Programs
Oxbridge Academic Programs is an organization that runs summer academic programs for high school students throughout Europe. The programs began with Oxford in 1985, followed by Paris in 1991 and Cambridge in 1994, with the Barcelona program opening in 2007....
and a Fellow of The Society of American Historians. He was elected to the board of the American Association of Rhodes Scholars in 2007.
Basker’s scholarly work focuses on 18th Century literature, specifically the life and writings of Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
and the history of slavery and abolition. Among his books are Amazing Grace: An Anthology of Poems about Slavery
Amazing Grace: An Anthology of Poems about Slavery
Amazing Grace: An Anthology of Poems about Slavery is an anthology of literature about slavery. The book collects and reprints more than 400 poems about slavery published between 1660 and 1810. It was compiled and edited by Professor James Basker, and published in 2002 by Yale University Press. A...
(Yale University Press, 2002), Tobias Smollett (University of Delaware Press, 1988), Tradition in Transition (OUP 1996, edited with Alvaro Ribeiro SJ) and Early American Abolitionists (Paperback, 2005).
Basker currently lives in New York with his wife, the diversity consultant Angela Vallot, and their two daughters.