Peter Novick: American historian on objectivity and Holocaust memory

Major works

Two books define Novick's public reputation. That Noble Dream: The "Objectivity Question and the American Historical Profession (1988) traced debates within the U.S. historical profession about impartiality, methodology, and the ideal of objectivity. The Holocaust in American Life (1999), published in some markets as The Holocaust and Collective Memory, explored how and why the Holocaust grew into a central component of American public memory after World War II.

Themes and arguments

Novick treated objectivity not as a simple virtue but as a contested ideal whose meaning shifted over time. He argued that historians have wrestled with tensions between moral engagement and claims to impartiality. In his work on Holocaust memory he analyzed cultural, political, and institutional factors that raised the Holocaust's prominence in schools, media, and commemoration, arguing these developments reflected broader changes in American identity and politics rather than a single causal explanation.

Career and background

Novick was born in Jersey City and spent much of his academic career teaching and writing. He was long associated with the University of Chicago and contributed to debates about historiography, ethics, and memory studies. Colleagues and readers recognized him for clear, provocative prose and a willingness to challenge orthodoxies.

Reception and legacy

Both of Novick's major books provoked strong responses. Scholars praised their erudition and clarity; others criticized his conclusions, especially about the politics of Holocaust memory. Over time his work has continued to be read in courses on historiography and collective memory because it raises enduring questions about how historians pursue truth and how societies shape remembrance.

Novick died of lung cancer in Chicago, Illinois, on February 17, 2012, aged 77. His writings remain a reference point for discussions about professional standards in history and the cultural politics of remembrance.

• Selected works:
  • That Noble Dream: The "Objectivity Question and the American Historical Profession (1988)
  • The Holocaust in American Life (1999) — also issued as The Holocaust and Collective Memory