I am very sorry to report Stephan Thernstrom was a Harvard history professor. Thernstrom was a huge figure -- particularly Poverty and Progress: Social Mobility in the 19th Century and The Other Bostonians: Poverty and Progress in the American Metropolis, 1880-1970 (1964) and The Other Bostonians: Poverty and Progress in the American Metropolis, 1880-1970 (1973). I believe read Property and Progress during freshman year. It was a magnificent achievement (obviously). I met because Professor Thernstrom was chair of the History of American Civilization. (That was so exciting because I was a Ph.D. in History of American Civilization.) I didn't any courses with Thernstrom, unfortunately.
"I am very sorry to report Stephan Thernstrom was a Harvard history professor."
"I believe read Property and Progress during freshman year."
"I met because Professor Thernstrom was chair ..."
"I didn't any courses with Thernstrom ... "
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Posted by: anon | January 30, 2025 at 08:06 PM
His History of American Immigration course still stands out for me almost 30 years later. For whatever reason, I was one of only two students (both of us undergrads) who had registered for the course, which he had expected to be bigger. Rather than canceling it, he offered the course to the two of us and we spent the semester in his office discussing American immigration history and working on individualized research projects. A gifted and patient teacher and someone who embraced the opportunity to work closely with undergrads and who gave me a first-rate end to my undergraduate history studies.
Posted by: Ted Afield | January 31, 2025 at 06:24 AM