Historian Gordon Wood had a deep love of America, and of freedom, but also of the truth. He believed in doing history honestly, giving sober attention to the real concerns, motivations, and beliefs of the people studied. But he believed it was possible to do that without losing our pious attachment to our nation and its political traditions. In this Law Liberty symposium, Colleen Sheehan reflects on Wood’s legacy as America’s “keeper of memory” while Nathan Coleman offers a more extended tour of his major works and defining scholarly insights. Wood wanted Americans to remember who they were. Faithful students of American history will not soon forget who he was.

　　Jun 12, 2026 The Beau Idéal Historian Aaron N. Coleman Gordon Wood was a great scholar and a good man. He demonstrated not only serious historianship, but also genuine patriotism.

　　Jun 12, 2026 The Keeper of American Memory Colleen Sheehan Gordon Wood preserved what others would rather forget, and recovered what others could no longer see clearly.