Mercer Times

William Chester Jordan, a distinguished medievalist and professor emeritus at Princeton University, has been honored with the 2024 Barry Prize for Distinguished Intellectual Achievement. The award was presented by the American Academy of Sciences and Letters (AASL) during a ceremony held on October 23 at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Jordan is one of ten recipients recognized this year.

The academy praised Jordan's work, stating: "Bridging the social, economic, religious, and political dimensions of life, William Chester Jordan has unlocked the mysteries of medieval Europe for contemporary readers." His research has provided insights into significant historical events such as the Great Famine and the Crusades, as well as topics like Jewish populations' treatment and women's contributions to premodern economies.

The AASL highlighted Jordan's contribution to understanding humanity's past. "The Academy honors Dr. Jordan’s distinguished contribution to humanity’s capacity to make sense of its own past," they noted.

Established in 2023, the AASL aims to foster idea exchange within academia and society. This recognition adds to Jordan's numerous accolades throughout his career spanning five decades at Princeton since earning his Ph.D. in history there in 1973.

Jordan expressed appreciation for the prize due to its focus on truth and freedom of expression. He remarked: "My impression is that it's trying to make a practical statement that one can actually talk about very difficult issues with civility."

During the ceremony, many former students surprised him with their presence. Among them was Philip Hamburger, a Columbia Law School professor who was inducted as an AASL fellow at the event.

Jordan is known for his extensive writings on 13th-century rulership and marginalized groups in medieval France. His current project examines rural migrant laborers' experiences in northwestern Europe during what he calls "the long 13th century."

His achievements include receiving prestigious awards like the Haskins Medal from the Medieval Academy of America and fellowships from notable institutions such as the Rockefeller Foundation.

In addition to winning this year's Barry Prize, it was announced that he will receive another honor from the American Historical Society — their Award for Scholarly Distinction — recognizing lifetime achievement.

Winners of the Barry Prize are awarded $50,000 and membership in AASL. Alongside these honorees, sixty new members were inducted into AASL including eight faculty members from Princeton University across various disciplines.