John Hope Franklin: (2 January 1915 – 25 March 2009) John Hope Franklin was a United States historian and past president of Phi Beta Kappa. Franklin is best known for his work From Slavery to Freedom, first published in 1947, and continually updated. More than three million copies have been sold. In 1995, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

• Professor Franklin served on many national commissions and delegations, including the National Council on the Humanities.

• Professor Franklin was the recipient of many honors. In 1978, Who’s Who in America selected Dr. Franklin as one of eight Americans who has made significant contributions to society.
• Professor Franklin died of congestive heart failure at Duke Hospital on the morning of March 25th, 2009.