New York’s William R. Everdell: Talented classroom teacher and successful author.
Some of America’s most talented classroom teachers are also highly successful authors. This is true of William R. Everdell, a high school history teacher from Brooklyn who has published several acclaimed books about history and intellectual history.
William Romeyn Everdell was born in 1941. As a youngster, he attended St. Paul’s, a private Episcopalian school located in Concord, New Hampshire. Following his high school graduation, young William enrolled in prestigious Princeton University in New Jersey. While a student in college, William was named a Woodrow Wilson Scholar and designated a Fulbright Scholar. Later William earned his Master’s degree from Harvard University and his doctorate in Modern Intellectual History from New York University.
This chalkboard champion is also a veteran. During the Viet Nam War, William served in the United States Marines. However, following his discharge in 1968, he became an outspoken critic of the war and even participated in anti-war marches.
In 1970, William accepted a teaching position at St. Anne’s School in Brooklyn, an arts-oriented private school located in the Brooklyn Heights section of Brooklyn, New York. There he taught world history until his retirement in 2016.
For many years William has been a regular contributor to the New York Times Book Review. In addition, he has authored several books and articles on intellectual history and the history of ideas. His books are: Christian Apologetics in France published in 1989; The End of Kings, first published in 1983; and The First Moderns, 1872-1913, first published in 1998.
He has also written about the pedagogy of teaching history, and he has served on the committee to develop tests for the Advanced Placement World History Exams. The former educator has served as the president of the Organization of History Teachers and the East Central American Society for 18-Century Studies. In addition, he is a member of the American Historical Association.
Now 77 years old, William lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Barbara.The couple has two grown sons.
A student of mine found this bio on chalkboard champions and I wanted to express my sense of honor at being included in your gallery, and to thank you for the review. Since all three of my books are in print, I would hope, as an author, that the titles could be mentioned, as they are in your bio of my friend John Taylor Gatto. The titles are: Christian Apologetics in France (1989), The End of Kings (1983, 2000), and The First Moderns, 1872-1913 (1998, 2000).
Great suggestion! I have updated the original article with the titles on July 31. —Terry
Many thanks, Terry. Again, pleased to be in your roster.