Deaths on January 10

Fawn M. Brodie, American historian and author (b. 1915)

Fawn McKay Brodie (September 15, 1915 – January 10, 1981) was a groundbreaking American biographer and a distinguished historian whose work significantly reshaped perceptions of prominent historical figures. She holds the notable distinction of being one of the very first female professors of history to achieve tenure at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Brodie is most widely recognized for two seminal works: Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History (1974), a pioneering example of psychobiography, and No Man Knows My History (1945), an early and influential biography of Joseph Smith, the controversial founder of the Latter Day Saint movement.

Born and raised in Ogden, Utah, Fawn McKay grew up in a respected, albeit often financially struggling, family deeply embedded within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). This early immersion in Mormon culture provided her with a unique perspective that would later inform her groundbreaking study of Joseph Smith. However, her intellectual path diverged significantly during her graduate studies at the prestigious University of Chicago, a hub of advanced academic thought in the mid-20th century. It was during this formative period that she gradually distanced herself from the tenets of Mormonism, embracing a more secular and critical approach to historical inquiry.

While at Chicago, Fawn McKay met and married Bernard Brodie, an academic who would later achieve international renown as a leading expert in national defense strategy, often referred to as a "father of nuclear strategy." Their intellectual partnership and shared commitment to rigorous scholarship likely influenced Fawn's own academic trajectory. The couple had three children, balancing family life with demanding academic careers.

Fawn Brodie’s academic journey culminated in her becoming one of the first tenured female professors of history at UCLA, a significant achievement in an era when women were still breaking barriers in higher education. Her scholarly output, however, primarily revolved around her five meticulously researched biographies. Four of these works notably integrated insights drawn from Freudian psychology, a methodology known as psychobiography. This approach involved applying psychological theories, particularly those related to unconscious motivations and early life experiences, to analyze and interpret the lives and actions of historical figures. This innovative method allowed Brodie to delve deeper into the complexities of her subjects, moving beyond traditional chronological narratives to explore the underlying psychological drivers of their behavior and beliefs.

No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith (1945)

Published in 1945, No Man Knows My History was Fawn Brodie's first major work and immediately ignited scholarly and religious debate. In it, Brodie depicted Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, not as a divinely inspired prophet, but as a "fraudulent genius of improvisation." This characterization was revolutionary at the time, particularly within the context of prevailing narratives about Smith and the LDS Church. Brodie meticulously examined contradictory evidence surrounding Smith's early life and the origins of Mormonism, presenting a secular interpretation of events. The book was widely praised by many historians as a "beautifully written biography" and "the work of a mature scholar [that] represented the first genuine effort to come to grips with the contradictory evidence about Smith's early life." Yet, it also drew significant criticism, particularly from within the LDS community, for what some perceived as presenting conjecture or speculative psychological interpretations as established fact, and for challenging deeply held religious beliefs.

Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History (1974)

Nearly three decades later, Brodie published her best-selling psychobiography, Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History (1974). This book proved equally, if not more, controversial and influential. It was the first modern scholarly examination to thoroughly explore and present evidence suggesting that Thomas Jefferson, the third U.S. President and author of the Declaration of Independence, had taken his enslaved woman, Sally Hemings, as a concubine and fathered children with her. While whispers and allegations about Jefferson and Hemings had circulated since the early 19th century, Brodie’s work brought this sensitive topic into mainstream historical discourse with academic rigor. She meticulously analyzed historical documents, correspondence, and oral histories to build her case, concluding that such a relationship had indeed existed.

Brodie's conclusion, while initially met with considerable skepticism and resistance from many Jefferson scholars who sought to protect his image, has since been overwhelmingly corroborated. A pivotal moment came with the 1998 DNA analysis of descendants of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, specifically through the Y-chromosome, which is passed down virtually unchanged from father to son. This scientific study conclusively linked the Hemings line to the Jefferson male line, providing strong genetic evidence that Thomas Jefferson, or a close male relative, fathered Eston Hemings Jefferson, Sally Hemings’s last child. This finding, combined with subsequent historical and genealogical research, has led to a broad scholarly consensus acknowledging the long-denied relationship between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings and his paternity of at least some of her children. Brodie's pioneering work was instrumental in shifting this historical narrative from speculation to accepted fact.

Fawn McKay Brodie's legacy lies in her courage to tackle controversial historical figures with innovative methodologies, especially psychobiography. Her willingness to challenge established narratives and her rigorous, albeit sometimes speculative, approach opened new avenues for historical inquiry. She remains a significant figure in American historiography, particularly for her contributions to biography and for paving the way for more nuanced, interdisciplinary explorations of historical lives.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fawn McKay Brodie

What is psychobiography, and how did Fawn Brodie use it?

Psychobiography is a genre of biography that applies psychological theories, often Freudian concepts, to analyze historical figures. Fawn Brodie used this method to explore the inner lives, motivations, and emotional complexities of her subjects, such as Joseph Smith and Thomas Jefferson, believing that understanding their psychology was key to interpreting their actions and decisions. This approach distinguished her work from more traditional historical narratives.

Why was Fawn Brodie's book on Joseph Smith, No Man Knows My History, controversial?

No Man Knows My History was controversial because it presented a secular, critical interpretation of Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, portraying him as a brilliant but ultimately manipulative figure rather than a divine prophet. This challenged the deeply held religious beliefs of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and sparked extensive debate among scholars and religious communities regarding historical evidence versus faith-based narratives.

How did Fawn Brodie's research on Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings stand up over time?

Fawn Brodie's conclusion in Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History (1974) that Jefferson fathered children with Sally Hemings was initially highly controversial. However, subsequent scientific advancements and further historical research have largely validated her findings. A pivotal 1998 DNA analysis provided strong genetic evidence linking the Hemings descendants to the Jefferson male line, and there is now a broad scholarly consensus that Thomas Jefferson fathered children with Sally Hemings, affirming Brodie's pioneering historical insight.

What was Fawn Brodie's significance as a female professor at UCLA?

Fawn Brodie was one of the first female professors to achieve tenure in the history department at UCLA. This was a significant accomplishment in her era, demonstrating her exceptional scholarship and paving the way for future generations of women in academia. Her tenure marked a breakthrough for female historians in what was historically a male-dominated field.