
Biography
David Gaub McCullough (July 7, 1933 – August 7, 2022) was an American popular historian. He was a two-time winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. In 2006, he was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian award. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, McCullough earned a degree in English literature from Yale University. His first book was The Johnstown Flood (1968), and he wrote nine more on such topics as Harry S. Truman, John Adams, Theodore Roosevelt, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Panama Canal, and the Wright brothers. McCullough also narrated numerous documentaries, such as The Civil War by Ken Burns, as well as the 2003 film Seabiscuit, and he hosted the PBS television documentary series American Experience for twelve years. McCullough's two Pulitzer Prize–winning books—Truman and John Adams.—were adapted by HBO into a TV film and a miniseries, respectively.
Awards & recognition
- Ken Burns American Heritage Prize · 2017
- Newberry Library Award · 2013
- Presidential Medal of Freedom · 2006
- Jefferson Lecture · 2003
- Pulitzer Prize — Biography · 2002
Show all 26 awards →
- Carl Sandburg Literary Award · 2000
- honorary doctor of the University of Miami · 1996
- Charles Frankel Prize · 1995
- Helmerich Award · 1995
- National Book Award · 1995
- Francis Parkman Prize · 1993
- Pulitzer Prize — Biography · 1993
- St. Louis Literary Award · 1993
- Lionel Gelber Prize · 1992
- Guggenheim Fellowship · 1986
- National Book Award · 1982
- Francis Parkman Prize · 1978
- National Book Award · 1978
- Christopher Award
- Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- honorary doctor of the Northeastern University
- honorary doctorate from Brown University
- Library of Congress Living Legend
- National Humanities Medal
- National Book Award — Nonfiction · 1992 · nominated
- Pulitzer Prize — Biography · 1982 · nominated
Filmography17 titles

The Civil War

The Roosevelts: An Intimate History

John Adams

Brooklyn Bridge

The Congress

FDR

Huey Long

Seabiscuit

The Donner Party

California Typewriter

The Colbert Report

The Statue of Liberty

American Experience

60 Minutes

The Daily Show

The Words That Built America

David McCullough: Painting with Words