Savannah, GA, October 22, 2025 – The Georgia Historical Society (GHS) is pleased to announce that Dr. David Greenberg of Rutgers University has been awarded the 2025 Malcolm Bell, Jr. and Muriel Barrow Bell Award for John Lewis: A Life, published in 2024 by Simon & Schuster. The Bell Award is given annually to the best book on Georgia history published in the previous year.
Honoring exceptional scholarship and storytelling, the award highlights published works that deepen our understanding of Georgia’s past and its broader role in American history. This year’s recipient exemplifies those qualities by offering a powerful and personal look at John Lewis’s life, helping readers understand and appreciate both his impact on Georgia and his lasting influence on the nation.
“David Greenberg’s John Lewis: A Life is a beautifully crafted biography of the civil rights icon and congressman,” said the GHS Publication Awards Committee. “Through meticulous research Greenberg offers a comprehensive portrait of Lewis, weaving together his personal life with his civil rights activism and political career. What emerges is a towering biography of an important figure in American history. Greenberg writes eloquently and with full command of the material, moving far beyond the well-known parts of Lewis’s life to push into the lesser-known areas. In the end, Greenberg’s book taught the committee about Lewis the man, his role in American history, and the literary art of biography.”
David Greenberg, Distinguished Professor of History and Journalism & Media Studies at Rutgers University, is the author of several award-winning works. John Lewis: A Life was a finalist for the 2025 Pulitzer Prize in Biography. Greenberg’s writing has appeared in Politico, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Liberties, and many other scholarly and popular publications.
Established in 1992, the Bell Award is the highest publication award bestowed by the Georgia Historical Society. It is named in recognition of Malcolm Bell, Jr. and Muriel Barrow Bell for their enduring contributions to the recording and interpretation of Georgia’s history.
For more information about the Malcolm Bell, Jr. and Muriel Barrow Bell Award please contact Keith Strigaro, Director of Public Relations and Communications, at 912.651.2125, ext. 153, or by email at kstrigaro@georgiahistory.com.
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ABOUT THE GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Georgia Historical Society (GHS) is the premier independent statewide institution responsible for collecting, examining, and teaching Georgia and American history. GHS houses the oldest and most distinguished collection of materials related exclusively to Georgia history in the nation.
To learn more visit georgiahistory.com.