McGiffert, Michael
Dates
- Existence: 1928 October 5 (date of birth)
- Existence: 2016 July 2 (date of death)
Biographical Note
Michael McGiffert was born on October 5, 1928. He graduated from Harvard in 1949 and later received B.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Yale. After graduating, McGiffert began a long career as an educator and Colonial American historian. From 1954-1972, McGiffert taught at Colgate University and the University of Denver while writing books and articles on American thought, Puritanism, and a history of higher education in Colorado. In 1960, he married Genevieve White Mischel, an opera director and voice instructor. After Colorado, McGiffert moved to Williamsburg, Virginia, to teach at the College of William and Mary. While there, he became the editor for the William and Mary Quarterly. He was also the founder of the Unitarian Universalist church in Williamsburg. McGiffert died on July 2, 2016 in Williamsburg.