Alison Isenberg, Distinguished Urban Historian, Passes Away
Alison Isenberg, a respected professor of history and co-founder of the Princeton-Mellon Initiative in Architecture, Urbanism, and the Humanities, died in October. She joined Princeton University in 2010 and played a key role in advancing urban studies through innovative teaching and research for over ten years.
Isenberg was recognized for her collaborative approach, bridging faculty and students across various disciplines. She deeply engaged with the communities she studied, notably in Trenton, New Jersey, where she led a groundbreaking public humanities project focused on the 1960s uprisings.
Contributions and Legacy
"Beyond her role as a distinguished urban historian, Alison had a penchant for opening up academic spaces to new participants," said Angela Creager, Chair of the History Department and Thomas M. Siebel Professor in the History of Science.
Creager added that Isenberg’s work included founding the Princeton-Mellon Initiative, collaborating on documentary filmmaking about urban history and public policy with Purcell Carson, and pioneering public history efforts studying the lasting impacts of social unrest and police violence in Trenton after Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination.
"Alison helped people see the world as it could be, not just how it was," said Erika Milam, Charles C. Gillispie Professor in the History of Science.
Memorial
A public memorial celebrating Alison Isenberg’s life will be held at 11 a.m.
Summary
Alison Isenberg was an influential urban historian and educator who bridged disciplines and connected deeply with communities, leaving a lasting impact through her pioneering work in urban studies and public humanities.