Winner 1983

The Jeffersonian World of Dumas Malone

WMAL Radio

On July 4, 1983, listeners to WMAL in Washington enjoyed a unique experience. Senior correspondent Ed Meyer visited Dumas Malone, biographer-in-residence at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Dr. Malone is, by any standard, the leading expert on the life and times of Thomas Jefferson. Mr. Meyer’s fascinating broadcast of his inquiry into Jefferson’s politics and personality celebrated Independence Day better than a hundred high-masted schooners or a thousand firecrackers. Now in his 90s, Dumas Malone brought Jefferson to life with eloquence and humor, discussing his pursuit of knowledge, his philosophies, as well as his personal and business affairs. More than just an interview, The Jeffersonian World of Dumas Malone is a tribute to two great Americans: Jefferson, the statesman, and Malone, the historian. The result is an oral history truly deserving of Peabody recognition.