Francis Newton, emeritus professor of Latin, has been chosen as a fellow by the Medieval Academy of America, the largest organization in the world devoted to medieval studies.
Newton taught Latin, classical and medieval studies at Duke for more than 40 years. He also served as the first chair of the Committee on Medieval and Renaissance Studies, which lead to the creation of the undergraduate and graduate programs in medieval and Renaissance studies at Duke. He also started the Journal of Medieval and Renaissance Studies, now known as the Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies.
The academy recognized Newton for publications including The Scriptorium and Library at Monte Cassino, 1058-1105 and his work with Charles Radding, Theology, Rhetoric, and Politics in the Eucharistic Controversy of 1078-1079. In addition his work on Lawrence Archbishop of Amalfi in the series Monumenta Germaniae Historica was the first edition of medieval texts in that series written by an American scholar.
The fellows are elected when a vacancy is available and are limited to 125 scholars.