A few weeks ago on May 25th, a man named Harrison Ruffin Tyler, died at the age of 96. You might recollect that the 10th president of the United States was John Tyler, Harrison’s grandfather. You heard that right, Harrison is his grandson. John Tyler was born in 1790 and died in 1862. He had 15 children late in life and the last one was Lyon Tyler who lived from 1853-1935. Lyon also saw a child born when he was 75 years old, Harrison Tyler. And so, with the death of Harrison this year, we see that the Tyler family has three generations that span 230 years. This is what historians call historical consciousness, that is, the awareness of how history unfolds and how the past in connected to the present.
I want us to talk about that because America is a nation with a great past, but today very little historical awareness of that past.
Carolina Lumetta, “Pastors ponder how best to exercise new freedom to politick,” July 10, 2025.
Lauren Canterberry, “Churches may endorse candidates from pulpit, IRS says,” July 8, 2025.
John D. Wilsey, “History’s enduring presence,” June 4, 2025.
