About the Chair

The Chair in Countries and Cultures of the North focuses on the history and cultures of North America, Europe, Russia, and East Asia using the immense foreign language collections in the specialized reading rooms of the Library of Congress.

One of five Kluge Chairs articulated in the founding documents of The John W. Kluge Center, the Chair in Countries and Cultures of the North is occupied by scholars of great accomplishment chosen for their intellectual and communicative abilities. While in residence they are free to pursue their own research in the Library's collections.

Together, these broadly defined Chairs bring a critical mass of the world's leading thinkers to Washington from all over America and the world. Their presence provides an opportunity for ongoing dialogue with political leaders on matters of importance to civic and political life.

Find more information on Kluge Chairs in the Kluge Center charter.

Most Recent Chair

Kenneth Pomeranz

Kluge Chair in Countries and Cultures of the North (2020)

Kenneth Pomeranz is a University Professor of History at the University of Chicago. His work focuses on China, and on comparative and world history. He has researched and written about social, economic, and environmental history, as well as state formation, imperialism, religion, gender, and other topics.

View past chairs