Project Description

American historian and prolific writer, Kevin Starr was best known for his multi-volume series collectively called, Americans and the California Dream. Widely acknowledged as the premier historian of California, the scope of whose scholarship The Atlantic Monthly has called “breathtaking.”

From 1994 to 2004 Starr served as California’s State Librarian. He continued writing California history throughout his career, receiving a Guggenheim Fellowship, membership in the Society of American Historians, and the Gold Medal of the Commonwealth Club of California. In 2006 he was presented a National Humanities Medal from President George W. Bush for his work as a scholar and historian, and in 2010 was inducted into the California Hall of Fame.

Kevin Starr and Escape From Death Valley director, Kit Tyler collaborated on more than half a dozen American History documentary programs for PBS over two decades of close friendship. Dr. Starr’s astonishing breadth of knowledge, his extraordinary eloquence and storytelling brilliance were key in the success of those programs. His important research, advice and on-camera interview for Escape From Death Valley were accomplished prior to his passing in 2017.