Ken Burns is a renowned American filmmaker and historian celebrated for his documentaries and television series that delve into American history and culture. His productions, often made in partnership with WETA-TV and the National Endowment for the Humanities, are distributed by PBS, reaching a wide audience.
July 29, 1953: Birth of Ken Burns
Ken Burns was born on July 29, 1953.
1971: Graduation from Pioneer High School and Start at Hampshire College
Ken Burns graduated from Pioneer High School and began attending Hampshire College in 1971.
1975: Graduation from Hampshire College
Ken Burns graduated from Hampshire College in 1975 with a degree in film studies and design.
1976: Founding of Florentine Films
Ken Burns, Elaine Mayes, and Roger Sherman founded the production company Florentine Films in 1976.
1977: Begins Work on The Great Bridge
Ken Burns started working on his adaptation of David McCullough's book "The Great Bridge" in 1977.
1981: Academy Award Nomination for Brooklyn Bridge
Ken Burns received an Academy Award nomination for his documentary "Brooklyn Bridge", released in 1981.
1981: Release of Brooklyn Bridge
Ken Burns released the documentary "Brooklyn Bridge" in 1981.
1982: Marriage to Amy Stechler
Ken Burns married Amy Stechler in 1982.
1984: Release of The Shakers: Hands to Work, Hearts to God
Ken Burns released his documentary, "The Shakers: Hands to Work, Hearts to God", in 1984.
1985: Academy Award Nomination for The Statue of Liberty
Ken Burns received an Academy Award nomination for his documentary, "The Statue of Liberty", released in 1985.
1985: Release of The Statue of Liberty
Ken Burns received an Academy Award nomination for his documentary, "The Statue of Liberty", which was released in 1985.
1988: Release of Thomas Hart Benton
Ken Burns released his documentary, "Thomas Hart Benton", in 1988.
1990: Release of The Civil War
Ken Burns released his 11-hour documentary series, "The Civil War", in 1990.
1990: Release of The Civil War
Ken Burns released his renowned documentary series, "The Civil War", in 1990.
1991: Golden Plate Award
Ken Burns received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement in 1991.
1991: Release of Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio
Ken Burns released his documentary, "Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio", in 1991.
1991: National Humanities Medal
Ken Burns was awarded the National Humanities Medal, known then as the Charles Frankel Prize in the Humanities, in 1991.
1993: Divorce from Amy Stechler
Ken Burns and Amy Stechler divorced in 1993.
1994: Release of Baseball
Ken Burns released his documentary series, "Baseball", in 1994.
1994: Release of Baseball
Ken Burns released his documentary series "Baseball" in 1994.
1996: Executive Producer of The West
Ken Burns was the executive producer of the documentary series "The West", which was released in 1996.
1997: Release of Thomas Jefferson
Ken Burns released his documentary, "Thomas Jefferson", in 1997.
2001: Release of Jazz
Ken Burns released his documentary series "Jazz" in 2001.
2001: Release of Jazz and Mark Twain
Ken Burns released two documentary series in 2001: "Jazz" and "Mark Twain".
October 18, 2003: Marriage to Julie Deborah Brown
Ken Burns married Julie Deborah Brown on October 18, 2003.
2004: S. Roger Horchow Award
Ken Burns received the S. Roger Horchow Award for Greatest Public Service by a Private Citizen from the Jefferson Awards in 2004.
2006: Washington University International Humanities Medal
In 2006, Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk was awarded the Washington University International Humanities Medal.
December 2007: Endorsement of Barack Obama
Ken Burns publicly endorsed Barack Obama for president in December 2007
2007: Agreement with PBS
In 2007, Ken Burns made an agreement with PBS to produce work for the network well into the next decade.
2007: Release of The War
Ken Burns released his documentary series, "The War", in 2007.
2007: Release of The War
Ken Burns released his 15-hour World War II documentary, "The War", in 2007.
August 2008: Production of Ted Kennedy Tribute Video
Ken Burns produced the introductory video for Senator Ted Kennedy's August 2008 speech to the Democratic National Convention.
2008: Washington University International Humanities Medal
Journalist Michael Pollan received the Washington University International Humanities Medal in 2008.
2008: Richard Nelson Current Award of Achievement
Ken Burns received the Richard Nelson Current Award of Achievement from The Lincoln Forum in 2008.
2008: Lifetime Achievement Award
Ken Burns was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in 2008.
August 2009: Production of Ted Kennedy Eulogy Video
Ken Burns produced a short eulogy video for Ted Kennedy's funeral in August 2009.
2009: The "Ken Burns Effect"
In 2009, Ken Burns revealed that he initially hesitated to have his name associated with the "Ken Burns Effect" software due to his policy of declining commercial endorsements. Apple CEO Steve Jobs negotiated a deal where Burns received Apple equipment, which he then donated to non-profit organizations.
2009: Release of The National Parks
Ken Burns released his documentary, "The National Parks", in 2009.
2009: Release of The National Parks: America's Best Idea
Ken Burns released his documentary series, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea", in 2009.
2010: Washington University International Humanities Medal
Francine Prose, a novelist and nonfiction writer, was awarded the Washington University International Humanities Medal in 2010.
2010: Update to Baseball with 10th Inning
Ken Burns updated his documentary series, "Baseball", with "10th Inning" in 2010.
2010: Robin W. Winks Award
The National Parks Conservation Association presented Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan with the Robin W. Winks Award for Enhancing Public Understanding of National Parks in 2010. The award recognizes their efforts in effectively conveying the importance of the National Park System to the American public.
2011: Admiration for Errol Morris
In a 2011 interview, Ken Burns expressed his admiration for filmmaker Errol Morris, acknowledging his influence.
2011: Election to the American Philosophical Society
Ken Burns became a member of the American Philosophical Society in 2011.
2011: Release of Prohibition
Ken Burns released his documentary series, "Prohibition", in 2011.
2012: Washington University International Humanities Medal
Ken Burns received the Washington University International Humanities Medal in 2012. This award, presented every other year with a $25,000 prize, recognizes individuals whose work significantly impacts the world through scholarship, journalism, literature, or the arts.
2013: Koch Brothers Fundraising Event
In 2013, Ken Burns attended a fundraising event hosted by the Koch Brothers. A photograph of him with Clarence Thomas at this event surfaced in 2023.
2013: John Steinbeck Award
Ken Burns was given the John Steinbeck Award in 2013, an annual award presented by Steinbeck's eldest son, Thomas, along with the John Steinbeck Family Foundation, San Jose State University, and The National Steinbeck Center.
2014: Appearance on Finding Your Roots
Ken Burns appeared on Henry Louis Gates's "Finding Your Roots" in 2014.
2014: Release of The Roosevelts
Ken Burns released his documentary series, "The Roosevelts", in 2014.
May 2015: Commencement Address and Honorary Doctorate
In May 2015, Ken Burns delivered the commencement address at Washington University in St. Louis and was awarded an honorary doctorate of humanities.
2015: Executive Producer of Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies
Ken Burns was the executive producer of the documentary series, "Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies", which was released in 2015.
2016: Grand Marshal and Jefferson Lecture
Ken Burns was the Grand Marshal for the 2016 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. Additionally, the National Endowment for the Humanities chose him to deliver the 2016 Jefferson Lecture, the highest U.S. government honor for achievements in the humanities, focusing on race in America.
2016: Stanford University Commencement Speech
Ken Burns gave a commencement speech at Stanford University in 2016, during which he criticized Donald Trump.
2017: Residence in Walpole, New Hampshire
As of 2017, Ken Burns resided in Walpole, New Hampshire.
2017: Documentaries Slated for Release Through 2030
By 2017, Ken Burns and Florentine Films had selected topics for documentaries slated for release through 2030.
2017: The Nichols-Chancellor's Medal
Ken Burns was honored with the Nichols-Chancellor's Medal at Vanderbilt University in 2017.
May 13, 2018: Quilt Exhibit at The International Quilt Study Center & Museum
Ken Burns's quilt collection was displayed at The International Quilt Study Center & Museum from January 19 to May 13, 2018.
2019: Release of Country Music
Ken Burns released his documentary series, "Country Music", in 2019.
2019: Release of Country Music
Ken Burns released his documentary series, "Country Music", in 2019.
2019: Honorary Degree from Brown University
In 2019, Brown University bestowed an honorary degree upon Ken Burns.
2020: Endorsement of Ed Markey
In 2020, Ken Burns publicly supported Ed Markey in the Massachusetts Senate Democratic Primary.
2020: Sarah Burns Joins Florentine Films
Ken Burns's daughter, Sarah, became an employee of Florentine Films in 2020.
April 5, 2021: Release of Hemingway
Ken Burns and Lynn Novick co-produced and directed the three-part, six-hour documentary "Hemingway", which debuted on PBS on April 5, 2021.
2021: Release of Hemingway
Ken Burns released his documentary, "Hemingway", in 2021.
2022: Commencement Speaker and Honorary Doctor of Arts
In 2022, Ken Burns was the commencement speaker at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also received an Honorary Doctor of Arts degree.
2023: Photo with Clarence Thomas
In 2023, a photo from 2013 showing Ken Burns with Clarence Thomas at a Koch Brothers event was published. Burns said it was a brief encounter due to Charles Koch's PBS support.
2030: Future Documentary Releases Planned
Ken Burns has documentaries planned for release through at least 2030.