The Serra Award of the Americas was presented to Professor Arthur P. Whitaker of the University of Pennsylvania on December 18, 1960, at the Academy of American Franciscan History by Father Antonine Tibesar, Director of the Academy. The speech given on that occasion by a former student of Professor Whitaker, Joseph R. Barager of the Department of State, and Professor Whitaker's response are presented in the following pages.It is a very real pleasure to participate in the Academy's fine program honoring the great masters in the field of Latin American history. This is particularly true this evening, when I am afforded the opportunity to represent the former students of Professor Arthur P. Whitaker in this well-deserved tribute. Anyone who knows anything about Latin American history or about United States diplomatic history recognizes the name Arthur P. Whitaker. Latin American specialists throughout the world do more than recognize it; they respect Professor Whitaker as one of the world's foremost authorities on Latin America. Anyone curious to check the chronology of Professor Whitaker's career can turn to Who's Who In America for data on his education, marriage, and professional career, including his achievements and honors. I would prefer to skip over that data and concentrate on Arthur P. Whitaker, the historian, the teacher, and the man.
Report of a Committee of the Pan American Union on the Teaching of Latin-American History in Colleges, Normal Schools, and Universities of the United States