Noted historian Dr. John Hope Franklin, left, will be appearing at the University of Hawaii in March. Associated Press/Library of Congress   John Hope Franklin, American southern history and African American experience historian, has authored several books, including "From Slavery to Freedom," "The Emancipation Proclamation," "The Militant South," and most recently, "My Life and an Era: The Autobiography of Buck Colbert Franklin." Associated Press

The school made the announcement in a news release Monday.

Franklin is the James B. Duke Professor Emeritus of History at Duke University and perhaps best known for his book "From Slavery to Freedom: A History of African-Americans," of which more than three million copies have been sold.

He will be in residence as the chairholder and participating in various activities and events at UH Manoa from March 15-25, 2007.

In addition to "From Slavery to Freedom," Franklin's numerous publications include "The Emancipation Proclamation," "The Militant South," and most recently, "My Life and an Era: The Autobiography of Buck Colbert Franklin," an autobiography of his father that he edited with his son, John Whittington Franklin.

In addition to his academic appointments, Franklin has served on many national commissions and delegations, most recently as advisory board chair to "One America: The President's Initiative on Race," a national effort to deal openly and honestly with racial differences launched by President Bill Clinton in 1997. He is also a past president of the American Historical Association, the largest historical society in the United States.

The recipient of more than 100 honorary degrees, Franklin was one of two historians recently awarded the John W. Kluge Prize for lifetime achievement in the study of humanity from the Library of Congress. The Kluge Prize, which totals $1 million, rewards lifetime achievement in the wide range of disciplines not covered by the Nobel prizes, including history, philosophy, politics, anthropology, sociology, religion, criticism in the arts and humanities, and linguistics.