A local historian credited with creating the field of African-American history was honored Thursday, nearly three months after his death.

Hundreds of people came to Duke's chapel to celebrate the life of John Hope Franklin.

He was widely regarded as the nation's preeminent African-American historian.

Franklin wrote several books on African-American history, including the widely published "From Slavery to Freedom."

"He's still working today even though he's no longer with us," Philip Daniels, who met Franklin, said. "Even though he died, his work's not going in vain."

Even two hours before the service, a crowd was gathered waiting to get inside.

"He brought change," Daniels said as he waited. "Way before we had Martin Luther King or Barack Obama to speak for us, John Franklin was that man."

There were so many people who came to remember the black history scholar, the general seating area filled up less than 30 minutes after the doors opened.

"For so long, African-American history has been left out of American history," Franklin's son, John W. Franklin, said.

It was John Hope Franklin who is credited with putting black history into classrooms, history books and American lives.

Even before his death in March at the age of 94, Franklin made it clear to his son that he didn't want history to remember him in a traditional way.

"My father and mother did not want traditional funeral services," Franklin said. "My father agreed to have a celebration if it were for both of them."

On Thursday, June 11, 2009, which would have been the couples 69th wedding anniversary, hundreds of people came to the chapel on Duke University's campus to celebrate the Franklin's lives.

Franklin last served as the James B. Duke Professor Emeritus of History for Duke.

"He was there for all of it and not only as a witness, but as a leader," Duke Professor Charles Thompson said.

In 1995 former President Bill Clinton gave Franklin the presidential medal of freedom, the highest award a civilian can get.

Two years later, he appointed Franklin to his task force on race.

Thursday, President Clinton remembered his friend.

"I said, 'John, you don't understand,'" Clinton said at the ceremony. "'Everybody in the world respects you. As soon as you let me give you an appointment like this, by the time it's over, you'll be accused of racism.'"

But after the speakers left attendees say one lesson remained in their mind.

"All of us need to engage in this work of change to make this country and this world a more just and humane and free place," Thompson said.