Indiana University History Department Centennial

Maurice Baxter speaks of his time as a history professor at the Indiana University Department of History. He describes his educational background and interests in history that led to his position at IU. He talks about changes over time in the history department and in the field of history. He discusses departmental politics and people he has known through the years.

Professor Robert F. Byrnes discusses his time as a faculty member and chairperson of the Indiana University Department of History. He speaks of his educational background in English and Russian history, his teaching positions as various universities, and his time in the CIA before settling at IU. He speaks of the field of historical studies, which he feels has been hurt by super-specialization among scholars. He talks about incidents within the department, like hiring practices, promotions, and salary disputes. He speaks of developing the curriculum of the history department, made possible by the encouragement of former IU president, Herman B Wells.

Donald Carmony discusses his tenure the Indiana University Department of History. He outlines his educational background and work history as a professor at Indiana Central College and then as an administrator in various positions at Indiana University. He speaks of his desire to teach, which led him to seek a professorship. He talks about departmental hiring practices and salary disputes. He outlines the importance of studying history for everyone—especially local history. Finally, he discusses the history of the history department, mentions some individuals important in its development, and compares the history department of today with the department of the past.

Robert H. Ferrell discusses his tenure as a professor at the Indiana University Department of History. He describes how his experiences as a soldier in World War II made him interested in studying history. He talks about his graduate experience at Yale and his mentor, Samuel Bemis. He describes the writing of his dissertation, and other publications after that. He talks about people he knows in the history department, and contacts with other historians in the United States. He describes the importance of being a good teacher as well as a good scholar, which he feels are inseparable despite the push in universities today where scholarship and publishing are valued far above teaching skills. He speaks of the declining quality of students since the 1960s. Finally, he speaks of the reasons for his retirement.

C. Leonard Lundin speaks of his tenure as a professor at the Indiana University Department of History. He speaks of his early interest in teaching history that developed in high school due to one of his teachers, Edwin Whitemarsh. He speaks of his time at Harvard University studying American history, and his eventual position at IU teaching European history. He speaks of the conservative nature of the department in the 1930s, and of the differences between students in the Midwest and from the east coast. He speaks of his experiences in World War II, and the change in attitude of the student body after the war. He speaks of the changes made in the department and university after the war, and of desegregation and student activism. He talks about the people in the department, especially a scandal involving a lecturer who plagiarized from another professor. Finally, he talks about his research in Finnish history, and publishing in the academic universe.

Irene G. Neu discusses her tenure as a professor at the Indiana University Department of History. She outlines her educational and work history before she obtained a position at IU. She describes her struggles to gain equal rights for women faculty and students within the history department throughout her career. She talks about the changes the department has gone through over the years.

Professor David M. Pletcher discusses his tenure as a history professor with the Indiana University Department of History. He speaks of his educational and family background, which led him to pursue a career in higher education. He talks about the classes he has taught over the years, and his primary interest in American history. He speaks of the department intrigues through the years over hiring practices and salaries. He also discusses departmental growth and changes.

Professor Robert E. Quirk talks about his tenure at the Indiana University Department of History. He discusses his educational background and his interest in Latin American studies, which eventually led to a position at IU. He talks about the department's hiring practices over time, which were discriminatory in the 1950s and gradually became more liberal, especially after affirmative action. He speaks of the importance of Professor Robert F. Byrnes in the development of the department. He also discusses notable events he remembers, including student protests, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and salary disputes.

John E. Wilz discusses his time as a professor at the Indiana University Department of History. He outlines his early education and collegiate experiences at the University of Kentucky. He talks about the early days at IU, where his first position was as a lecturer. He speaks of the people he knew, particularly Robert Ferrell, R. Carlyle Buley, Maurice Baxter, and Robert Byrnes. He speaks of his academic career, and his slow rate of promotion, which he attributes to his lack of publishing scholarly books, and writing a high school textbook. He speaks of the emphasis he placed on the quality of his teaching. Finally he speaks of the changes in the student body over the years, especially in the increasingly little amount of work that is being assigned to undergraduate students.