Ekirch Festschrift

Thi. particular wort. is an edited collection of writings by fonner .rodents, colleagues, and bis mentor inhonor of the late, noled American Intellectual historian Arthur A. Ekirch, Jr. Ekirch, a pacifist duringWorld War II, who served in Civilian Public Service Camp$, laler acbieved academi!: notoriety for hispopular book, The Decline of American Liberalism. During his long and distinguished teaching career atAmerican University and the University 81 Albany, Ekirch autho.red and edited tn1 books in the field ofAmerican bistory. A committed liberal and individualist, Ekircb was admired by his students for hisencyclopedic knowledge and wit. The signific:ance orlhis collection of scholarly articles and reminiscencesis that the topicS cover a wide range of information .involving the social ideas 011 civillibetties, people andideas, and comparative history and ideas a well as brief reflections from fonner students and colleagues aswella. his mentor, Pultizer Prize wiruting historian, Merle Curti. Among the many students Ekirch taugbtand mentors were prizeo willl1ing historians such as alter Rundell, Fred Sornkin, Paul Scheips, and DonaldR. McCoy. Also contributing to this special collection were th.e first African American archivist at theNational Archives, fonner president of the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and the former female vicepresident of Howard University.What makes this particular edition especially rewarding is a collection of previously unpublished lettersEkircb wrote to his tilvorite teacher. Merle Curti, covering Ibe years 1942 to 1968. l1lese letters revealEkirch 's personal concerns ahout the srate of individual freedum during the Second World War and duringthe McCarthy period as well as his academic commitment 10 scholarly publication. lbe editors havecarefully selected. appropriate letters, which re..,.1 Ekirch's deep commitment to bis discipline and love ofIdeas. Students wJShmg to learn more about Ekirch, the pacifist, and Ekirch the scholar including the rDleof history in prDmoting social and economic justice, will see how this book 'examines ~ious effDrts forchaning peDple's minds with respect to the status quo. Elcirch Fe$l$chrift is a valuable passageway into tbedaily life of a nOled historian and his impact on the discipline ilself.