The Department of History sadly announces the death of Dr Abraham D. Kriegel, who died suddenly on Wednesday, 18 January 2012.

Dr Kriegel joined the department in 1964, teaching in the field of modern British history and British imperial history. He served as chair of the department for several years. He also helped to develop the Marcus W. Orr Center for the Humanities and the Bornblum Judaic Studies Program. Along with his scholarship, Abe enjoyed writing humorous personal essays that touched on the ironies of academe and American life, essays that were published in such literary magazines as the Ohio Review, the Southwest Review and the Virginia Quarterly Review. He retired in December 2008 but continued to teach in post-retirement.

A memorial event to celebrate the life and career of Abe Kriegel was held by the Department of History on 2 February 2012.

The Department of History sadly announces the death of Dr Kell Mitchell on Sunday, 25 July 2010, after a lengthy illness.

Having joined the department in 1963, Dr. Mitchell retired in December 2008, but continued to teach one course a year and to advise undergraduate history majors. His specialty was American diplomatic history, and he pioneered a course on the Vietnamese War in global perspective. Dr. Mitchell also worked to broaden the curriculum to include social and gender history and played a vital role in initiating the University’s Women’s and Gender Studies program, creating our department’s own course in the History of Women in the U.S.

Since 1989, Dr. Mitchell has been one of only two faculty members advising the 350 majors in our department. He played an important role in shaping the undergraduate curriculum of the College of Arts and Sciences as a member of its Curriculum Committee for many years, and used his curricular expertise and interest in student welfare to aid his advisees in achieving their academic goals as successfully and expeditiously as possible.

Dr. Mitchell was a man of high academic and civic principle. He had an unwavering commitment to fairness and justice in the University and the community, and was an active participant in causes seeking to advance civil rights and a just international order.

A memorial event to celebrate the life and career of Kell Mitchell was held by the Department of History on 17 September 2010.