Prof. Emeritus John Dittmer Among Organization of American Historians' Distinguished Lecturers

June 27, 2006

June 27, 2006, Greencastle, Ind. - John Dittmer, professor emeritus of history at DePauw University, is on the roster of speakers for the Organization of American Historians (OAH) Distinguished Lectureship Program. Dr. Dittmer is among "300 speakers, including 39 new appointees, who have made major contributions to the many fields of U.S. history. Each speaker has agreed to give one lecture on behalf of OAH during the 2006-2007 academic year, designating the lecture fee in full to OAH as a donation."

Founded in 1907, the Organization of American Historians is the largest professional society dedicated to the teaching and study of American history. Access a list of OAH lecturers by clicking here.

A nationally recognized authority on the civil rights movement, Dittmer was awarded an honorary degree by Tougaloo College at its 137th Commencement on May 21, 2006. The professor's book, Local People: The Struggle for Civil Rights in Mississippi, received the prestigious Herbert G. Gutman Award, the Lillian Smith Book Award, the McLemore Prize from the Mississippi Historical Society and the Bancroft Prize. The New York Times named Dittmer's text one of the "Notable Books of 1994."

This spring, the television documentary 10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America: Freedom Summer, which aired on the History Channel, included analysis from Dittmer.

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