Prof. John Baughman '48 to Chair History Department

February 10, 1966

February 10, 1966, Greencastle, Ind. - John J. Baughman will become chair of DePauw University's department of history July 1, President William E. Kerstetter announced today. Baughman, a twelve year veteran of the DePauw faculty, will succeed Coen G. Pierson, authority and author in the field of British and Canadian history. Dr. Pierson is retiring June 30 after 41 years on the University's faculty, the past six as department head.

Professor Baughman joined the DePauw faculty as an instructor in 1953 after earning his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan and his M.A. at Harvard University. 

The Evansville, Indiana's undergraduate work, started in 1942 but interrupted by the war, was completed at DePauw in 1948 with Phi Beta Kappa honors. His two years in World War II were spent as an infantryman in the European theatre.

Dr. Baughman, 40, has specialized in modern European history, especially nineteenth century France. A Fulbright grant in 1951-52 enabled the professor to spend a year at the University of Paris engaged in study and research. Nine years later, in 1960-61, he returned to Europe for further research on a grant from the Committee on Research of the American Philosophical Society.

Articles by Baughman, who was a Rector Scholar at DePauw, have appeared in a number of American and French publications dealing with French history. At the request of the state university system of California, he presently is reviewing books on Italian history to be included in that state's collegiate libraries.

Learn more in this previous story.

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