DePauw Stories

DePauw University is mourning the recent passing of Dr. John Dittmer, professor emeritus and former chair of the history department. He passed away after a brief illness on July 19. He was 84 years old.

Dittmer was born on October 30, 1939, in Seymour, Indiana. He earned both a bachelor’s degree and a PhD from Indiana University before going on to teach at Tougaloo College, Brown University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During this time, he published his first book, “Black Georgia in the Progressive Era,” and began working on his second, “Local People: The Struggle for Civil Rights in Mississippi” – a work that was recognized with several awards, including the Bancroft Award for American History.

After arriving at DePauw in 1985, Dittmer gained a reputation for his keen and insightful leadership. Barbara Steinson, professor emerita of history at Depauw, recalls the positive impact he had on his colleagues. “As chair of the history department, John quickly demonstrated his ability to separate what mattered and what did not. He was able to cut through long, drawn-out discussions with sharp insights and with empathy. Those who later served as chair often sought his advice long after he had retired.”

Steinson also notes the high standards Dittmer held as a teacher, inspiring his students to reach their full potential. One story in particular illustrates the point. “Near the end of his teaching career, John had an upper level topics class on the Civil Rights Movement in the South,” Steinson recalls. “As usual, he entered class with a stack of books and launched the discussion. For whatever reasons, the students were not prepared. Without a word, John grabbed his pile of books and walked out. The students were shocked and filled with remorse. The next week they were prepared not only with the reading, but also with a large cake in the shape of Mississippi with all the towns and cities that had been sites of significant struggles. He was a legend.”

One of his former students is Amy Kwas ’93, vice president for development & alumni engagement at DePauw. She remembers the delicate way in which Dittmer introduced sensitive subjects and difficult conversations. “Professor Dittmer opened the world to me, and his history lessons helped me see that different perspectives exist. He knew that we, as young students, didn't know what we didn't know, and he never judged us. Instead he listened and taught us how to understand and respect that realities were different for different people. He never preached; he just taught us – gracefully. His classes were the quintessential liberal arts experience.”

During his time at DePauw, Dittmer was honored with the United Methodist Church Exemplary Teaching Award in 2000, as well as the Mr. & Mrs. Fred C. Tucker Jr. Distinguished Career Award in 2003. He also received numerous competitive fellowships from organizations such as the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Center for the Study of Civil Rights. Even after his retirement in 2003, Dittmer remained an active scholar, publishing his third book, “The Good Doctors,” in 2010.

For campus leaders across the DePauw community, Professor Dittmer will be warmly remembered as an exemplary educator and a compassionate mentor. Bridget Gourley, professor of chemistry and biochemistry and dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, notes, "I was fortunate to have John as a campus colleague from the beginning of my time at DePauw. He was a great role model as a scholar, teacher and citizen, showing by example how to maintain both standards and empathy. In more recent years, although our interactions were more infrequent, I continued to learn from him about everything from the civil rights movement to women's basketball."

Dave Berque, vice president for academic affairs and professor of computer science, adds, "I have fond memories of John and conversations we had about teaching at DePauw. In fact, John was one of the senior faculty who shaped my understanding of what it meant to work in an undergraduate liberal arts setting."

Professor Dittmer is survived by his wife Ellen as well as their children Julie and Dave. To read more about his life and family, you can view his online obituary.