Theodore Ropp

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Thodore Ropp (born 22 May 22 1911 in Hollywood, Illinois - died 2 December 2000 in Durham, North Carolina) was a professor at Duke University and recognized as the leading military historian in the United States.

[edit] Early Life and Education

The son of Irwin Ropp, an engineer, and his wife, Margaret Esh, Theodore Ropp attended Oberlin College, where he graduated with his bachelor of arts degree summa cum laude in 1934. He went to Harvard University. where he received his masters degree in hisory in 1935 and his PhD in 1937 with a doctoral thesis on 'The development of a modern navy: French naval policy, 1871-1904'. He married Elizabeth S. Chapman on 8 September 1937, with whom he had three children: Stephen C. Ropp, Frederick Ropp, and Paul T. Ropp.

[edit] Academic Career

Theodore Ropp's first teaching position was as an instructor in history at Harvard University in 1937-38. In 1938, Duke University appointed him instructor in history. Remaining at Duke for the remainder of his career, he was appointed professor in 1959 and professor emeritus in 1980. Ropp first became well known through his contribtuion to Edward Mead Earle's widley-used book Makers of Modern Strategy, published in 1943. His chapter on 'Continental doctrines of seapower' built on his doctoral thesis on the French Navy and made a particularly perceptive academic contribtuion during World War Two. Later, his major book, War in the Modern World became a standard text in military and naval academies and service colleges.

Ropp's expertise was in wide demand as one of the few American civilian academics working in militray and naval history. He served as the Ernest J. King Professor of Maritime History at the U.S. Naval War College in 1962-63. He undertook special research on compulsory military service and military conscription in the British Commonwealth. He was a member of the Army Historical Advisory Committee, in 1962-65, 1969-72. He served as director, Policy Advisory Committee, Historical Evaluation and Research Organization, from 1963, then served as chairman of the board from 1965. He was professor U.S. Military History Research Collection at the U.S. Army War College in 1972-73; visiting professor of military history U.S. Military Academy, 1976-77; visiting professor, National University of Singapore, 1980; Royal Military College, Duntroon Australia, 1980, and the University of New South Wales, 1980. In 1982-84, he was visiting professor at the University of North Carolina.

[edit] Published Works

• 'Continental Doctrines of Seapower' in Edward M. Earle, ed., Makers of Modern Strategy, (Princeton University Press, 1943).

• Historical Background of the World Today: A Synopsis. Edited by Theodore Ropp with Harold T. Parker. (Rinehart, 1947).

• War in the Modern World, (Duke University Press, 1959, revised edition, Collier, 1962, new revised edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2000).

• Festschrift for Frederick B. Artz, edited by Theodore Ropp with David H. Pinkney (Duke University Press, 1964).

• The Historical Development of Contemporary Strategy, (U.S. Air Force Academy, 1970).

• History of War, (Hamburg Press, 1984).

• The Development of a Modern Navy: French Naval Policy, 1871-1904, by Theodore Ropp,edited by Stephen S. Roberts, (Naval Institute Press, 1987).