Edward N. Peterson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edward N. Peterson (19252005) was an American historian and professor at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls from 1954 until his death in 2005. He earned his Ph.D. in history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1953. His specialty was German history, particularly the WWII period and the German Democratic Republic, a field in which he wrote a number of books.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Edward N. Peterson was born on August 27, 1925, in St. Joseph, Missouri, the son of Roscoe D. Peterson and Rachel B. (White) Peterson.

He received his PhD degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1953. After one year at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky, he joined the faculty of Wisconsin State College, which became the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Starting there in 1954, he taught courses in modern history until March 18, 2005 -- nearly 51 years. In 1963, he became Chair of the Social Science Department and then chair of the History Department until 1991.

He was also active in the German Studies Association, and was president and secretary of the Upper Midwest History Conference; Secretary & Treasurer Pierce County Historical Association. He received research grants from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for 1963-64, 1966, 1985; the National Endowment for the Humanities 1969-70, and the Social Science Research Council 1970-71. He supported wife Ursula's writings and publications on the History of River Falls and Pierce County, as well as her research into family history.

Drafted into the U.S. Army on March 28, 1944. He served in the Anti-tank Platoon, 1st Battalion, 274 Infantry Regiment, of the 70th Infantry Division (United States), being sent to Europe on December 1, 1944. He was at the Front on the Rhine River by Christmas 1944, part of the 7th and later the 3rd Armies (Peterson 2004).

[edit] Books

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Clips from speech given at December 18, 2004, graduation at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls

In the newspaper