Robert H. Wiebe
Robert H. Wiebe was a prominent historian known for his contributions to American political and social history. Born on April 22, 1930, in Amarillo, Texas, Wiebe pursued his education at Carleton College, earning a bachelor's degree in 1951, followed by a Ph.D. in history from the University of Rochester in 1957. He had a distinguished teaching career, spending 37 years at Northwestern University, where he became a respected professor and mentor for Ph.D. candidates in history. Wiebe was also a visiting professor at renowned institutions, including Harvard University and Kyoto University.
An advocate for social change, Wiebe was politically active, opposing the Vietnam War and supporting civil rights initiatives. His scholarly work includes notable publications such as *The Search for Order, 1877-1920*, which solidified his reputation in the field. Wiebe's writings reflect a deep engagement with American nationalism and historical reform movements. He passed away from a stroke in 2000, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence the study of American history. His papers are preserved at Northwestern University, ensuring that his contributions remain accessible for future generations.
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Robert H. Wiebe
Author
- Born: April 22, 1930
- Birthplace: Amarillo, Texas
- Died: December 10, 2000
- Place of death: Evanston, Illinois
Biography
Robert H. Wiebe was a notable historian who specialized in American political and social history. He was born in Amarillo, Texas, on April 22, 1930, the son of Richard Wiebe, a chemist, and Jean Huddleston Wiebe, a librarian and former doctoral candidate in physics. He attended Carleton College, where he received a bachelor’s degree, with honors, in 1951. He was drafted into the army in 1954 and served in Germany. Wiebe left the army after two years of service and attended the University of Rochester while he was an active reservist. He graduated from the university in 1957 with a Ph.D. in history.
From 1957 and 1958, Wiebe taught history at Michigan State University and Columbia University. He joined the faculty at Northwestern University as an assistant professor in 1960, remaining at the university for thirty-seven years. Wiebe married Allene Davis in 1952 and the couple had two sons before they divorced; he later married Penny Whiteside, with whom he had a son.
During his teaching career, Wiebe was a visiting professor at Harvard University from 1972 to 1973, at Kyoto University in Japan in 1980, and at Cambridge University in 1984. During his tenure at Northwestern University, he served on several faculty committees and sponsored students from a number of countries, including Japan. He also founded the university’s American Culture Program. A popular and well-respected professor, Wiebe mentored the history department’s Ph.D. candidates. He also was a political activist who opposed the Vietnam War, supported civil rights, and was a member of the Grey Panthers.
Wiebe’s first book, Businessmen and Reform: A Study of the Progressive Movement, was published in 1962. However, he is best remembered for his 1967 book, The Search for Order, 1877-1920, which established him as an important author of American history. During his lifetime, Wiebe published several other books which solidified his reputation as a prominent scholar of American history. His last book was Who We Are: A History of Popular Nationalism, published posthumously in 2002.
Wiebe died of a stroke in 2000, at the age of seventy. His papers are housed at Northwestern University.