Abraham Nasatir
Encyclopedia
Abraham Phineas Nasatir (1905 – January 18, 1991) was an American
educator and historian who specialized in early California
and the Mississippi Valley areas
.
Nasatir was born in Santa Ana, California
to Jewish parents who had immigrated from Lithuania. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkeley
when he was 19. He largely studied under Herbert Eugene Bolton
at UC Berkeley.
. Beginning in 1927, taught for 50 years at San Diego State University
. In 1986 SDSU named a wing of its social sciences building in his honor.
Nasatir was the recipient of four Fulbright fellowships
, and traveled to France, Spain and Chile for research. He published 19 books, and is credited with publishing some 300,000 pages of documents, studies and translations.
He was named Distinguished Professor of the California State College System. He received the Henry R. Wagner Medal of Honor. He presided over the international chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, an international history honor society.
.
In 1985 Nasatir's house was among the those destroyed in the Normal Heights Fire, along with 500,000 documents and 2,500 books in his possession. Although this was a truly significant loss, Nasatir had published or used extensively as sources in publication such a large percentage of the documents he had in his possession that the loss was not as devastating as it would have otherwise been. Nasatir himself thanked God that no one was hurt in the fire.
Nasatir was an Orthodox Jew. He was survived by his wife Ida.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator and historian who specialized in early California
History of California
The history of California can be divided into several periods: the Native American period; European exploration period from 1542 to 1769; the Spanish colonial period, 1769 to 1821; the Mexican period, 1821 to 1848; and United States statehood, which continues to the present day...
and the Mississippi Valley areas
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
Nasatir was born in Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States....
to Jewish parents who had immigrated from Lithuania. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
when he was 19. He largely studied under Herbert Eugene Bolton
Herbert Eugene Bolton
Herbert Eugene Bolton was an American historian and one of the most prominent authorities on Spanish American history...
at UC Berkeley.
Career and contributions
After receiving his Ph.D., Nasatir taught Latin American History for one year at the University of IowaUniversity of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
. Beginning in 1927, taught for 50 years at San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
. In 1986 SDSU named a wing of its social sciences building in his honor.
Nasatir was the recipient of four Fulbright fellowships
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
, and traveled to France, Spain and Chile for research. He published 19 books, and is credited with publishing some 300,000 pages of documents, studies and translations.
He was named Distinguished Professor of the California State College System. He received the Henry R. Wagner Medal of Honor. He presided over the international chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, an international history honor society.
Personal
Nasatir was one of four children three boys and a girl. He married Ida Nasatir; they had no children. He actively supported the activities of the California Jewish community. He died from complications of pneumonia at Mercy Hospital in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
In 1985 Nasatir's house was among the those destroyed in the Normal Heights Fire, along with 500,000 documents and 2,500 books in his possession. Although this was a truly significant loss, Nasatir had published or used extensively as sources in publication such a large percentage of the documents he had in his possession that the loss was not as devastating as it would have otherwise been. Nasatir himself thanked God that no one was hurt in the fire.
Nasatir was an Orthodox Jew. He was survived by his wife Ida.