Richard W. Leopold
Encyclopedia
Richard William Leopold (6 January 1912 in New York City
– 23 November 2006 in Evanston, Illinois
) was a prominent diplomatic historian at Northwestern University
.
before attending Phillips Exeter Academy
in 1926, where he graduated cum laude in 1929. He then went to Princeton University
, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1933 with highest honors.
After Princeton, he studied at Harvard under Arthur M. Schlesinger, Sr.
. He received his master's degree in 1934 and a Ph.D. in 1938, with a disstertation on “Robert Dale Owen: A Biography".
During World War II, he was commissioned as a naval officer and assigned to the Office of Naval Records and Library in Washington, where he devised system to cope with organizing the reports and materials relating to the ongoing naval operations.
, he returned to Harvard University
for two years and then joined the history faculty of Northwestern University
in 1948, where he remained for his entire career. In 1963, he was appointed William Smith Mason Professor of History at Northwestern and served in that position until he retired 31 August 1980.
Among the prominent students whom Leopold influenced in their careers were Sen. George McGovern
(D-SD), former Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-MO), Rep. James Kolbe (R-AZ), former assistant secretary of state Phyllis E. Oakley
, historian John Morton Blum
, journalist Georgie Anne Geyer
, and television and motion picture director Garry Marshall
.
Leopold served on numerous governmental advisory committees, including the Secretary of the Navy's Advisory Committee on Naval History, The Department of State Historical Advisory Committee, The Department of the Army Historical Advisory Committee
, Atomic Energy Commission's Historical Advisory Committee
, CIA Historical Review Panel and Library of Congress
. He as a member of the Editorial Advisory Committee for the Papers of Woodrow Wilson
and of the board of directors for the Harry S. Truman Library Institute. He was president of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations
in 1970 and of the Organization of American Historians
in 1976.
In 1984, the Organization of American Historians
established the Richard W. Leopold Prize, which is awarded biannually. In 1990, Northwestern University
established the annual Richard W. Leopold Lectureship at Northwestern in his honor, and, in 1997, endowed the Richard W. Leopold Professorship in American history.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
– 23 November 2006 in Evanston, Illinois
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
) was a prominent diplomatic historian at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
.
Early life and education
The second son of Harry Leopold, Sr., and Ethel Kimmelstiel, Richard Leopold grew up on the upper west side of Manhattan. He attended the Franklin SchoolFranklin School
The Franklin School is a building designed by Adolf Cluss, located on Franklin Square at 13th and K Street in Washington, DC. Built in 1869, the structure is currently unoccupied. Beginning in 2002, the building had been used as a homeless shelter, but the shelter was finally closed in September,...
before attending Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy is a private secondary school located in Exeter, New Hampshire, in the United States.Exeter is noted for its application of Harkness education, a system based on a conference format of teacher and student interaction, similar to the Socratic method of learning through asking...
in 1926, where he graduated cum laude in 1929. He then went to Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1933 with highest honors.
After Princeton, he studied at Harvard under Arthur M. Schlesinger, Sr.
Arthur M. Schlesinger, Sr.
Arthur Meier Schlesinger, Sr. was an American historian. His son, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. was also a noted historian.-Life and career:...
. He received his master's degree in 1934 and a Ph.D. in 1938, with a disstertation on “Robert Dale Owen: A Biography".
During World War II, he was commissioned as a naval officer and assigned to the Office of Naval Records and Library in Washington, where he devised system to cope with organizing the reports and materials relating to the ongoing naval operations.
Academic career
After his release from active service in the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, he returned to Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
for two years and then joined the history faculty of Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in 1948, where he remained for his entire career. In 1963, he was appointed William Smith Mason Professor of History at Northwestern and served in that position until he retired 31 August 1980.
Among the prominent students whom Leopold influenced in their careers were Sen. George McGovern
George McGovern
George Stanley McGovern is an historian, author, and former U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the Democratic Party nominee in the 1972 presidential election....
(D-SD), former Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-MO), Rep. James Kolbe (R-AZ), former assistant secretary of state Phyllis E. Oakley
Phyllis E. Oakley
Phyllis Elliott Oakley is a diplomat who served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration and Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research . She is married to former Ambassador Robert B. Oakley and is a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy...
, historian John Morton Blum
John Morton Blum
John Morton Blum was an American political historian, active from the 1950 to 1991. He lived in New Haven, Connecticut and died at the age of 90.-Life:...
, journalist Georgie Anne Geyer
Georgie Anne Geyer
Georgie Anne Geyer is an American journalist and columnist for the Universal Press Syndicate. Her columns focus on foreign affairs issues and appear in approximately 120 newspapers in North and South America. She is the author of several books, including a biography of Fidel Castro.Geyer was born...
, and television and motion picture director Garry Marshall
Garry Marshall
Garry Kent Marshall is an American actor, director, writer and producer. His notable credits include creating Happy Days and The Odd Couple and directing Nothing In Common, Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride, Valentine's Day, and The Princess Diaries.-Early life:Marshall was born in the New York City...
.
Leopold served on numerous governmental advisory committees, including the Secretary of the Navy's Advisory Committee on Naval History, The Department of State Historical Advisory Committee, The Department of the Army Historical Advisory Committee
Department of the Army Historical Advisory Committee
The Department of the Army Historical Advisory Committee was established in January 1947 within the United States Army. In 1996, it was made a subcommittee of the Department of Defense Historical Advisory Committee.-History:...
, Atomic Energy Commission's Historical Advisory Committee
Atomic Energy Commission's Historical Advisory Committee
The Atomic Energy Commission's Historical Advisory Committee was established in February 1958, when the United States Atomic Energy Commission was a decade old and continued until 1974 when the Energy Research and Development Administration and later the United States Department of Energy replaced...
, CIA Historical Review Panel and Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
. He as a member of the Editorial Advisory Committee for the Papers of Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
and of the board of directors for the Harry S. Truman Library Institute. He was president of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations
Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations
The Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations is the leading learned society for the academic study of the history of United States foreign policy....
in 1970 and of the Organization of American Historians
Organization of American Historians
The Organization of American Historians , formerly known as the Mississippi Valley Historical Association, is the largest professional society dedicated to the teaching and study of American history. OAH's members in the U.S...
in 1976.
In 1984, the Organization of American Historians
Organization of American Historians
The Organization of American Historians , formerly known as the Mississippi Valley Historical Association, is the largest professional society dedicated to the teaching and study of American history. OAH's members in the U.S...
established the Richard W. Leopold Prize, which is awarded biannually. In 1990, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
established the annual Richard W. Leopold Lectureship at Northwestern in his honor, and, in 1997, endowed the Richard W. Leopold Professorship in American history.
Published works
- Robert Dale Owen: A Biography (1940; 1969)
- Elihu Root and the Conservative Tradition (New York: Little, Brown, 1954)
- Problems in American History, edited with Arthur S. LinkArthur S. LinkArthur S. Link was a leading American historian and a scholarly authority on Woodrow Wilson.-Biography:Born in New Market, Virginia, to a German Lutheran family, he graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he received a B.A. in 1941 and a Ph.D. in 1945...
, Stanley Coben, et al.(Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1952, 1957, 1966, 1972).
- The Growth of American Foreign Policy: A History, (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1962, 1968).
- Joint AHA-OAH Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate the Charges Against the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library and Related Matters. (Washington: American Historical Association, 1970).