F: The Student Recollections of Arthur A. Ekirch, Jr.

When I began graduate work at the American University in January 1954, Arthur Ekirch was on leave with a Guggenheim Fellowship to write The Decline of American Liberalism. Those who had advised me to do doctoral work at AU did so because Ekirch was there. The two courses I registered for were Ekirch’s courses, being taught by other professors. Although the two professors that spring were fine, the feeling in the history department was that Ekirch’s spirit hovered over them. I heard other graduate students speak of Ekirch more than the current teachers. Consequently, I looked forward to my first work with him with especial keenness.