The Thomas C. Fiddick Memorial Lecture Series

Thomas Fiddick served as professor of history at the University of Evansville from the fall quarter of 1963 to the spring semester of 2002. In the 39 years he spent at the University, he was a dedicated teacher, a productive scholar, and a tireless fighter in the cause of justice. His untimely death on the day of his retirement in 2002 stunned the entire University of Evansville community, especially his many former students.

Fiddick"Fiddick was a gifted teacher who breathed life into the old dead guys of history. He was a passionate liberal long after it became unfashionable and a gifted musician who played the trombone in a traveling band. During his life, he accumulated a long list of former students who credit him for liberating their minds and altering their lives." Maureen Hayden
"He was terrifically patient with other people's ideas and their attempts to articulate them. He was a great, thoughtful man." Daniel Gahan, professor of history

Former students, with the support of Fiddick's friends and the University, established the annual Thomas C. Fiddick Memorial Lecture in 2002. Each year, a committee consisting of the full-time members of the Department of History, a member of the Fiddick family, and alumni of the Department of History select the lecturer. Lectures are related to such themes as social justice, free inquiry, history of the arts (music especially), or Russian history. Time is allotted for the lecturer to mingle with alumni, members of the larger community, and current students.

Future Lectures

Fred Logevall, Harvard University

Ridgway University Center, Eykamp Hall, University of Evansville Campus, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN

Featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Fred Logevall from Harvard University.

Past Lectures

Women's Suffrage

Ridgway University Center, Eykamp Hall, University of Evansville Campus, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN

Lecture on Women's Suffrage presented by speaker Sally Roesch Wagner.

This lecture will be held in person, and will follow event guidelines regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

For those who are unable to attend in-person, you can stream the lecture at evansville.edu/live.

18th Fiddick Memorial Lecture

Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building, Smythe Lecture Hall, Room 170, University of Evansville Campus, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN

Lecture to mark the 100th anniversary of the Spanish Flu epidemic. Speaker is Professor Susan Kent of the Univ of Colorado.

The Second Great War, 1917-1923

Ridgway University Center, Eykamp Hall, University of Evansville Campus, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN

Yale University professor Jay Winter to discuss “The Second Great War, 1917-1923.” This event is free and open to public.

Hoosiers and the Long Struggle for Racial Equality

Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building, Smythe Lecture Hall, Room 170, University of Evansville Campus, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN

James MadisonSpeaker: James H. Madison

For over two centuries Hoosiers have struggled with challenges of race. There were times when African American Hoosiers could not vote, when the danger of lynching was real, when the Ku Klux Klan seemed right and necessary, when segregationists created schools, restaurants, and basketball tournaments for whites only.  Beginning in the1950s, Indiana reformers began a push toward equality that we know as the great civil rights movement.

Professor Madison’s lecture will focus on several flash points of challenge and change to spark thinking about race and about where we have been, where we are, and where we want to go as citizens in a changing world.

James H. Madison is the Thomas and Kathryn Miller Professor Emeritus of History, at Indiana University, Bloomington. He is without doubt one of the most distinguished scholars to work in the field of Indiana History. An award winning teacher over four decades at IU, Jim is the author of several books, including Eli Lilly: A Life; A Lynching in the Heartland: Race and Memory in America; and Slinging Doughnuts for the Boys: An American Woman in World War II. He has taught as a Fulbright Professor in Japan and England and has served on the boards of Indiana Humanities and the Indiana Historical Society, as well as being a member of the Indiana Bicentennial Commission.

Professor Madison’s most recent book is the highly acclaimed bicentennial history of our state - Hoosiers: A New History of Indiana; it is the basis for an Emmy-awarded PBS documentary on Indiana’s history.

Ireland’s Revolution 1916: Patrick Pearse and Education

University of Evansville Campus, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN

Daire Keogh is Cregan Professor of History at Dublin City University. He has served as president of St. Patrick’s College Drumcondra since 2012. He has published extensively, on the history of popular politics, religion, and education in Ireland. A former Government of Ireland Senior Research Fellow, he is currently principal investigator of an Irish Research Council funded project to publish the extensive correspondence of Cardinal Paul Cullen (1803-78).

Professor Keogh is a graduate of the National University of Ireland, Trinity College, the Gregorian University in Rome and Glasgow University. He has a strong profile as a historian and an educationalist. He has lectured widely at universities in Europe, America, and Australia.

American Professional Sports and Political Activism

University of Evansville Campus, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN

Dr. Steven P. Gietschier, Associate Professor of History at Lindenwood University

The GI Generation: Sending American Soldiers into Battle in World War II

University of Evansville Campus, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN

Theodore Wilson, University of Kansas professor of history

Changing Views of Islam in Spain Between the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period

University of Evansville Campus, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN

Olivia Remie Constable, professor of medieval history and the Robert M. Conway director of the Medieval Institute at the University of Notre Dame

Craig Symonds, Professor Emeritus of History, US Naval Academy

University of Evansville Campus, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN

T. Lloyd Benson, Professor of History, Furman University

University of Evansville Campus, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN

Marilyn Young, Professor of History, New York University

University of Evansville Campus, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN

Tsuyoshi Hasegawa, Professor of History, University of California at Santa Barbara

University of Evansville Campus, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN

Kevin Whelan, Smurfit Director, Keough Notre Dame Center, University of Notre Dame

University of Evansville Campus, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN

Donald Clark, Professor of History, Trinity University

University of Evansville Campus, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN

Louis Clark ‘69, President, Government Accountability Project

University of Evansville Campus, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN

Herbert Ziegler ‘71, Professor of History, University of Hawaii

University of Evansville Campus, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN

Walter LaFeber, Professor of History, Cornell University

University of Evansville Campus, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN

Roger Beck ‘69, Professor of History, Eastern Illinois University

University of Evansville Campus, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN

Richard Hume Werking ‘66, Professor of History and Library Director, US Naval Academy

University of Evansville Campus, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN