John Baptist Wolf
Encyclopedia
John Baptiste Wolf was a historian, specializing in modern European history.
, Colorado
, on July 16, 1907, Wolf was the son of a German immigrant.
Wolf received his B.A. and M.A. from the University of Colorado
, then attended Northwestern University
, before entering the doctoral program at the University of Minnesota
. He received his doctorate in 1934 for a dissertation on the diplomatic history of the Baghdad Railway
, published in 1936.
Wolf began his teaching career at the University of Missouri
in 1934, remaining there until 1943, when he took a position at the University of Minnesota
. In 1966 he moved to the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle
, retiring in 1974 as professor emeritus.
Wolf died of leukemia
on April 22, 1996 while living in a retirement community located near Syracuse
. Writing his obituary (AHA Perspectives Dec. 1996), two of his students, Joseph Klaits and John T. O'Connor, recalled "his wit, passion for history, and zest for life" that stimulated his classes.
In retirement Wolf published The Barbary Coast: Algiers under the Turks, 1500-1730 (1979), which was translated into Arabic. He was twice a fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
, first in Paris
(1959–60), then in Madrid
(1967–68). For his work in French history, Wolf was decorated as a Chevalier des Palmes Académiques by the French government in 1979. He was also president of the Society for French Historical Studies
(1968–69).
Life
Born in OurayOuray
Ouray may refer to:* Chief Ouray, of the Ute Native American tribe* Ouray County, Colorado* Ouray, Colorado, a small city* Ouray, Utah, a village* Ouray National Wildlife Refuge, in Randlett, Utah* Ouray Peak, in Colorado* Mount Ouray, in Colorado...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, on July 16, 1907, Wolf was the son of a German immigrant.
Wolf received his B.A. and M.A. from the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
, then attended 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....
, before entering the doctoral program at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. He received his doctorate in 1934 for a dissertation on the diplomatic history of the Baghdad Railway
Baghdad Railway
The Baghdad Railway , was built from 1903 to 1940 to connect Berlin with the Ottoman Empire city of Baghdad with a line through modern-day Turkey, Syria, and Iraq....
, published in 1936.
Wolf began his teaching career at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
in 1934, remaining there until 1943, when he took a position at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. In 1966 he moved to the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois at Chicago, or UIC, is a state-funded public research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its campus is in the Near West Side community area, near the Chicago Loop...
, retiring in 1974 as professor emeritus.
Wolf died of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
on April 22, 1996 while living in a retirement community located near Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. Writing his obituary (AHA Perspectives Dec. 1996), two of his students, Joseph Klaits and John T. O'Connor, recalled "his wit, passion for history, and zest for life" that stimulated his classes.
Work
Wolf published a number of important books, including France, 1815 to the Present (1940), The Emergence of the Great Powers (1685–1715) (1951), Toward a European Balance of Power (1640–1720) (1969) and his most important study, Louis XIV (1968).In retirement Wolf published The Barbary Coast: Algiers under the Turks, 1500-1730 (1979), which was translated into Arabic. He was twice a fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation was founded in 1925 by Mr. and Mrs. Simon Guggenheim in memory of their son, who died April 26, 1922...
, first in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(1959–60), then in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
(1967–68). For his work in French history, Wolf was decorated as a Chevalier des Palmes Académiques by the French government in 1979. He was also president of the Society for French Historical Studies
Society for French Historical Studies
The Society for French Historical Studies is, along with the Western Society for French History , one of the two primary historical societies devoted to the study of French history headquartered in the United States....
(1968–69).