Richard Lowitt


Richard Lowitt was an American historian. He was a professor of American History at Iowa State University, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, and the author of several books about the American West.

Early life

Lowitt was born on February 25, 1922 in New York City. His parents, Eugene Lowitt and Eleanor Lebowitz, were Hungarian immigrants. He graduated from the City College of New York, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1943. He went to graduate school at Columbia University, where he earned a master's degree in 1945 and a PhD in 1950.

Career

Lowitt taught American History at Connecticut College, Florida State University, the University of Kentucky, the University of Maryland, and the University of Rhode Island. He joined Iowa State University, where he was the chair of the History department. He eventually became a professor of American History at the University of Oklahoma, and Regents Professor at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
Lowitt authored several books about the American West as well as biographies of George W. Norris and Bronson M. Cutting. He was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1957.

Personal life and death

Lowitt married Suzanne Carson. They had a son, Peter, and a daughter, Pamela. They resided in Concord, Massachusetts. His wife predeceased him.
Lowitt died on June 23, 2018 in Concord, Massachusetts.

Selected works