John Charles Livingston was born on February 24, 1935,
in New Haven, Connecticut and died on October 25, 1999, in Denver, Colorado.
Livingston graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard College in 1956, with
a B.A. in history. He continued his education at the University of Wisconsin,
earning an M.S. in 1958 and a Ph.D. in 1965.
John Livingston was initially appointed visiting assistant professor
of history at the University of Denver for the 1963/64 school year.
From 1964-1968, Livingston was assistant professor of history at Colorado
Women’s College (Temple Buell College). In 1968, Dr. Livingston rejoined
the University of Denver History Department as associate professor.
“Dr. John”, as he was affectionately known, served as Acting Chairperson,
then Chairperson of the DU History Department from 1977 to 1983 and
again from 1993 to 1999.
Dr. Livingston’s area of emphasis was American Intellectual and Social
History. Courses taught while at DU included America in the 60’s, the
Civil Rights Movement and Black Power, and American Jewish history.
He received many awards for his teaching excellence while at DU, including
the Pioneer Award in 1980, Office of Student Life, Special Recognition
Award in 1981, and the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1988.
Professor Livingston was a prolific author and editor. His books include
Clarence Darrow: Sentimental Rebel (Garland Press, 1988) and
Jews in the American West (Wayne State University Press, 1989),
for which he was co-editor with Moses Rischin. He wrote numerous biographical
sketches and book reviews in professional journals and encyclopedias
such as History: A Review of New Books, American Jewish Historical
Quarterly, The Colorado Magazine, Rocky Mountain Social Science Journal,
and Encyclopedia USA.
Livingston was very active in the Jewish community. He was a founder
and Research Director of the Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society
& Ira M. Beck Archives, and served as editor of the Rocky Mountain
Jewish Historical Notes from 1980-1999. With Rich Castro, Livingston
founded Chicano-Jewish Dialogues, 1981-1985. He received the
Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society Annual Heritage Award in 1995
and the Human Relations Award as President of the Colorado Chapter,
American Jewish Committee in 1984.
Dr. Livingston is survived by his wife Nancy and daughter Julie.
