Charles Ritcheson
Encyclopedia
Charles Ray Ritcheson is an American
historian, diplomat
, and |university administrator].
and attended the University of Oklahoma
. Interrupting his studies, he served in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1942 to 1945, becoming a Lieutenant, Junior Grade
.When Admiral Elliot Buckmaster took command of Task Force 74 operating in the South China Seas, Ritcheson joined his staff as Signal Officer. After the end of the war, Ritcheson returned to his studies and obtained his bachelor of arts
degree in philosophy and classics in 1946. After postgraduate study in history at Zurich University in 1947 and Harvard University
in 1948, he went to St Edmund Hall, Oxford
, where he was awarded his D.Phil.
in 1951 with a thesis on "The impact of the American problem on British politics, 1760-1780".
appointed him assistant professor of history and then promoted him to associate professor in 1952. Kenyon College
appointed him associate professor in 1953 and professor in 1960. In 1964-65, he served as chairman of the history department at Kenyon, before taking up an appointment as chairman and director of graduate studies in history at Southern Methodist University
, a position he held until 1970. During that period, he was also director of the Center for Ibero-American Civilization, 1967-68. In 1970-71, he served as director with rank of dean Library Advancement. In 1971-74, he served as Colin Rhys Professor of British History at the University of Southern California
, and then became cultural attaché
(Foreign Service Officer Grade 1) at the American Embassy, London. Returning from his diplomatic assignment in the United Kingdom, he became Lovell Distinguished Professor, 1977–1984 and was awarded the university prize for creative scholarship. Between 1984 and 1990, he was the University Professor, University Librarian, and Dean and special advisor to the university's president. Upon his retirement in 1990, the University of Southern California appointed him University Professor emeritus, and University Librarian and Dean emeritus. In 2000, he was additionally appointed Distinguished Emeritus Professor.
Ritcheson served as founding president of the Southern Conference on British Studies, 1967–70, and of the Pacific Coast branch Conference on British Studies, 1971–73, then executive secretary, National Conference of British Studies (today the North American Conference on British Studies), from 1973-74. In 1978, he founded (with Sir John Plumb) the British Institute of the United States. He was twice a presidential appointee to the National Council on Humanities, 1982–1986, and 1988–90, and a presidential appointee also to the board of foreign scholarships.
Ritcheson served as Chairman, U.S.-U.K. Educational Commission, 1974–77, and official observer, British Bicentennial Liaison Committee, 1974-1976. He has been a member of the advisory council of the Ditchley Foundation
, 1974–2002, the international advisory council of University of Buckingham
, member of the board of the Friends of the Royal Opera and Ballet, Covent Garden, and vice president of the American Friends of Covent Garden
, 1982-85. When he retired from the University of Southern California in 1991, he became executive vice-president of the not for profit Fund for Arts and Culture in Eastern Europe from 1991 to 1996, and was country director for Hungary and subsequently Poland. In 1997 he became Executive Vice President for Planning for the Trust for Museum Exhibitions based in Washington, D.C.
Ritcheson is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Fellow of the Royal Historical Society
, a member of the Texas Institute of Letters
, the Société Française d'Archeologie, L'Association pour le Rayonment de l'Opera, Brooks Club, and the Beefsteak Club
, London, and the Cosmos Club, Washington, D.C.
was named for Charles and Alice Ritcheson.
About 100 articles and reviews in learned journals.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
historian, diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, and |university administrator].
Early life and education
The son of Charles Frederick Ritcheson and Jewell Vaughn, Ritcheson was raised in OklahomaOklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and attended the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
. Interrupting his studies, he served in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1942 to 1945, becoming a Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, United States Merchant Marine USMM, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade...
.When Admiral Elliot Buckmaster took command of Task Force 74 operating in the South China Seas, Ritcheson joined his staff as Signal Officer. After the end of the war, Ritcheson returned to his studies and obtained his bachelor of arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in philosophy and classics in 1946. After postgraduate study in history at Zurich University in 1947 and Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1948, he went to St Edmund Hall, Oxford
St Edmund Hall, Oxford
St Edmund Hall is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Better known within the University by its nickname, "Teddy Hall", the college has a claim to being "the oldest academical society for the education of undergraduates in any university"...
, where he was awarded his D.Phil.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1951 with a thesis on "The impact of the American problem on British politics, 1760-1780".
Academic career
In 1951, Oklahoma College for WomenUniversity of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, or USAO, is a public liberal arts college located in Chickasha, Oklahoma. It is the only public college with a strictly liberal arts-focused curriculum in Oklahoma. It provides Bachelor's Degrees and many students move on to graduate schools across...
appointed him assistant professor of history and then promoted him to associate professor in 1952. Kenyon College
Kenyon College
Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, founded in 1824 by Bishop Philander Chase of The Episcopal Church, in parallel with the Bexley Hall seminary. It is the oldest private college in Ohio...
appointed him associate professor in 1953 and professor in 1960. In 1964-65, he served as chairman of the history department at Kenyon, before taking up an appointment as chairman and director of graduate studies in history at Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
, a position he held until 1970. During that period, he was also director of the Center for Ibero-American Civilization, 1967-68. In 1970-71, he served as director with rank of dean Library Advancement. In 1971-74, he served as Colin Rhys Professor of British History at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, and then became cultural attaché
Cultural attaché
A cultural attaché is a diplomat with special responsibility for promoting the culture of his or her homeland. The position has been used as an official cover for intelligence agents. Historically, the post has often been filled by writers and artists, giving them a steady income, allowing them to...
(Foreign Service Officer Grade 1) at the American Embassy, London. Returning from his diplomatic assignment in the United Kingdom, he became Lovell Distinguished Professor, 1977–1984 and was awarded the university prize for creative scholarship. Between 1984 and 1990, he was the University Professor, University Librarian, and Dean and special advisor to the university's president. Upon his retirement in 1990, the University of Southern California appointed him University Professor emeritus, and University Librarian and Dean emeritus. In 2000, he was additionally appointed Distinguished Emeritus Professor.
Ritcheson served as founding president of the Southern Conference on British Studies, 1967–70, and of the Pacific Coast branch Conference on British Studies, 1971–73, then executive secretary, National Conference of British Studies (today the North American Conference on British Studies), from 1973-74. In 1978, he founded (with Sir John Plumb) the British Institute of the United States. He was twice a presidential appointee to the National Council on Humanities, 1982–1986, and 1988–90, and a presidential appointee also to the board of foreign scholarships.
Ritcheson served as Chairman, U.S.-U.K. Educational Commission, 1974–77, and official observer, British Bicentennial Liaison Committee, 1974-1976. He has been a member of the advisory council of the Ditchley Foundation
Ditchley Foundation
The Ditchley Foundation is a British organisation based at Ditchley House near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, which aims to promote international relations, especially Anglo-American relations, through a programme of around fifteen annual conferences on matters of international interest...
, 1974–2002, the international advisory council of University of Buckingham
University of Buckingham
The University of Buckingham is an independent, non-sectarian, research and teaching university located in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Great Ouse. It was originally founded as Buckingham University College in the 1970s and received its Royal Charter from the...
, member of the board of the Friends of the Royal Opera and Ballet, Covent Garden, and vice president of the American Friends of Covent Garden
Royal Opera, London
The Royal Opera is an opera company based in central London, resident at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Along with the English National Opera, it is one of the two principal opera companies in London. Founded in 1946 as the Covent Garden Opera Company, it was known by that title until 1968...
, 1982-85. When he retired from the University of Southern California in 1991, he became executive vice-president of the not for profit Fund for Arts and Culture in Eastern Europe from 1991 to 1996, and was country director for Hungary and subsequently Poland. In 1997 he became Executive Vice President for Planning for the Trust for Museum Exhibitions based in Washington, D.C.
Ritcheson is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Fellow of the Royal Historical Society
Royal Historical Society
The Royal Historical Society was founded in 1868. The premier society in the United Kingdom which promotes and defends the scholarly study of the past, it is based at University College London...
, a member of the Texas Institute of Letters
Texas Institute of Letters
The Texas Institute of Letters is an organization devoted to the promotion of literature and literacy in Texas.Founded in 1936, the TIL offers awards to outstanding books written by Texas authors, or dealing with Texas subjects. The TIL also co-administrates the Dobie Paisano Fellowship, which...
, the Société Française d'Archeologie, L'Association pour le Rayonment de l'Opera, Brooks Club, and the Beefsteak Club
Beefsteak Club
Beefsteak Club is the name, nickname and historically common misnomer applied by sources to several 18th and 19th century male dining clubs that celebrated the beefsteak as a symbol of patriotic and often Whig concepts of liberty and prosperity....
, London, and the Cosmos Club, Washington, D.C.
Honours
Pe-Et Society (Oklahoma U.), 1943, Phi Beta Kappa (Oklahoma U., alumnus membership,1961); Eli Lilly Research Fellow, 1954; Research Fellow, American Council of Learned Societies, 1955–57; Fulbright Scholar, Oxford University, 1949–50; Fulbright Professor, Edinburgh and Cambridge Universities, 1962–63; Honorary Fellow in History, University College, London, 1974; Watson Lecturer, Leicester University, 1975; Hon. Member, Senior Common Room, St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, 1974–77; Hon. D.Litt, Leicester U., 1976; honorary grant of arms by special command, the College of Heralds, London; the University Award for Creative Scholarship, USC, 1980; Citation by Korean Community of Southern California for founding the USC Korean Heritage Library; the Ritcheson Executive Suite, Leavey Library and portrait; and Ritcheson Special Collection funded by Friends of the USC Libraries; Crystal Book Award for founding Scriptor to recognize the year's best realization of a book in film; at his retirement from USC in 1990, Joint Resolution by the Board of Trustees, President, Faculty, and Student Body expressing thanks for his leadership in founding the modern USC Library System. University Professor, University Librarian and Dean emeritus, 1990. In 1992, he was additionally named Distinguished Emeritus Professor, and in 2000, USC gave him the Faculty Lifetime Achievement Award. The Ritcheson Fellowship in History at St Edmund Hall, OxfordSt Edmund Hall, Oxford
St Edmund Hall is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Better known within the University by its nickname, "Teddy Hall", the college has a claim to being "the oldest academical society for the education of undergraduates in any university"...
was named for Charles and Alice Ritcheson.
Published works
- British politics and the American Revolution, Norman : University of Oklahoma Press, 1954; Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1981.
- Aftermath of revolution: British policy toward the United States, 1783–1795, Dallas : Southern Methodist University Press, 1969.
- The American Revolution: the Anglo-American relation, 1763-1794: interpretive articles and documentary sources, Edited by Charles R. Ritcheson. Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley Pub. Co., [1969].
- Edmund Burke and the American Revolution, The Sir George Watson Lecture for 1976. [Leicester]: Leicester University Press; [Atlantic Highlands] N.J.:distributed by Humanities Press, 1976.
About 100 articles and reviews in learned journals.