John Marszalek: anyone recall this professor?
- Thread starter CochiseCowbell
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He was one of my professors. I have a history degree.
The Cheerful Assassin
Tough and fair
(yep, I had history classes at State too…)
Tough and fair
(yep, I had history classes at State too…)
Yes. I had him for U.S. History something like 1850-1865. Basically the Civil War. One of the best classes and professors I had. He totally reshaped the way I viewed the war having grown up in Alabama public schools. He is also the primary reason the U.S. Grant presidential library is at Mississippi State.
It was in a very strange classroom. Video cameras and microphones so the class could be taken in Starkville or Meridian. If you had a question you had to raise your hand. When called upon press a button, then wait for the camera to point at you and then speak directly into the microphone.
It was in a very strange classroom. Video cameras and microphones so the class could be taken in Starkville or Meridian. If you had a question you had to raise your hand. When called upon press a button, then wait for the camera to point at you and then speak directly into the microphone.
You got caught up in the confederate romanticism too? I hate that so many people my age hold Lee and Davis out as heroes. They got 300-400k men needlessly killed in the ultimate rich man's war.
I wasn't just caught up in it. I am from Montgomery. I was steeped in it. And I as a foolish youngster soaked it up like a steak left sitting in Dales for a week.
Why do you hate America?
When have we not fought the rich man's war? We're about to do it again. U. S. A.!! U. S. A.!!
Marszalek was the real deal. His book on Sherman is one of the best military biographies you will EVER read.
More legit than that sorry North Carolina Civil War romantic Shelby 17n Foote.
I had him for one class. The History of Sports In America. First time it was taught. Not sure if it was ever again. There were a good many athletes in the class probably thinking as I did, that I knew everything about sports, easy A.
First class meeting he warned us, that this was not a course about 'names and games'. It was an upper level history class. Went through the historic origins of sports and paralleled how sports shaped and were shaped by different eras in American history. Turned out to be quite challenging and had to work hard for a B. Enjoyed it though.
First class meeting he warned us, that this was not a course about 'names and games'. It was an upper level history class. Went through the historic origins of sports and paralleled how sports shaped and were shaped by different eras in American history. Turned out to be quite challenging and had to work hard for a B. Enjoyed it though.
He and Dr. Godbold were favorites of mine. My first degree from state was in history. Those two made it fun. But those exams were no joke. I honestly don't think many kids today would survive.
Goldbold was my favorite, another MSU History grad here. I also remember distinctly having Dr. Grill calling me out for sleeping in the back of his class.
Another History Grad here -
Marszalek and Grill were two of the best ever. Getting an A in Historiography and Historical Methods is something I still hold as one of my ultimate academic achievements. That class was rough. But Grill - watching that man ranting about Roosevelt was something to behold!
In 1994 I had him for the Civil War Era 1850-1865 . Great professor. He had just finished and published his book on Sherman which was required reading for the class. Great book. I believe it was on The NY Times list. I remember him doing a slide show of famous people from that era, and he'd ask who they were. I was a history buff who loves US History and from about 2nd grade through high school I used to read US historical encyclopedias and had a set of US history information cards from all eras that had pictures on them so I knew all of them. He jokingly said maybe I should let you run class today. Made me feel important. Great man and teacher. One day probably 20 or saw years ago I was flipping through channels and saw him on CSPAN giving a speech on the Civil War era. State was lucky to have him.
I believe I took Historiography with Dr. Parrish, right before he retired. His class was pretty tough, and pretty boring. But after class a friend and I would walk with him back to his office and he would tell some great stories. He used to hitchhike across the country back in the 50s, worked as a butler at an estate in NAPA valley one summer and met quite a few Hollywood stars.
FDR was what this nation & the world needed at the time...as well as Churchill, a steadfast Imperialist.
You can't judge any of the great 20th Century leaders through our current lenses.
Yes indeed. One of my all-time favorites.
I also have a history degreed. Marszalek was a master and remains sharp to this day. I saw him at a presentation about Lincoln recently.
He and Dr. Grill were legendary. Absolutely taught me a lot about how to reason and think.
His civil war class should have been mandatory for every MSU student.
I also have a history degreed. Marszalek was a master and remains sharp to this day. I saw him at a presentation about Lincoln recently.
He and Dr. Grill were legendary. Absolutely taught me a lot about how to reason and think.
His civil war class should have been mandatory for every MSU student.
Dr. Grill was a knee-high boy living in Germany when the Allied B-17s were flying over. He judged Roosevelt through that lens.
In grad school, I had historiography from Parrish, a post-Civil War seminar from Marszalek, and a Medieval seminar from Barker that was surprisingly good considering I was concentrating on Modern US history.
Those classes were tough and fair.
I had undergrad classes from Godbold and Grill— fabulous
Those classes were tough and fair.
I had undergrad classes from Godbold and Grill— fabulous
Took Cival War under him. One of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet, but absolutely the toughest in class. They called him the cheerful assassin.
I'm very impressed with y'all's recall of specific classes. I suppressed that **** long ago.
I did know Prof Marszalek's son Jamie many years ago. We are the same age.
I did know Prof Marszalek's son Jamie many years ago. We are the same age.
Dr. Roy Scott was the professor of my history class. Dude was old and would cuss in class and was hilarious.
Everything you say about Scott is correct. He was awesome
He was my primary advisor for my master’s thesis
We chatted a lot but other than the Thesis, I only had one class from him — a Readings in American Economic History…
Yep.
Also Donald Zacharias & Janos Radvanyi
The one Professor whose class I wish I’d taken but didn’t was Richard Vine’s Wine Appreciation…
I took Wine Appreciation my last semester. Clifford Ryan, my advisor and also a History Dept. legendary character, said I had one of the greatest final semester schedules he had ever seen. History of MS, an archaeology class, a philosophy class, golf, and wine appreciation - no class before 9:00am or after 3:00, and only 3 days a week.
We are History Majors. Remembering is kind of our thing.
If I ever had to do it over again, I think one of my majors might be history. I think I like it much better than English when I stop and think about it.
I had Dr. Scott also for US History 1877-1920. He was funny as hell.
History major checking in- Marszalek was incredible. That civil war class felt subversive as h#ll for a 20 year old from central MS who grew up booze-cruising the Vicksburg military park in HS. Scott was good as well.
Cheerful Assassin. He once said of an essay I wrote: "It's really good. Great work. The introduction is crap and you should delete the first three pages and start over."
Marszalek is legendary at State. You can thank him for the Grant Presidential Library being there. I worked with him for several years on an alumni committee in the Honors College.