We regret to announce the passing of Dr. Paul Bergeron, professor emeritus who taught in the UT History Department for three decades, retiring in 2002. He was a highly-regarded specialist in Tennessee history, and a generous mentor to many of the department’s graduate students and younger faculty. In addition to his own books, Professor Bergeron worked on two important Presidential Papers projects, the James Polk Papers and the Andrew Johnson Papers. The Johnson project was brought to completion under his editorship. As many of his former colleagues and students can attest, Professor Bergeron was a knowledgeable and passionate student and teacher of history. He directed scores of graduate theses and dissertations, and his work to make historical documents accessible will impact scholarship for years to come. Moreover, his colleagues will remember him not only as a scholar but as a decent, kind man with an enthusiasm for conversation, the exchange of ideas, and care for the historical craft.
His obituary can be found here. A service in remembrance will be held at noon on July 24th, and live-streamed on the Episcopal Church of the Ascension Facebook page.