Alfred W. Crosby

professor emeritus, history, UTexas at Austin

Alfred W. Crosby graduated from Harvard College in 1952 and served in the US Army 1952-1955, stationed in Panama. After his army service he earned an MAT from the Harvard School of Education and a PhD in history from Boston University in 1961. His dissertation was published as his first book, *America, Russia, Hemp, and Napoleon*, a study of relations between Russia and the USA from the time of the American Revolution through the War of 1812. He retired from the University of Texas in 1999 as Professor Emeritus of Geography, History, and American Studies. His involvement in the civil rights movement, teaching African-American Studies, helping to build a medical center for the United Farm Workers Union, and taking a leadership role in anti-Vietnam War demonstrations set him off in intellectually unorthodox directions.