In Memorium Herman Belz

Herman Belz, Emeritus Professor of History (1937-2024)

The UMD Department of History is saddened by the passing of Herman Belz, Emeritus Professor of History, on March 12, 2024 at the age of 86 with his loving wife, Valerie O'Brian, at his side.

Herman grew up in Haddon Heights, NJ. A rigorous scholar and athlete, he earned his BA from Princeton University in 1959 where he also played basketball and baseball. Following his undergraduate studies, Herman fulfilled his ROTC) commitment by serving as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy 1960 -5. He earned an MA and a PhD in History from the University of Washington in 1966.

Herman accepted a faculty position at UMD where he was a professor for over forty years. He served on numerous university committees and was Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of History. As a scholar, Herman authored many important and influential studies including, Abraham Lincoln, Constitutionalism and Equal Rights in the Civil War Era (1998), and Equality Transformed: A Quarter Century of Affirmative Action (1991). His articles and reviews appeared in a variety of scholarly publications. Herman's work was recognized through numerous awards  and fellowships.

Herman was Director of the  James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation 1996– 2012 sharing his knowledge of the Constitution with future teachers at the secondary school level. In 2004, he was appointed to the National Council for the Humanities.

See The Washington Post  obituary HERE.