Francis Paul Prucha facts for kids

Francis Paul Prucha (born January 4, 1921 – died July 30, 2015) was an American historian and professor. He taught history at Marquette University. He was an expert on the relationship between the United States government and Native Americans. His most famous book, The Great Father, won a special award. It was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, a very important award for books. Many historians consider his work a classic.

About Francis Paul Prucha's Life

Francis Paul Prucha was born in River Falls, Wisconsin, in 1921. He was the first son of Edward and Katharine Prucha. He finished high school in 1937.

He then went to Wisconsin State Teachers College. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1941. After teaching for a short time, he joined the United States Army Air Forces. He served for three and a half years.

After his military service, he studied at the University of Minnesota. He received his master's degree in 1947. Later, Harvard University gave him a Ph.D. in history in 1950. His first book, Broadax and Bayonet, came from his Ph.D. research. It was about the U.S. Army's role in developing the Northwest.

Becoming a Priest and Professor

In 1950, Prucha joined the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. This is a religious order of the Catholic Church. He became a priest in 1957. From then on, he was known as Father Francis Paul Prucha.

In 1960, he started teaching history at Marquette University. He was a beloved teacher and scholar. Many students remember him for making them love learning. He also taught as a visiting professor at other universities. These included the University of Oklahoma and Harvard.

Writing The Great Father

In the late 1960s, Father Prucha began a big project. He wanted to write a complete history of how the U.S. government dealt with Native Americans. This huge research project led to his two-volume book. It was called The Great Father: The United States Government and the American Indians.

This book was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 1985. It also won the Billington Prize. Many historians still see it as a very important book. Father Prucha retired in 1988. He passed away in 2015 at the age of 94. He had been a Jesuit for 64 years.

His Contributions to History

Father Prucha was an important member of the Western History Association. This group studies the history of the American West. He was even its president from 1982 to 1983. He also served on the editorial board for their main magazine.

Marquette University honored him by naming a reading room after him. It is in their main library. He was also added to the Milwaukee Central Library's Wisconsin Writers Wall of Fame. In 1987, he became a Fellow of the Society of American Historians. This honor recognized his excellent writing and research.

Special Degrees and Honors

Father Prucha received many special degrees from different colleges. These are called honorary degrees. They recognize his important work.

• Doctor of Humane Letters, Le Moyne College, 1974.
• Doctor of Humane Letters, Creighton University, 1978.
• Doctor of Laws, Merrimack College, 1985.
• Doctor of Letters, Marquette University, 1988.
• Doctor of Humane Letters, Loyola University Chicago, 1992.
• Doctor of Humane Letters, College of the Holy Cross, 1992.

Books by Francis Paul Prucha

Here are some of the important books Father Prucha wrote:

• The Great Father: The United States Government and the American Indians ISBN: 978-0-8032-8712-9 (This book won the Ray Allen Billington Award)
• The Churches and the Indian Schools, 1888-1912 ISBN: 0-8032-3657-3
• American Indian Policy in Crisis: Christian Reformers and the Indian, 1865-1900 ISBN: 0-8061-1279-4
• American Indian Treaties: The History of a Political Anomaly ISBN: 978-0-520-08531-2
• Indian Peace Medals in American History ISBN: 978-0-8061-3218-1
• Broadax and Bayonet: The Role of the United States Army in the Development of the Northwest, 1815-1860 ISBN: 978-0-8032-5151-9
• Documents of United States Indian Policy: Third Edition ISBN: 978-0-8032-3728-5
• The Sword of the Republic: The United States Army on the Frontier 1783-1846 ISBN: 978-0-8032-3676-9

His Archival Collections

Father Prucha helped Marquette University get important historical records. These were from the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions. These records help people study Native American history.

There is also a special collection of Father Prucha's own papers. An archival collection is like a big organized box of historical documents. It includes his letters, articles, and notes from his research. It also has papers about his awards and teaching. These collections help future historians learn from his work.

See also

• Advisory Council on California Indian Policy
• Marquette University
• Marquette University Special Collections and University Archives