Harry W. Pfanz
Harry W. Pfanz | |
|---|---|
| Born | Harry Wilcox Pfanz December 9, 1921 Bexley, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | January 27, 2015 (aged 93) |
| Occupation | Historian |
| Spouse | Letitia Earll Pfanz. |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards |
|
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | |
| Doctoral advisor | Harry Simms |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | National Park Service |
| Main interests | American Civil War |
Harry W. Pfanz (December 9, 1921 - January 27, 2015) was an American historian who specialized in the American Civil War.[1][2] It was said that he "probably knows as much about the Battle of Gettysburg as anyone."[3]
Early life
Pfanz was born in Bexley, Ohio. In 1943, he graduated from Ohio State University. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was badly wounded at the Battle of the Bulge.[4] After the war, in 1958, he earned his Phd at Ohio State.
Career
Pfanz worked at Gettysburg National Military Park1956 to 1966, including a portion of time as chief historian. Afterwards, he worked as the superintendent at Jefferson Expansion National Memorial.[5] From 1974-1980, he was chief historian at the U.S. National Park Service[6] In 1987, after he retired, he wrote Gettysburg: The Second Day. Richard Snow writing in The New York Times called the book "[an] admirable tapestry, and the result is a tribute worthy of the efforts of the men who took part..."[7] Historian Gary W. Gallagher called the book "a standard for tactical studies..."[2] In 2001, he finished his series on the Battle of Gettysburg with Gettysburg: The First Day.
Personal life
Pfanz's son Donald was a retired National Park Service historian, as well, and editor of the letters of Confederate General Richard S. Ewell[8] His son passed away on September 2, 2025.[9]
Works
Books
- Gettysburg: The Second Day, University of North Carolina Press, 1987, ISBN 978-0807817490
- Gettysburg: Culp's Hill & Cemetery Hill, University of North Carolina Press, 1993, ISBN 978-0807821183
- Gettysburg: The First Day, University of North Carolina Press, 2001, ISBN 978-0807826249
Selected articles
- "The Surrender Negotiations Between General Johnston and General Sherman, April 1865," Military Affairs, vol. 16, no. 2 (Summer, 1952), pp. 61–70. In JSTOR.
References
- ^ Barnes, Bert (2015-02-20). "Harry Pfanz, historian who wrote Gettysburg trilogy, dies at 93". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
- ^ a b Bush, Ellen (2015-02-10). "Gary W. Gallagher on working with Harry W. Pfanz". University of North Carolina Press Blog. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
- ^ McCloskey, Jim (1994-05-08). "Book reveals 'new" Gettysburg history". The Daily News Leader.
- ^ "Harry Wilcox Pfanz". Gettysburg Times. 2015-02-04. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
- ^ "In Memory of Harry Pfanz". Emerging Civil War. 2015-02-06. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
- ^ "Chief Historians of the National Park Service". National Park Service. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
- ^ Snow, Richard (1988-03-20). "Three Eternal Hours". New York Times. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
- ^ Howland, Chris (28 April 2017). "Interview: Donald C. Pfanz / In General Ewell's Corner". Historynet.com. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ "Don PFanz, Author, Historian, Interpreter". American Battlefield Trust. Retrieved 2025-09-30.
External links
- Harry Pfanz Papers at Gettysburg National Military Park.