Revered
Professor Blodgett Dies
by Matthew Green
Geoffrey
Blodgett, Emeritus Robert S. Danforth Professor of History, died
on Thursday Nov. 15, after a long struggle with cancer. He was 70.
Professor Blodgett was a prominent and influential member of the
Oberlin College faculty from 1960 until his retirement in 2000,
after which he continued to contribute regularly to the Oberlin
Alumni Magazine, conduct oral-history interviews and give talks
to the College community.
Born in Hanover, N.H. in 1931, he attended Oberlin College and graduated
Phi Betta Kappa in 1953. After serving in the navy for two years,
he went on to receive his masters degree and doctorate from
Harvard University. Shortly there -after, he returned to Oberlin
to teach in the same classrooms in which he had studied. He remained
here for the rest of his life.
Blodgetts courses primarily focussed on aspects of intellectual,
architectual, and urban American history. As a published scholar,
he was particularly recognized for his work on architectural history.
Oberlin Architecture, College and Town: A Guide To Its Social History,
one of his three books, is still frequently used in both history
and art classes as an invaluable document for the understanding
and appreciation of local history and architecture and its wider
implications.
American Intellectual History and The Social History
of American Architecture, were among his two most popular
courses, filled to capacity year after year.
Students would pack classrooms to hear his renowned lectures, unique
presentations that preserved the essence of the traditional academic
lecture-style while simultaneously highly innovative and imbued
with sensitivity as well as a sense of command over the subject
matter. Many of his students will forever retain the image of him
standing before a large lecture hall, perpetually jiggling his keys
in his pocket and commanding the attention of every student in the
room with his insightful, colorful and precise recounting of history.
He optimized a generation of the great lecturer, Professor
of History, Gary Kornblith who was a colleague of Blodgetts
for 20 years, said. I will never be able to speak this well,
Kornblith recalled thinking after first hearing Blodgett speak during
an Orientation lecture in 1981.
He was among the select few members of the College faculty who achieved
legendary status both on campus as well as in the greater Oberlin
community. A highly respected professor and historian, Blodgett
taught and advised generations of students as well as generations
of young, incoming professors, many of whom looked up to him as
an erudite member of the academy and an exceptional and unique intellectual
force.
He was, for me, the perfect senior colleague. We referred
to him as the Senior Americanist, Kornblith said. He
was wonderfully
respectful, supportive and kind. Other colleagues remember
Blodgett as a very welcoming and warm figure, particularly with
young faculty members just entering the institution.
In addition to being a revered scholar and professor, Blodgett also
received acclaim for his self-selected and irreplaceable role as
the historian of both the town and College. Geoff represented
a generation in so many different ways. That cannot be replaced
by just adding another historian, professor of History Steven
Volk said. As only one person per generation can, he represented
Oberlin. He was our historian of both town and gown. Every place
needs someone like that, someone who is the organized memory. He
was a living presence of how Oberlin keeps changing, Volk
said, noting that Blodgetts impressions and accounts were
not always obstinately positive, yet were always honest, passionate
and immensely thoughtful.
Many of Blodgetts colleagues recall his intense devotion towards
the Oberlin community. He was really one of the great Oberlinians,
both as a teacher, scholar and alumnus, College President
Nancy Dye said. He contributed a whole lot to this community,
both College and city I was struck by his very deep understanding
and love for this college.
A volume of Blodgetts writings and essays about Oberlins
history will soon be published.
Blodgett was known for his steadfast views and representations of
the College community. He had explicit notions of the direction
in which he thought Oberlin should move in, both academically and
socially, which became, at times, a source of disagreement between
him and his colleagues.
[Blodgett] was a key figure in Oberlin campus discussion.
He had a very profound sense of Oberlins heritage, Dean
of the College Clayton Koppes said. His was a vision that
not everyone shared but was always an articulate and thoughtful
spokesperson for a strand of Oberlins community.
Kornblith recalls how there always was a certain degree of tension
felt by Blodgett between the direction Oberlin was going and where
it had been when he was a student. Blodgett, at times, voiced strong
disagreement about certain structural changes made by the College
that seemed to deviate from his own vision.
He was a true liberal. He wanted people to be accepted on
individual terms and judged as individuals, not as members of groups.
He had a vision of Oberlin as a liberal community, as individuals
seeking both to work together and to achieve their best, Kornblith
said. He added, however, that despite the strength of Blodgetts
opinions, there was always a sense of humor and self-skepticism,
in which he showed great respect for those he was in disagreement
with and the ability to listen to an opposing argument. His
personal side would always transcend whatever political difference
we might have had, Kornblith said. He was a really good
person.
Support of the Colleges football team was an issue, which
Blodgett was particularly adamant about. Having played on the team
as an undergraduate, Blodgett had an undying sense of devotion towards
the team, throughout good times and bad. In the mid-1970s when there
was discussion of doing away with the team, Blodgett was one of
its main defenders and was instrumental in saving it.
He was indeed very committed to rebuilding football and a
strong advocate for keeping it at Oberlin, Dye said, emphasizing
his devotion to the game and his understanding of why it was so
important to the people who played it.
Weeks before his death, Blodgett watched from the sidelines as the
Yeoman won their first game in four years, breaking a 44-game losing
streak.
Watching him at the Kenyon-Oberlin game was almost Shakespearean
in drama. Seeing the man instrumental in saving football watching
the team restored to competitiveness from his wheelchair as one
of his concluding visions of Oberlin College was incredible,
Koppes said.
[Blodgetts] death is a kind of hole in our memory,
Volk said. Theres not that many people we can ask questions
of. Its not just that Oberlin has lost a great professorits
something else.
He is survived by his wife, Jane Taggart and his three children,
Lauren, Barbara, and Sally.
A memorial service will take place in December.
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