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Irwin Richman Edit Profile

educator author

Irwin Richman is a professor emeritus of American studies and history at Pennsylvania State University. He is also known as an author of over 25 books and over 170 articles and reviews on history and art.

Background

Irwin Richman was born on January 1, 1937, in New York City, New York, United States. He is the son of Alexander and Bertha Schwebel Richman.

Education

Irwin Richman received an Associate of Arts degree in 1956 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1957 from George Washington University. Then he obtained a Master of Arts degree in history in 1958 and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in history in 1965.

Career

Irwin Richman began his career in 1961 at Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission as a historian. From 1965 till 1968 he was a curator of science, industry, and technology at William Penn Memorial Museum (now The State Museum of Pennsylvania). Then he joined Pennsylvania State University as a professor of American studies and history, the position he held till 2003. From 2003 he is professor emeritus of American Studies and History at this university. From 2004 he is a research associate at Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum. He also lectures at Pennsylvania State University and Longwood Gardens.

Richman's passion for Pennsylvania German culture and gardening led him to write over 25 books and over 170 articles and reviews. He also contributed numerous articles and reviews to periodicals, including Antiques, Pennsylvania Medicine, American History Illustrated, Journal of Popular Culture, and Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography. He presents numerous conferences at the American Studies Association, American Folklore Association, American Aesthetics Association, and Catskill Institute. He is a commonwealth speaker at Pennsylvania Humanities Council as well.

Achievements

  • Irwin Richman is known as a prolific author, as well as an outstanding educator. He has been listed as a noteworthy history educator, consultant, and lecturer by Marquis Who's Who. His books received positive reviews from critics and readers.

Works

All works

Views

Quotations: "When I was younger, I wrote because I had to. It was expected of me as an academic. Now I am at a point in my career where I write because I want to and because I get pleasure from writing."

Membership

Irwin Richman is a member of the Society of Architectural Historians, National Trust for Historic Preservation, The Garden Conservancy, The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and Pennsylvania Historical Association. He is also past vice-chairman of Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Board.

Interests

  • gardening

Connections

Irwin Richman married M. Susan Steigerwalt on May 23, 1970. The marriage produced two children, Alexander Eugene and Joshua Solomon.

Father:
Alexander Richman

Mother:
Bertha Schwebel Richman

Wife:
M. Susan Steigerwalt