Background
Pelzer was born in Griswold, Iowa, the son of Henry and Sophia Pelzer.
Pelzer was born in Griswold, Iowa, the son of Henry and Sophia Pelzer.
He was a graduate of the Iowa State Teachers College in 1901, and received Bachelor of Philosophy (1901) and Doctor of Philosophy (1909) from the University of Iowa.
He joined the University of Iowa faculty in 1911, was appointed to Associate Professor in 1917, and full Professor in 1925. They had two sons, both of whom died in service during World World War World War II
He was secretary of the Big Ten Conference in 1927–1929, a member of the Iowa Centennial Commission in 1938, and editor of the Mississippi Valley Historical Review from 1941 until his death.