Background
Bridges, Roger Dean was born on February 10, 1937 in Marshalltown, Iowa, United States. Son of Floyd F. and Beatrice Andrea (Pipher) Bridges.
historical agency administrator
Bridges, Roger Dean was born on February 10, 1937 in Marshalltown, Iowa, United States. Son of Floyd F. and Beatrice Andrea (Pipher) Bridges.
Bachelor, Iowa State Teachers College, 1959. Master of Arts, State College of Iowa, 1962. Doctor of Philosophy, University Illinois, 1970.
Doctor of Humane Letters, Lincoln College, Illinois, 1987. Doctor of Humane Letters, Tiffin University, 1994.
Teacher, library Keokuk (Iowa) Public Schools, 1959—1962. Instructor in history Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, 1967. Assistant professor history University South Dakota, Vermillion, 1968—1969.
Assistant editor Papers of Ulysses Grant, Carbondale, Illinois, 1969—1970. Director research Illinois State History Library., Springfield, 1970—1976, head library, 1976—1985. Director Illinois State History Library./Illinois History Preservation Agency, 1985—1987.
Director, editor Lincoln legal papers project, assistant state historian Illinois History Preservation Agy, 1987—1988. Executive director Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, Fremont, Ohio, 1988—2003, executive director emeritus, since 2004. Instructional assistant professor Illinois State University, Normal, 1974—1984, Normal, 2005—2006, assistant professor, 2005—2007, adjunct professor history, since 2006.
Adjunct professor Sangamon State University, Springfield, 1985—1988, Bowling Green State University, Ohio, 1989—2003.
Board director Springfield Urban League, 1976-1982, Great American People Show, New Salem, Illinois, 1978-1985, McLean County History Society, since 2005. Board director and president Convention and Visitors Bureau Sandusky County, Fremont, 1988-1999. Board director, secretary and vice president Birchard Public Library.
Sandusky County, 1988-2003, 1996-1999. Active Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission McLean County, Illinois, since 2006. Member American History Association, Southern History Association, Abraham Lincoln Association (board directors since 1985, president 2004-2006), Organization American Historians, Society for Historians of Gilded Age and Progressive Era (secretary/treasurer 1989-2003, member council 2004-2006, secretary 2006-2008, District Service award 2007), Illinois State History Society (board directors 2003-2006, board advisory 2006-2007, Distinguished Service award 1988), Ohio Academy History (executive council 1996-1998), trustee Ohioana Library Association, 1998-2003), McLean County History Society (board directors since 2005), Chamber of Commerce Sandusky County (board directors 1999-2002), David Davis Mansion Foundation (board directors 2003-2009).
Married Karen Maureen Buckley, June 4, 1960. Children: Patrick Sean, Kristin Joy, Jennifer Lynn.