Richard A. Bartlett

Richard A. Bartlett

Richard A. Bartlett, age 95 of Knoxville passed away Monday, December 14, 2015. Born in Boulder, CO, Richard earned B.A. and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Colorado, and M.A. from the University of Chicago. He taught history at Texas A & M University, and was a Professor of History at Florida State University from the mid 1950's until 1989. A prolific writer, he authored five nonfiction books during his teaching career, beginning with the award-winning Great Surveys of the American West, followed by The New Country: A Social History of the American Frontier, two books about Yellowstone; he co-authored a middle school history textbook, and edited Rolling Rivers: An Encyclopedia of American Rivers and The Guilded Age: America, 1864-1900. After retirement at age 69, he authored five additional books, including Troubled Waters: Champion International and the Pigeon River Controversy, From Cody to the World (for the Buffalo Bill Historical Center), and two novels set in the West in the 19th and early 20th centuries. He published his last book, The World of Ham Radio, 1901-1950 at age 87. He leaves behind an unfinished manuscript on the history of early automobiles in America. In 2014 Richard donated his library of Western Americana (several thousand books) to the Booth Western Art Museum library collection in Cartersville, GA. Preceded in death by parents, John T. Bartlett and Margaret Abbott Bartlett; brothers, Forrest and John Bartlett; sister, Margaret Bentley; wife of 69 years, Marie Cosgrove Bartlett; and son, Richard A. Bartlett, Jr. Survived by daughters, Margaret Carr (Steve) of Knoxville, and Mary Bartlett (Peter Schantz) of Atlanta; son, Tom Bartlett (Bonnie) of North Beach, MD; grandchildren, Mandy Leznic, Ben Morris, Josh Bartlett, Matt Carr, Brent Carr, Cody Smith, Zach Smith, Megan Brien; and four great-grandchildren. A family memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements by Bridges Funeral Home, 5430 Rutledge Pike, 865-523-4999. www.bridgesfuneralhome.com