Henry J. Silverman

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Michigan State University University of Pennsylvania Yale University

Henry Silverman Obituary

Silverman, Henry J.
Feb. 22, 1934 - Nov. 27, 2013
Henry J. Silverman, Dr., 79, of Sarasota, FL, formerly of Haslett, Michigan, died on Nov. 27, 2013. Services will be held from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Fri., at Great Room at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, FL. Funeral arrangements by: Family.
Henry is survived by Ann, his wife of 56 years, son Edwin and partner Dick of Naarden in The Netherlands, daughter Emily and partner Matt of Baltimore, MD, and brother David and wife Martha of Sebastian, FL.
Henry received his BA and MA from Yale University, and his doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. He retired from Michigan State University in 2001, after a 37 year career as a Professor of American History. He enjoyed teaching and writing, and championed civil liberties.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the ACLU of Michigan, aclumich.org.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Herald Tribune from Dec. 5 to Dec. 6, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for Henry Silverman

10 Entries

JOHN BRATZEL

November 29, 2020

It was 1982, when an article I co-wrote with Les Rout was published by the American Historical Review. Les and I had been writing a book on Latin America in World War II and I had researched Roosevelt’s papers in Hyde Park. One of the documents I found was a letter from J. Edgar Hoover to Roosevelt talking about the microdot he had “discovered.” Actually, British secret service had told the FBI about it and it had been willingly handed over in New York City. About three-fourths of the microdot detailing what the agent should look for dealt with questions about Pearl Harbor. The last portion, seemingly as an afterthought, requested information on general topics such as steel production.
There had always been a question about what happened to the Pearl Harbor part of the microdot. In fact, the discovery of J. Edgar Hoover’s letter as well as research in military and naval archives indicated only a small portion had been sent to any other agency. The Office of Naval Intelligence, for example, never saw the section on Pearl Harbor.
Now, none of this means that Hoover was in any way involved in the attack on the Naval base or if this information had been forwarded that anyone would have made the appropriate connections. That the Japanese might have been interested in the main Pacific naval base was not surprising. So, our conclusion was that this was a missed piece of information that might have heightened US concern.
It was a shock when the phone rang and it was the Washington Post asking me to comment on the FBI’s statement that we had “besmirched” the reputation of the men and women in the FBI. I said that we stood by our statement, but I have to admit that I was rather shocked.
I went to see Henry. He laughed mightily. I was one of the few Republicans and conservatives in the ATL department, and he thought that it was just plain hilarious that the FBI was apparently after me. I asked if he would support me and he indicated that he would absolutely do so and was willing to lose his job over this question. Well, I hoped it would never get that far and am pleased to say that it didn’t. Actually, nothing happened except a series of letter sent to the President of MSU which were quickly filed.
But, I have never forgotten how much it meant to me that I had the support of Henry as the Chair of the Department of ATL. He was a staunch believer in free speech and he not only talked the talk, but (as they say) walked the walk. There was no hypocrisy in Henry; he was a man of conviction and honesty. And that is how I remember him.

John Bratzel,
Professor Emeritus, Michigan State University
Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Dennis Shippy

November 26, 2020

Ann:
I am saddened to hear of Henry's passing now some 7 years ago. I thought of him when reading today about interest in implementing universal basic income in Europe as a result of the pandemic. I was fortunate to be in Henry's ATL American Radical Thought sequence where utopian writers (Bellamy, Skinner, Vonnegut(!...Player Piano) were introduced to me and discussed enthusiastically. It was the most enjoyable time of my 5 years at MSU, a time when we worried about you when you had a brief paralysis incident that Henry related to us.

I hope this finds you and your family safe and well at this very strange time in our world. My condolences on your loss. Know that Henry's guiding of me and my classmates through the utopian world seems now so prescient and valuable in our present time. God bless you and keep you!

Dennis Shippy
MSU 74-'79

John Bratzel

November 29, 2019

He was my friend

John Bratzel

December 13, 2013

Ann and the family:
I received an email from the ATL (now WRAC) Department that Henry had passed and I was very sorry to hear the news. Henry helped me out twice, once in getting hired and another when the FBI did not like my view of J. Edgar Hoover. We were opposed to each other politically, but Henry stood with me. It was more appreciated than he ever knew.
I also remember our trip to Burt Lake. Quite a great time Henry will be greatly missed.

December 13, 2013

Dear Ann: Betty and I send our condolences and sympathy to you and your family. Henry provided exemplary service to MSU in his roles as department chairperson of ATL and then History as well as his role as Secretary for Academic Governance. His work for the ACLU was respected and recognized. Best regards, Doug and Betty Noverr, East Lansing

Karenn Vernagus

December 8, 2013

I was a student of Dr Silverman's at Michigan State in the early 1990's. I am so sorry to hear of his passing. Condolences to the family.

Elaine Cherney

December 6, 2013

Dear Ann, I was so sorry to hear of Henry's passing. I worked with him during the time that he chaired ATL and always enjoyed his keen insight. Elaine Cherney

December 5, 2013

Ann and Family,
it is with deep sadness that I write an acknowledgement of Professor Silverman's passing. I learned about this wonderful intellectual sometime in the mid-1970's through one of his undergraduate students of American Radical Thought, my husband Pedro. As a quiet man and not ever given to hero worshipping, Pedro's estimation of Professor Silverman as a grounded, compassionate intellectual all through his years is the closest he came to it. His impact on my husband, my husbands impact on me and on our children is a gift that continues to be paid forward. I am sorry to hear that we will no longer have him asking the challenging questions to change minds and attitudes, but luckily we have the children and grandchildren of the students he impacted. Today, I am sad for the news of his passing.

Duane Gliwa

December 5, 2013

Memory Eternal

December 5, 2013

Dear Ann,
I was very sorry to learn today of Henry's passing. I have fond memories of our aebilskiver breakfast at your home, the lovely reception you gave for Ed and Dick, you and Henry hosting various political gatherings, and the Coral Gables breakfast send-off when you two moved to Florida with your darling dogs. Henry was always very nice to me and I have missed you both. Please accept my deepest sympathy.
Love,
Kate Ojibway

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