Fr. Francis Paul Prucha, S.J.

Remember his contribution to history.

Father Prucha's letters of support and encouragement has been instrumental in helping me in my research into Indian Peace Medals. Even within the last couple of years his interest was still keen on that subject and actually was key in one project that was fantastically successful.
Thank you Father Prucha
Mitch Caver
Chickasaw Nation Researcher

Paul Prucha was a leader in his profession and especially in the Western History Association. He was a fondly remembered mentor to me in the Western History Association when he was President of that organization. His incisive mind always cut to the essentials of an issue that others often obscured. I shall always treasure his friendship and guidance.

Paul was a friend, colleague, and--in ways I suspect he didn't realize--mentor to this Presbyterian and historian. We shared some adventures liberally laced with humor over the 40 years we knew each other, as well as time committed to the Western History Association. He was--and I speak here as an editor--a superb writer as well as a superb historian...and human being. Rest in peace, Paul.

Father Prucha was a demanding and meticulous scholar, and unquestionably the world's leading authority on the history of American Indian policy. Although many of us didn't always agree with all of his interpretations (i.e.: Jacksonian Indian policy) we all respected his scholarship and his mastery of detail. I once heard Vine Deloria give him the ultimate compliment - "Heck, I don't always agree with him, but when it comes to the details on the history of the BIA and federal policy, he's...

I knew Paul Prucha from my earliest years, for our parents were very good friends. Both his father, Ed Prucha, and my father, Walker D. Wyman, taught at River Falls State Teachers College, and one of my earliest memories is of a Thanksgiving dinner at the Prucha house.
Many years later I got to know him again at Western Historical Association meetings, and of course we had much to talk about. Our last meeting was when I was doing research for my book "The Wisconsin Frontier," and he...

Father Prucha shaped my career and because of him I have my degees from Marquette and I was fortunte enough to be his friend and we kept in close touch over the years since i movedd from Milwaukee. He recommended me to be the new Assistant Dean of Liberal Arts in 1964. For that I eternally grateful. . He took me to dinner before I moved back to Indiana. .To me he was FAMILY! God rest his good soul

Condolences to the Order of Jesuits,

Having been fortunate to know Fr. Prucha while earning my M.A. in history at Marquette, I remember him as a role model, meticulous scholar, and a dedicated priest.

Paul was a truly wise man as well as a deeply learned and knowledgable scholar. His modesty and colleagiality, coupled with his steadfast allegiance to the highest quality research and writing, made him a hero to me. I deeply treasure our several decades of friendship.