In Memoriam: Dr. Mark Blum

A Message from Dean Touron

January 29, 2025

Dear A&S Faculty and Staff,

I am deeply saddened to share that one of our current faculty members, Mark Blum, Professor of History, passed away this past weekend at the age of 87. Prof. Blum joined the Department of History in 1976 after receiving his PhD in Modern European History from the University of Pennsylvania. Over his nearly five decades of service to UofL, he advised countless undergraduate and graduate students and inspired many more. In vivid illustration of his impact on students, I urge you to read this poignant profile of him published in the Louisville Cardinal in 2024 by one of his students, Eleanor Ferguson, entitled, “I teach about the Holocaust here at UofL. This generation makes me optimistic they’ll hold leaders accountable.” That one of our students would have the curiosity and eloquence to capture so profoundly the life, work, and reflections of one of her professors speaks volumes about the relationships that are nurtured in our academic community. 

Blum taught courses in modern Germany, the Holocaust, the Enlightenment, the philosophy of history, and a modern world survey course. He published numerous academic articles and over nine books, several focusing upon the epistemology of human consciousness. In addition to modern European intellectual history, Blum also published works on teaching methodology. Most recently, his final book, The Metahistory of Western Knowledge in the Modern Era: Four Evolving Metaparadigms, 1648 to Present (Anthem Press, 2021) was published in a Russian translation in 2024. Of this work, Hans Kellner, Professor of English at North Carolina State University, said:

Blum’s vision is as panoramic as the title suggests, moving freely among fields usually kept separate from Pufendorff to Elfriede Jelinek. The work will stimulate discussion and controversy, as ambitious projects always do. It will interest anyone who values the European tradition of grand meta-historical thinking. Whatever one’s verdict on Blum's “metaparadigms,” it is heartening to see the revival of a genre that had once seemed defunct.

Blum also recently served as a reviewer for Fullbright/International Institute of Education for Germany and German Switzerland. The History Honors Society, Phi Alpha Theta, posted these words in dedication:

Dr. Blum’s unwavering dedication to the History Department at the University of Louisville shaped generations of historians and left an undeniable mark on all who had the privilege to learn from him both inside and outside the classroom. His passion for history, guidance, and commitment to his students will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched. 

We have lost not only an esteemed scholar and dedicated educator, but also a cherished member of our community whose kindness, intellect, and passion left an indelible mark on all who knew him. His legacy is evident through the students he mentored, the knowledge he shared, and the insights he contributed to his field. Please join me in honoring and remembering his legacy. 

Sincerely, 

Dayna Touron, Ph.D.
Dean