In memoriam: Walter Nugent, the Andrew V. Tackes Professor Emeritus of History | News | Notre Dame News | University of Notre Dame Skip To Content Skip To Navigation Skip To Search University of Notre Dame Notre Dame News Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Home Contact Search Menu Home › News › In memoriam: Walter Nugent, the Andrew V. Tackes Professor Emeritus of History In memoriam: Walter Nugent, the Andrew V. Tackes Professor Emeritus of History Published: September 30, 2021 Author: Dennis Brown Candles in the Grotto Walter Nugent, the Andrew V. Tackes Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Notre Dame, died Sept. 8 in Seattle. He was 86. Rev. Thomas E. Blantz, C.S.C., professor emeritus of history at Notre Dame, remembers Nugent as “an excellent colleague, a man of wide interests, a recognized expert in his chosen field, a generous mentor to the young, an enjoyable friend with a winning sense of humor, and a provider of that quiet example and leadership that a senior chairholder can bring to an academic department.” Born in Watertown, New York, Nugent earned his doctorate in American history from the University of Chicago in 1961 after previously receiving a master’s degree in European history from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree from St. Benedict’s College. He began a long and productive teaching and research career as an instructor in history at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, and then as an assistant professor at Kansas State University. He joined the faculty of Indiana University in 1963 and spent 21 years in Bloomington, the last 16 as a full professor. He served in a variety of administrative positions, including associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, associate dean for central administration, director of the study abroad programs and chair of the Department of History. Nugent was appointed the inaugural Tackes Professor of History at Notre Dame in 1984. Throughout his career he also held visiting professorships at Columbia University, New York University, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Warsaw University in Poland and University College Dublin. Nugent taught undergraduate and graduate courses primarily on U.S. migration, the Gilded Age and progressive era, and the U.S. West. His research focused on westward migration in the United States, populism and demography. He was the author, co-author or editor of more than a dozen books, including “Color Coded: Party Politics in the American West, 1950-2016,” “Into the West: The Story of its People” and “Crossings: The Great Transatlantic Migrations, 1870-1914”. He was the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and Beinecke Fellowship, the Warsaw University Medal of Merit and two Fulbright Awards. He also was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Nugent is survived by his wife, Suellen Hoy, who also taught history at Notre Dame, six children, eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, a sister and a brother. The family has requested donations be made in lieu of flowers to the Indiana University Archives. Posted In: University News Home Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Related October 03, 2022 Congresswoman Liz Cheney to speak at Notre Dame on the future of democracy September 22, 2022 In memoriam: Rev. Richard Warner, C.S.C., longtime leader for Notre Dame, Congregation of Holy Cross September 22, 2022 ND Forum keynote event to feature Emmy Award-winning actors in Theater of War Productions’ presentation of ‘The Suppliants’ in Notre Dame Stadium September 21, 2022 In annual address to faculty, Father Jenkins outlines campus-wide vision for elevating excellence September 15, 2022 Lilly Endowment Inc. grant helps to expand Notre Dame pre-college programs for Hoosier high school students For the Media Contact Office of Public Affairs and Communications Notre Dame News 500 Grace Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Pinterest © 2022 University of Notre Dame Search Mobile App News Events Visit Accessibility Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn