Dr. Dwight T. Pitcaithley, former National Park Service chief historian, felt at home in Nacogdoches as he spent a week in October touring the historic city and visiting SFA as a Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow.
Pitcaithley has devoted his life to public history and the preservation of national parks. As chief historian, he was responsible for the management and preservation of the country’s most-beloved national resources.
At SFA, Pitcaithley spoke with various history classes and held a public discussion on the “Centennial of the National Park Service,” which more than 600 people attended. He also had the opportunity to be immersed in SFA’s history with a visit to the Stone Fort Museum.
Dr. Dana Cooper, associate professor in SFA’s Department of History, coordinated Pitcaithley’s visit and was overwhelmed by the event’s success.
“It was wonderful to see Dr. Pitcaithley engaged with the students and faculty in such a positive and inspiring manner,” Cooper said. “It was amazing that someone of his caliber was able to visit SFA for a week and meet with our students on a personal level.”