Ralph R. Fahrney

TO:  All Faculty and Staff Members FROM:  Donald R. Whitnah, Head, Department of History DATE:  May 5, 1976 Dr. Ralph R. Fahrney, emeritus professor of history, died Tuesday, May 4, 1976, at his home in Cedar Falls. Dr. Fahrney was born at Polo, Illinois, on September 24, 1897.  He was graduated from high school at Twin Falls, Idaho, and earned the B. A. degree in 1919 at Mt. Morris College.  He earned the M. A. degree in 1922 and the Ph. D. degree in 1929, both at the University of Chicago.  His major was in American history. He began his teaching career in 1919 at Mt. Morris College and later served as dean of the college and instructor of social science at Mason City Junior College.  He came to the University of Northern Iowa in 1929 as an assistant professor and continued to teach here until his retirement in 1965.  Dr. Fahrney was respected as an extremely effective and inspirational teacher in the offering of basic courses and upper-level subjects, e. g., American Colonial and United States Constitutional History. He continued an active interest in research and writing, including the publication of a book, Horace Greeley and the Tribune in the Civil War.  In addition, he contributed a number of articles to scholarly journals in history and the social sciences . Dr. Fahrney was active in a number of committees at UNI and served as chairman of the Athletic Board.  He was a past president of the Iowa Social Science Teachers and a member of the Iowa History Teachers, American Historical Association, and Mississippi Valley Historical Association . He is survived by his wife Leota (Hershberger) Fahrney, in addition to several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a. m. on Friday, May 7, at the Nottger-Erickson Funeral Home. Burial will be at the Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens.