George Henry Merriam

George Merriam, a professor of American history, died on October 15, 2010. He earned his B.A. from Clark University in 1944, his M.A. from Brown University in 1947, and his Ph.D. from Clark University in 1961. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in Italy and other overseas posts during World War II. He was born in Waterville, Maine, and grew up in Worcester, attending public schools and graduating from South High School. He taught at a number of high schools in Maine, at Bates College, and at Fitchburg State College (Mass.), and held administrative positions at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, and served as director of admissions at Clark University, and Fitchburg State College. In addition to his expertise in American colonial history, he had a deep knowledge of railroad history, publishing a number of articles on Maine railroads. He and his wife, Alice Price Merriam, who was also elected to membership in April 2003, did research in Antiquarian Hall with particular interests in genealogy and local histories.