I have been a faculty member in the Departments of History and of Humanities/Religious Studies since my arrival at CSUS in 1970.  I was Chair of the Department of History from 1995 to 2001, and then again in 2003-04.  I am from Atlanta, Georgia, and I owe much to my parents, George and Eleanor Craft, who were always kind, loving and encouraging; they also had a good sense of humor.  I have five children ranging in age from 42 to 30 (Jennifer, James, Sarah, Elisabeth and Michael) who currently live in New York and various parts of California, and three stepchildren (Trevor, Lauren and Darren), all of whom live in California.  I enjoy parenting, travel, especially in Europe and Latin America, hiking in the Sierra and elsewhere, computing, studying languages, reading literature and history, exploring the art scene in Sacramento and the Bay Area, music, movies and other aspects of Sacramento and Bay Area culture.  I share all my interests with my wife Lilly (we were married on June 1, 2006).  I lived in Sacramento for 33 years, but moved to Benicia in 2003. Teaching continues to be satisfying because it forces me to think and work, and because many students are appreciative and seem to profit from my courses.  I think history and humanities should be fun and intriguing; I hope students leave my classes with a desire to explore further the past, particularly the arts and humanities. My research interests are currently focused on the history of CSUS, and on the history of the arts in Sacramento.

 Preparing a Lecture.

  He has the Venetian Lion by the Tail.    

Education

• A.B., University of Notre Dame, 1964
• B.A., Oxford University, 1966
• Ph.D., Stanford University, 1971

Courses Taught

• Hist 50 -- World Civilizations, Beginnings to 1600
• Hist 117 -- Europe in the Nineteenth Century
• Hist 280 -- The German Problem in the 19th Century
• Hist/HRS 127 - Evolution of Christianity Since the Reformation
• HRS 134 -- Culture of the Baroque and Enlightenment
• HRS 135 -- The Romantic Spirit
• HRS 166 -- The Modern Temper
• LIBA 200B -- Culture and Expression: II
• HRS 180 -- The Film
• Hist/HRS 169 -- Hollywood and America

Papers and Publications

I have written several articles and reviews regarding French nationalism and politics in the late 19th Century.  I am the author of the history of CSUS, California State University, Sacramento: The First Forty Years, 1947-1987 (1987), and am currently working on a revised edition.

Research Projects/Interests

My current interests are the intersection between the humanities and history in the 19th and 20th centuries; and on updating the university history, bringing it up to the new millennium.