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A HANKERING FOR HISTORY

An Interview with Dr. Don Worcester

Professor says careers in history offer gateway of possibilities

by Tressa A. Battee
Texas Christian University
senior, advertising/public relations

Ask professor Don Worcester why he chose a career in history, and he’ll ask you ‘why not'?

“History is just as good a background as any,” said Worcester, who's been teaching the subject at TCU for the past 25 years. “A lot of it depends on the person and how they use it. What applies to history can apply to a lot of other things.”

Worcester should know. The 82-year-old professor has spent a lifetime not only teaching the subject of history, but also making it. His list of accomplishments include authoring 31 books and 42 published articles, editing a leading historical magazine, teaching at six universities, and chairing the history departments at two universities.

That’s doesn’t even touch on the wealth of experience he gained during the cowboy years of his youth spent in the deserts of Arizona. Cowboy boots, a pair of worn jeans and a nice plaid shirt are the office attire for Worcester even today.

Worcester confessed that he doesn’t remember exactly what it was about history that inspired him to pursue a career. Heck, at his age, he said he’s lucky if he can remember anything from last week. Why he’s stayed in the history field for all these years, however, is crystal clear.

“It’s fun. It’s about people,” he said. “What’s more fun than people?” Worcester’s advice to students thinking about pursuing a career in history is to first figure out what their goal is.

“If it’s to make money, then don’t do it,” he said. “If it’s to find a life where you can probably do good for people, for students … and you enjoy it ... then go for it.”

The importance of history is simple, according to Worcester. “If you don’t know your own history, you’re doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over again,” Worcester said.

To have a population that’s aware of its past would be the ultimate fulfillment of history, Worcester said. But a degree in history can lead to all sorts of things.
Besides when you can’t remember all those historical facts anymore, Worcester said you can always do what he did. Write a novel.