Richard H. Mitchell, Curators’ Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of History at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, died on March 25, 2022, from complications from a fall. He was two weeks shy of his 91st birthday.

 

Mitchell spent nearly 40 years as a faculty member at UMSL, beginning in 1970 and continuing through his retirement in 2009. He was a highly-respected scholar of Japanese and Korean history, publishing prolifically on wide-ranging subjects such as censorship in imperial Japan, Korean minorities, political criminals and the notorious Teijin Scandal. Mitchell received the Chancellor’s Award for Research and Creativity in 1992 and a Curators’ Professor appointment in 2001. He was a research associate and friend and colleague to many in the UMSL Center for International Studies throughout the years. 

 

“Dick left an indelible mark on the many students and colleagues he worked with over decades,” wrote Professor Laura Westhoff, chair of the Department of History. “His remaining colleagues in the History Department remember fondly Dick’s fashionable attire, his colorful stories, knowledgeable conversation on nearly any topic and especially his no non-sense advice and unwavering support for his very junior colleagues. Dick was the first to greet us when we moved into our offices, usually sharing much needed department and campus insights.”

 

Mitchell had faculty appointments at the State University of New York at New Paltz, University of Nebraska and University of Rochester before coming to St. Louis. UMSL was still in its early days then, and he was among the dedicated faculty who made their careers at the university.

 

He continued occasional teaching and conducting active research for several years after retiring. He often would run, walk or drive his classic beater to pick up his daily New York Timesand enjoy visits with his colleagues and friendsuntil the pandemic closed campus in March 2020.   

 

Born in 1931 in Beardstown, Illinois, a descendent of Abraham Lincoln’s mother, Mitchell was proud of his family lineage. He joined the Army and served in Japan and Korea during the Korean Conflict. Wounded, he recuperated in Japan, where he became captivated with the country and also learned Japanese.

 

That served him well when he returned to the United States and pursued studies in Japanese history. With the support of the G.I. Bill, Mitchell earned his BS, MA and PhD at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, completing his doctorate in 1963.

 

He had returned to Japan during his time as a graduate student and met Yoshiko, the great love of his life and to whom he was married for 62 years. She described him as an “endlessly loving husband, a friend of sterling, unfailing caliber. He was a character, unforgettable.”

 

Mitchell is survived by his wife and a wide circle of friends.