James M. Powell succumbed after a courageous battle for life following a car accident. He was professor emeritus of medieval history in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, where he taught for more than 30 years.
“Jim Powell was a wonderful colleague as well as a distinguished historian of medieval Europe. He will be deeply missed,” says Carol Faulkner, associate professor and chair of the history department in the Maxwell School.
He was a member of the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, N.J., and a corresponding fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He was a founding member of the Midwest Medieval History Conference, as well as an attendee and contributor to the international Congress on Medieval Studies. He wrote and co-authored a multitude of publications in his field.
Powell contributed to several books, including “Leopold von Ranke and the Shaping of the Historical Discipline” (Syracuse University Press, 1989), which he co-edited and wrote the introduction for. He authored “Anatomy of a Crusade, 1213-1221” (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1986), which won the John Gilmary Shea Prize from the American Catholic Historical Association.
He is survived by six children; seven grandchildren; one great-grandson; he was predeceased by his wife, Judy, in February of 1992.
A Mass of Christian burial will be Saturday, Feb. 5, at 10 a.m. at All Saints Church, 1340 Lancaster Ave., Syracuse. Calling hours will be on both Friday from 4:30 to 7 p.m at the Burns-Garfield Funeral Home, and from 9-10 a.m. Saturday at All Saints Church. Powell will be buried next to his wife at St. Mary’s Cemetery in DeWitt following the service.
Donations can be made to the Salvation Army or Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Beth Egan, associate professor of advertising in the Newhouse School, was quoted in the CNY Central story “Syracuse University to rename the Carrier Dome – what name would fans choose?” Egan, who specializes in strategic communications and advertising, discussed why…
We want to know how you experience Syracuse University. Take a photo and share it with us. We select photos from a variety of sources. Submit photos of your University experience using #SyracuseU on social media, fill out a submission…
Matthew Huber, professor of geography and the environment in the Maxwell School, was interviewed for the Diet Soap Media Podcast episode “Can the Working Class End PMC Environmentalism?” Huber, who studies climate politics, discussed his new book that unpacks the failures…
Jenny Breen, associate professor of law in the College of Law, authored the Common Dreams opinion piece “The ‘Raw Judicial Power’ of Samuel Alito Is an Attack on Dignity, Autonomy, and Progress.” Breen, who teaches Constitutional law, discussed the leak…
An art installation created by Sam Van Aken, associate professor of studio arts in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, was featured in the Thrillist story “Governors Island’s New Orchard Is a Treasure Trove of Rare Fruits.” Van Aken, who…
If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.
