Robert Zieger

Robert H. Zieger was born August 2, 1938, in Englewood, New Jersey to John and Grace (Harman) Zieger. He married Gay Pitman in 1962. They had one child, Robert, and a granddaughter Persephone Zieger.

Zieger received his bachelor's degree from Montclair State College in 1960, a master's degree from the University of Wyoming in 1961, and his doctorate in history from the University of Maryland in 1965.

Zieger obtained an appointment as an assistant professor of history at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point in 1964, rising to associate professor by 1973. He was an associate professor of history at Kansas State University from 1973 to 1977, and a professor of history at Wayne State University from 1977 to 1986.

In 1986, Zieger was appointed professor of history at the University of Florida. He was named Distinguished Professor of History in 1998.

Zieger’s teaching style was very student oriented. He used a very detailed website that allows people taking his class to fully understand every single day of lecture. Also, he was adamant about making sure his undergraduates come prepared to discuss the material to be covered in class. This has twofold benefit, as it not only ensures preparation, but also allows students to boost their grade with frequent quizzes covering the reading material.[1]

Zieger's books have twice won the Philip Taft Labor History Book Award for the best book in labor history.

In 1985, Zieger's Rebuilding the Pulp and Paper Workers' Union, 1933–1941 was a Taft Prize co-winner with Paul Avrich's The Haymarket Tragedy.ISBN 978-0-691-00600-0

Zieger won the Taft Prize again in 1995 for his 1994 book, The CIO, 1935–1955.

Zieger was a member of the Organization of American Historians and the Southern Historical Association. He was also a member of the Historians of American Communism, and served as the organization's president from 1989 to 1992.

Zieger had one child, who he named after himself. A Michigan native, Robert attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and after a foray into social work, received his M.A.T. from Duke University. In the course of his career, he has taught a range of social studies courses in the United States, Pakistan, Myanmar, Indonesia, the D.R. Congo, and Bolivia. Robert Zieger has a wife and an eleven year old daughter, Persephone Zieger. Robert currently now teaches Social Studies and Psychology in Dunecrest American School, Dubai.