Remembering Journalism History Editor Pam Parry

By Teri Finneman, University of Kansas

Pam Parry, the former editor of Journalism History and one of the foremost national experts on Dwight Eisenhower, has died.

Parry, a professor at Southeast Missouri State University, had just concluded her term as editor of the journal in August.

Former Publications Committee Chairwoman Teri Finneman said she was at a loss for words for how devastating the unexpected loss of Parry is. A decade ago, Parry was Finneman’s boss as her book editor. Then Finneman became Parry’s boss during her time as Journalism History editor.

“We were the perfect good cop/bad cop pair – and you all know which of us was which – especially when it came to defending the division. Our phone calls were constant,” Finneman said. “I can never fully explain to everyone how much invisible work she put in for all of us, how committed she was to everyone else’s work. She was the most selfless person I have ever met.”

Parry often told Finneman that her two major career goals were to serve as editor of Journalism History and as president of AJHA. She was so happy to have been voted into the AJHA leadership chain and know that everyone supported her, Finneman said. She also put her full heart into the 50^th anniversary of the Journalism History journal and was so proud to be part of its legacy.

“Pam was such a brilliant author, editor and teacher,” Finneman said. “She was so looking forward to retirement and finally finishing her book on Eisenhower and gender. I know she was also looking forward to the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl this Sunday. Please, everyone, lift a drink to our dear friend Pam at the start of the game Sunday. This is an incalculable loss for our field. I’m devastated.”

Parry finished her Ph.D. at Southern Miss in fall 2013 and had a book contract to get her dissertation published before her defense, Dave Davies said. 

“For all of us on her committee, we had never had a student who worked as hard as Pam and who did such comprehensive, incredible work as a graduate student. She was one of a kind,” he said.

Parry also led the way in founding the book series Women in American Political History with Lexington Books, recruiting an advisory board of leading scholars and Davies as co-editor. The seven books in the series are one more testament to her drive, he said.

“Losing Pam is heartbreaking. She was an incredible friend, research partner, and scholar,” Davies said. “She was unmatched in her dedication to her friends, her work, and her profession. Her loss is a huge personal loss as well as a loss to journalism and public relations scholarship.”

Davies said he’s never known anyone who cared so deeply for her students. 

“She told me repeatedly that the relationships she forged with her students was the best part of her life as a professor,” he said.

Sonya DiPalma, a close friend and book reviews editor under Parry, said Parry graciously assisted colleagues new to academia or at smaller universities seeking scholarship activities within the discipline.

“She pitched ideas and collaborated with journalism and public relations faculty alike. Having Pam as a colleague meant having a friend for life,” DiPalma said.

Former Journalism History associate editor Kim Mangun said Parry was kind, supportive, and generous with compliments. 

“She worked enthusiastically for AJHA and the AEJMC History Division and devoted her time and energy to advancing communication history,” Mangun said. “She was a teacher, scholar, and friend who will be missed and remembered.”

Former Journalism History associate editor Dianne Bragg said Parry was the consummate editor who valued the work of the authors and her co-editors. 

“She painstakingly went over proofs and encouraged those making revisions. Her attention to detail and understanding of the value of excellence in scholarship was unsurpassed,” Bragg said. “But, more than that, she was a friend to all. She would call just to check in, to say hello, to offer encouragement. She is gone far too soon, and I know all of her friends and family are devastated.”

In an episode of the Journalism History podcast, Parry outlined why our field matters.

“Journalism history matters because it’s the history of America. If you go back to colonial times before we were a country, it was newspapers who led the rallying cry, ‘No taxation without representation,’” Parry said. “And when we founded our nation, it was free expression, free speech, freedom of the press. Those were our founding principles or among them. And so it is so important to understand journalism history because it’s wrapped up in the history of who we are as a people.”

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be shared when available.