Curriculum Vitae
Richard L. Watson III
Professor of History
Address: 313 Charlotte Street
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
(252) 443-9734
Department of History
North Carolina Wesleyan College
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
(252) 985-5119
Date of Birth: 27 June 1945
Academic Degrees
Ph..D.
Boston University
M.A.
Boston University
B.A.
Duke University
1974
1970
1967
African History
History
History
Dissertation: “The Seleka-Rolong and the Wesleyan Methodist Missionaries, 1823-1884”,
Norman R. Bennett, director.
Professional Experience
1968-1970
Teaching Fellow, Boston University, Department of History
1970-1972
Lecturer, Boston University, Department of History
1972 - present Professor of History, North Carolina Wesleyan College
1981-1982
Visiting Part-time Lecturer in History, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Summer, 1988 Adjunct Professor of History, North Carolina State University
Fall, 1994
Adjunct Professor of History, North Carolina State University
Courses Taught, 1972-present
Western Civilization to 1789
Western Civilization since 1789
Introduction to Modern Africa
African-American History
Slave Revolts in the United States*
Traditional African Cultures*
South African History
Colonialism in Africa*
Eastern and Southern African History
West African History*
Europe, 1900-1939
French Revolution and Napoleon
Cultural Anthropology
Film and Politics (an honors course)
Senior Seminar
* indicates taught only once, as a special project
Other Major Responsibilities at N. C. Wesleyan
Chair, Faculty Council, 1984-85, 1990-1991, 1993-1994, 1998-1999
Member, Steering Committee, SACS accreditation self-study, 1997- 2000
Chair, Social Science Division, 1997-1998
Chair, Faculty Personnel Committee, 1995-96
Member, Presidential Search Committee, 1994-95
Chair, History Department, 1979-1984, 1990-1992
Director, Wesleyan Film Series, 1978-1988
Chair, Student Life Committee, 1973-1975
Member, Steering Committee, SACS accreditation self-study, 1988-1990
Chair, Martin Luther King Birthday Committee, 1989-1998
Advisor, Multicultural Awareness Committee, 1994-1996
Chair, Campus “Day for Wesleyan” fundraising drive, 1998.
Faculty Marshall, 1999-
Current Professional and Academic Associations Memberships
Southeastern Regional Seminar in African Studies
Association of Concerned Africa Scholars
South African Historical Society
Publications: Books
THE SLAVE QUESTION: LIBERTY AND PROPERTY IN SOUTH AFRICA (Hanover:
University Press of New England and Wesleyan University Press, 1990)
SOUTH AFRICA IN PICTURES (Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, 1988)
Publications: Articles (* denotes refereed publication)
“’Prize Negroes’ and the Development of Racial Attitudes in the Cape Colony,” South African
Historical Journal, 43 (2000), 138-162*
“United States Relations with Africa,” Dictionary of American History (New York, 1996).
“United States Relations with Somalia,” ibid.
“Robert Sobukwe,” Encyclopedia of World Biography , (20th Century suppl., McGraw-Hill,
1994)
“ F. W. de Klerk,” ibid., 1990.
“Mangosuthu Buthelezi,” ibid.,
“Oliver Tambo,” ibid.
“Desmond Tutu, ibid.
“Religion and Antislavery at the Cape of Good Hope,” Discovering the African Past,
(Boston: Trustees of Boston University, 1987), 95-107. *
“Slavery and Ideology: the South African Case,” International Journal of African Historical
Studies, 20 (1987), 27-43. *
“Anton Lembede,” Encyclopedia of World Biography (20th century suppl., New York:
McGraw-Hill, 1987).
“The Subjection of a South African State: Thaba Nchu, 1880-1884,” Journal of African
History, 21 (1980), 357-373. *
“Review Essay: American Scholars and the Continuity of African Culture in the United
States,” Journal of Negro History, LXII (1978), 375-386.*
“Missionary Influence at Thaba Nchu: a Reassessment,” International Journal of African
Historical Studies, 10 (1977), 394-407. *
Numerous book reviews in International Journal of African Historical Studies, The
Historian, Africana Journal, The South Atlantic Quarterly, Kronos, and Bulletin of the Southern
Association of Africanists, African Economic History.
Grants and Honors:
American Philosophical Society Research Grant, 1998
United Methodist Award for Exemplary Teaching, 1992
Alumni Distinguished Professor, 1991-1992
Jefferson-Pilot Professorship, 1986-1987
American Philosophical Society Research Grant, 1984
Brewster Prize for best paper read at Association of Historians in Eastern North Carolina
meetings, 1984-1985.
Office of Education Group Project Abroad participant (Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory
Coast), 1978
Lilly Foundation Scholarship and Grant, 1976.
Featured Speaker, chosen by the senior class, N.C. Wesleyan Honors Convocation,
1975.
Community Service:
Judge, Braswell Public Library’s High School Quiz Bowl, 1998- 2002
Member, Rocky Mount Martin Luther King Birthday Commission, 1989-1999.
Judge, Martin Luther King Birthday Oratorical Contest, 1992-1994.
Seminar leader, Great Decisions Program, 1978, 1983.
Member, Mayor’s Bikeways Committee, 1974-1975.
Numerous presentations to civic clubs, church groups, etc.