Sally Jean Marks, 86, an internationally known scholar of twentieth century European history, died Saturday, January 13, 2018 in Bethlehem, PA. Born January 18, 1931 in New Haven, CT she was the daughter of the late Percy Marks, writer, and Margaret Gates Marks Barton, artist. Sally attended the Prospect Hill School for Girls before graduating from Wellesley College with honors. After working at the Defense Department in Washington, she gained her MA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a PhD in international history from the University of London (London School of Economics).
Professor Marks taught at St. Margaret’s School, Waterbury, CT, the Laycock School, Westport, CT, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Rhode Island College, and Brown University. In addition to numerous articles in journals in this country and abroad, she published four volumes of history, specializing in inter-war European international relations. Her monograph, Innocent Abroad: Belgium at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, won the George Louis Beer Prize of the American Historical Association (AHA) and the senior scholar award of Phi Alpha Theta, the history honorary society.
She received fellowships from the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, the American Council of Learned Societies, and the AHA. A member of numerous historical organizations, she chaired committees for the AHA, the Society of Historians of American Foreign Relations, and the Conference Group for Central European History. A member of the Tauber Institute, l’Institut royal des relations internationales in Brussels, and the Royal Anglo-Belgian Club in London, she also served on the Editorial Board of H-Diplo, the internet discussion group for diplomatic historians.
Professor Marks was a member of the RI Historical Society, the Providence Art Club, the Providence Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Providence Athenaeum and its book group. She served on the governing boards of Common Cause of RI, Project Learn, the American Association of University Professors of RI, the Providence branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the Friends of the Rochambeau Library, and the Mystery Buffs of RI. She also tutored for Volunteers in Providence Schools, was a docent at the Holocaust Museum of RI, and worked on book sales for the AAUW, the Rochambeau Library and the Athenaeum.
She is survived by her stepsister, Wendy Bingert of Easton, PA; her niece, Suzanne Bingert, and her nephews, Thomas Bingert and Stephen Bingert and his wife Kiasha and their daughter Ginger.
Services are private; the Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.
H. Philip West Jr.
January 17, 2018 at 11:44 am
Sally brought clarity and conviction to every room she entered. At Common Cause Rhode Island, where she served on the state board, she shared historical perspective for critical decisions. She helped shape legislation that challenged and finally pushed back a culture of corruption. No single leader, no political party, no organization could have converted betrayals of public trust into historic reforms, but Sally did what she could when she could. For that, all of us who worked with her remain deeply grateful.
H. Philip West Jr., retired director and author of SECRETS & SCANDALS: Reforming Rhode Island, 1986-2006
Professor Sidney Aster, Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto
January 20, 2018 at 8:54 am
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Sally Marks. We were both PH.students at the LSE in the mid-1960s. Afterwards we kept in touch on various historical questions. She was always kindly, generous and helpful. I retain the fondest memories of her.
Susan Poor
January 22, 2018 at 8:10 am
Of all the professors I had at Rhode Island College, Dr. Marks is the one I remember most of all. She was brilliant, imposing and yet so very approachable. She knew her material well and conveyed it to us with animation and wit. My condolences to her family who must be so very proud of her accomplishments.
Inge T. Chafee, Providence, RI
February 26, 2018 at 9:50 pm
Sally was one of the senior members of the Athenaeum Book Group when I joined it some twenty years ago. She was the intellectual backbone of the group, learned, sharp-eyed, outspoken and just managing to be forbearing when the book we discussed did not come up to her standards. She leaves a great void and we will miss her.
DEBORAH Holmes Ward, Northwood, NH
December 24, 2018 at 2:58 pm
Sally Marks was the bridesmaid at my mother’s wedding here in 1951, in Northwood. She was one of Mom’s best friends. The few times she visited they talked none stop of good times, past time, and prospects. As one of Mom’s old friends I tried to keep her updated on happenings here. She is not forgotten.