David J. Pivar

David J. Pivar, Ph.D., one of the country’s foremost historians on American social-purity movements, passed away on Tuesday, January 8, 2019, in Decatur, Georgia, at the age of 85.

Born in Philadelphia in 1933 to Benjamin, a businessman, and Mary, a homemaker. The accidental death of his father in 1937 profoundly altered his childhood. At age six, he would leave his mother and two sisters to attend Girard College, a charity boarding school for fatherless boys of academic promise.

Upon graduating from Girard, he left Philadelphia to study business at New York University. He soon realized his true passion lie in teaching. A draft notice from the U.S. Army however, temporarily interrupted his plans, with Dr. Pivar serving his country during the Korean War. Upon leaving the Army, he returned to Pennsylvania and obtained a degree in Education at Millersville State Teaching College. Dr. Pivar followed this with a Master’s degree from Temple University and a doctorate in History from the University of Pennsylvania.

In 1965, he moved to California to become a professor of history at California State University at Fullerton. Over thirty-one years, he played a major role in revising both the undergraduate and graduate history curriculum, ultimately founding and chairing the university’s American Studies Department to focus critical scholarship on issues of race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality. Significantly, Dr. Pivar taught the university’s first courses in women’s studies and contributed numerous articles advancing the scholarship in the burgeoning field.

His first book, Purity Crusade: Sexual Morality and Social Control, 1868-1900, published in 1973, was path-breaking study of American social-purity movements, feminism, and social reform. A second book, Purity and Hygiene: Women, Prostitution and the ‘American Plan,’ 1900-1930, published in 2002, explored new questions about American feminism, Progressive reforms, public health, and the significance of women's suffrage.

He felt strongly in the importance of contributing to society in a positive way and sought to instill this belief to his children, his students, and friends. In 1996, Dr. Pivar retired as professor emeritus, but continued to pursue scholarship and intellectual pursuits, while enjoying his love of politics, sports, travel, and family.

He is survived by his wife, Judy E. Pivar; a son and daughter from his first marriage to Phyllis Wenograd Pivar, Benjamin Pivar and Naomi Pivar Godfrey; a son and daughter from his second marriage to Janet Pivar Green, Jonathan Pivar and Rachel Pivar Milligan; and seven grandchildren, Megan, Sara, Adam, Ryan, Connor, Claire and Reese. He is also survived by his younger sister, Mona Pivar Roman.

A family service will be held on March 2, at Har Jehuda Cemetery, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. Contributions in Dr. Pivar’s memory may be made to The Development Office, Girard College, 2101 S. College Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19121 or at https://www.girardcollege.edu/support-us/donate.