Marzolf, Marion Tuttle

Journalist, professor in the University of Michigan Department of Communication.

Marion Tuttle Marzolf has committed her life to the education of journalists. In a teaching career that spanned over thirty years, she taught in the Department of Journalism and Communication, the Scandinavian Studies Program and the American Culture Program of the University of Michigan.

Marzolf earned a B.A. in Journalism at Michigan State University in 1952. She worked as a reporter, a copywriter, and a free-lance writer for The Washington Post, the Biloxi Bulletin, and the South Kent News . In 1963 Marzolf earned an M.A. in Journalism from the University of Michigan. She subsequently earned a Ph.D. in American Culture from the same university in 1972.

Although she began as a journalist, Marzolf's career focused on teaching and administration. Her concern with educating journalists at the undergraduate and graduate levels led her to develop new courses, write grants, and spearhead a minority workshop for high school students. Marzolf's work to educate journalists spread beyond the Ann Arbor campus into the national arena. She served on numerous committees in both the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) and Women in Communications, Inc. (WIC).

In addition to teaching, Marzolf held a variety of administrative posts throughout the university. In the Department of Communication, she served as director of Undergraduate Studies, director of the M.A. Program in Journalism and in Mass Communication, and finally as Associate Chair. During her administrative career the Department of Communication faced reorganization of its programs and structure. Both her administrative work and her work on committees within the department reflect her role in this process. Her broader interests are reflected in her other administrative posts as director of the Scandinavian Studies Program within the Department of Germanic Languages and Literature and as acting director of the American Culture Program.

One of Marzolf's interests was the High School Minority Summer Workshop, which alternated between Wayne State, the University of Michigan and Michigan State. This program supported high school students interested in pursuing journalism careers through an intense summer program.

A distinguished publication record emphasizes Marzolf's various research interests. Two books, Civilizing Voices: American Press Criticism 1880-1950 (1990) and The Danish-Language Press in America (1972) concentrate on Marzolf's interest in print and ethnic press. A third book, Up from the Footnote: A History of Women Journalists (1977), was awarded second prize for best book in Journalism History by Kappa Tau Alpha in 1978. Marzolf has also presented papers at numerous conferences throughout the country.

Marion T. Marzolf was well respected by her peers inside and outside of the University of Michigan community. In August 1994 she was awarded the William Taft Kappa Tau Alpha Outstanding Adviser award at AJEMC, and in 1990, she was honored with the Faculty Recognition Award at the University of Michigan.