Edward Cox, associate professor emeritus of history at Rice University in Houston, Texas, has passed away at the age of 81.
Dr. Cox’s career at Rice University spanned nearly three decades. During his long tenure, he was dedicated to advancing opportunities for Black students. He served as a member of the university’s Task Force on Slavery, Segregation, and Racial Injustice, as well as the faculty sponsor for the Black Student Association. He was also the founding director of the Mellon Undergraduate Fellowship program, which supported underrepresented students interested in pursuing doctorates. In recognition of his contributions to the university, he was four-time recipient of the George R. Brown Price for Excellence in Teaching and earned the Meritorious Service Award in 2018.
As an academic, Dr. Cox’s research interests included Caribbean history, Blacks in the Americas, post-emancipation societies, and the United States civil rights movement. He was the author of numerous scholarly publications including his book, Free Coloreds in the Slave Societies of St. Kitts and Grenada, 1763-1833 (University of Tennessee Press, 1984).
A native of Grenada, Dr. Cox earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of the West Indies. He received his master’s degree and doctorate from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
