Reginald E. Zelnik

Reginald E. Zelnik (1936–2004) was a Professor of History at the University of California, Berkeley. He actively participated in the 1964 Free Speech Movement (FSM), advocating for student rights while maintaining commitment to legal procedures. His scholarly focus centered on Russian labor history, emphasizing individual human experiences within broader socio-political contexts. Zelnik directed the Institute of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (1977–1980) and chaired Berkeley’s History Department (1994–1997). A renowned mentor, he advised 28 Ph.D. dissertations and fostered global networks of Russian historians. His work blended rigorous scholarship with ethical engagement, evident in studies like Law and Disorder on the Narova River (2004).

Education: B.A. (magna cum laude) Princeton University; Ph.D. Stanford University. Professional service included roles on the Academic Senate’s 1967 Governance Commission and leadership in Berkeley faculty governance.

Research emphasized strikes as social justice conflicts, individual agency in historical narratives, and Stalin-era biographies. His final projects included a comparative study of strikes in France, Germany, and Russia, and a biography of labor historian Anna Pankratova.