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~Iii~Espitethe Austrian Accent, Which Rachela APRIL 2002 FOOTNOTES 5 Blau, from page 4 dangerousfor bun to be entertaining so soon his, and I neverwill. That stayed in my mind (Peter Blati, a refugeefrom the work closely with Peter because his first-rate after a major operation. Her unforgettable and returned todayas Isought to honor his Anschluss, used to tell a jokefrom his youth mind retained his inquisitive approach to response was classic Blau: “Oh, it’s perfectly hfe and his memory. that involved God assigning attributes to the solving puzzles and paradoxes. Although he all right. Peter regards the body as simply a various nations. The Lord proposed to make Suzanne Keller firmly believedin his approach to social mind delivery system.” While wewill have to theory and could be single minded and all Germans smart, honest, and National Princeton University carry on now without his corporeal essence, demanding, I do not think he was ever Socialists. The Archangel Michael, however, the many products of his mind will continue convinced God that this zoas too generous. dogmatic when he encountered the alterna- to guide us into the new century. And so it was decreed that each German tiveperspectives that some ofus presented to should haveonly two of the three qualities. Miller McPherson ‘I7~efirst time Imet Peter Blau, very him. Peter told this story to illustrate the idea University of Arizona early in my career, was at a conference in In closing, afew words about theman, that social identities and their complex Albany. I knew who he was but he, I am sure, rather than thescholar, because his published interrelationships might be organized had no idea who Iwas. At the end ofmy talk works areavailable to read and interpret. I according to an underlying logic. He also on exchange networks there were a number of shall remember Peterfor his wit, his love of first acquaintance with Peter Blau developed this theme into a powerful £V1~ tough questions from the audience. Istood the theater, and his keen interest in discuss- was through The American Occupational frozen for afew minutes as the man Iknew ing current events. Moreover, I will remem- sociological theory, showing as well as any Structure when Iwas a graduate student. At was Peter Blau stood up to speak. Myfear ber Peter as a humanist who ended his books sociologist ever how a significant model could the University of Wisconsin in theearly be built on thebasis ofparsimonious melted when, instead ofaddressing yet with relatively optimistic portrayals ofhow 1970s, this book was the stimulus for aflood assumptions, proceeding by arithmetical another tough question my roay, he re- his theoretical insights might help make the ofwork expanding and modifying social sponded to theformer question defending my world a better placefor everyone to live. I logic, and generating testablepropositions. mobility and status attainment models. That sameformal theorist, though, was also results. Ideveloped afondnessfor himfrom suppose that was a bit oldfashioned. Most of When Iwent on to teach graduate social one of the most important empirical research- that moment on. Ihave read Exchange and us would be better scholars if weshared that stratification courses, Icame to appreciate ers of the 20t century, using ethnographic Power in Social Lifefrom cover to coverat old-fashioned trait ofcreatingour theoretical Blau and Duncan’s effort even more, arguing fieldwork, in-depth interviews, survey data, least 20 times, and I still teachfrom it. My and empirical edifices in the service ofthe with students that it was notfunctionalist and comparative analysis, all to impressive copy is covered with ink, and thepages are ambitious and somewhat quixotic goals that and did not ignore structure. Imet Peter effect. His work remains among the most yellow. It is, in my view, oneof the most undergirded Peter Blan’s research agenda. Blau on severaloccasions and read his work influential in thesociology oforganizations, important books in sociology. It had a It was an honor and privilege to have been developing aformal structural theory, but 1 strat~Jication, and exchange relations. sweeping goal and a breathtaking approach. Peter Blau’s last student. I am proud that my still thought ofhim largely in termsofhis approach to sociology was honed by hundreds Peter zoas also a teacher able to challenge It was audacious. And, it covered new contributions to social stratification in the ground. It was one ofthefirst comprehensive of conversations with Peter. But it is the man and encourage at the same time. And so he 1970s. Then, at UNC, we roere very luckyto proved that though a broad empirical efforts to build bridges between micro-level for whom Icame to adore, and who Ishall attract Judith Blau to ourfaculty. Peter came generalization might suggest otherwise, God theoriesof action and macro-level social surely miss more and more as time passes. as a trailing spouse, but was almost immedi- structures. “The aim ofthis book is to did not dictate that sociologists could not be Ritchie L. Milby ately an active memberofthe department. I simultaneously great theorists, researchers, contribute to an understanding ofsocial University of California, Berkeley found that he was anything but stuck in past and teachers. structure on the basis ofan analysis ofthe decades. He had a lively interest in the latest Peter always thought the chance to be a social processes that govern the relations sociologist was a wonderful gift. He embraced happenings in thezvorld, the theatre, and between individuals andgroups. The basic the opportunityfully and gratefully. While dance, in thefield in general and in other question that is being raised is how social life gYLst sociologists feel somewhat sociology departments spec~fically. At the some were always anxiousfor their reputa- becomesorganized into increasingly complex uneasyabout the worth ofsociology and of same time, his long and rich life enlightened tions, Peter truly worried moreabout structures ofassociation among men” (Blau, their own intellectual achievements, and are his perspective on thepresent. He actively knowledge itself He treasured thehope that 1964: 2). Peter and Ihave crossed paths likely to offer an evasive, self-deprecatory sought on t his colleagues, going down the his sociology would help to improve society, many timessince thatfirst contact. In Chapel answer to the demand, “Tell inc what you’ve but, above all, he worked tirelessly to improve faculty list systematically arranging lunches Hill, Ioften saw him at hisfavoriterestau- been working on lately.” They feel open to with us. Icould count on him to be an sociology. And with his enormous contribu- rant. Every time he had an engaging smile attack. By contrast, Peter was so dedicated to tions to theory, research, and dozens of interesting, charming companion at a meal or and an accent that grew thickerwith each continual sociological inquiry that he would over drinks. Although he was in the depart- students, he succeeded. encounter. Colleagues,students,friends, and always welcome another companion in this ment less and less often in recent years, he family will miss him. His work will continue search. He cared greatly, and was passion- Craig Calhoun was still a wonderful observer ofcurrent to challengeus and Exchange and Power, ately for or against a wide range ofsociologi- Social Science Research Council events and a presenceat department social among his many othercontributions to cal claims. You had to be ready to defend the gatherings. My last lunch zvith him was in sociology, will leavean enduring legacy. theories you proposed. Notfor him the late January. Iwill miss not having another. And, I will neverforget that conference. understated assertion, the cool restrained ~iIi~espitethe Austrian accent, which RachelA. Rosenfeld Karen S. Cook analysis. About intimate matters, or his personal neverquite disappeared, Peter Blau was the University of North Carolina-Chapel Stanford University quintessential American sociologist. His five- Hill history in Hitler’s epoch, on the other hand, he was close-mouthed. Those near to him say decade career spawned three major revolu- tions in sociological theory since the middle that he began to “open up” in later years, but ofthecentury. Thefirst heralded the ~Vfidoubt Peter Blau advised hundreds Ithink that in all those decades I neverheard l think about Peter, I think about a introduction offundamental notions of A of graduatestudents during his long and him utter afull paragraph about his personal bond weshared that went beyondour exchange in social interaction, opening the distinguished career, but Ihad the privilegeof hegira. Later, I shall coinment on his commitment to sociology and beyond his door to the influx ofmicroeconomic ideasinto beinghis last doctoral student. experience. well-deservedfamefor path breakingand We were peers andfriends for more than a sociological theory. The second period ofhis For severalyears, initially Iwas Peter’s wide-ranging works that inspired more than half-century, and were colleagues in two extraordinary intellectual journey introduced research assistant on empirical studies (with his collaborator Otis Dudley Duncan) onegeneration. Iwill let others praise his designed to test the macrolevel theory, departments. Both ofus served during our the theoryofstatus attainment, still the core impressive contributions to our field and “Heterogeneityand Inequality,” published in one good war, he in the Army, and Iin the sociological view ofsocietal stratification. His would like instead to
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