Andrew Blane (USA)

Andrew Blane (1929-2019) first studied theology and, while at Cambridge University, he traveled to the Soviet Union to attend the World Festival of Youth and Students in 1957. The trip changed his life. He returned to his native America to study at Duke University for a PhD, but switched his field of study from religion to Russia. He became a professor of Russian history at the City University of New York in 1965. He published five books during his academic career, including the definitive biography of the Russian ecumenical priest Georges Florovsky – whom he met during a period of study at Harvard.

During the 1960's he was active in the civil rights and anti-war movements, and in 1969 he joined Amnesty International. In 1974, he became the first person from the Americas to serve on AI's International Executive Committee, and was vice-chairman of that Committee from 1979-1981. In 1977 he was one of nine delegates from Amnesty to travel to Oslo to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. His wide-ranging library reflects his interests in religion, politics, human rights and much more. His family hopes that it will be of help to future students in these subjects.