Mr. Lloyd Ultan

Historian

Mr. Ultan displayed an interest in history from a young age. By growing up and dedicating his studies to the history of the United States, as well as other countries, his interest grew. He later came to the realization that he did not know much about his own hometown, so he turned his attention to The Bronx, where he was born in 1938 and has lived his entire life.

Looking back to his academic endeavors, Mr. Ultan received his Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Hunter College in 1959, where he majored in History and minored in Political Science. He achieved his Master of Arts from Columbia University in 1960, majoring in American History. During his student days, Mr. Ultan was chosen for membership in the Sigma Lambda, Alpha Chi Alpha, and Phi Alpha Theta honor societies.

Mr. Ultan embarked on his teaching career as an associate at Edward Williams College, Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1964, where he would progress to Assistant Professor and then to Associate Professor. In 1981, Mr. Ultan earned his promotion to Professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mr. Ultan remains at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he was awarded the title of Distinguished Professor for Scholarship and Research.

Mr. Ultan is also highly recognized in his profession as a consultant, having been invited as a guest lecturer for numerous institutions, such as Herbert H. Lehman College, Bronx Community College, Fordham University, City College of New York, Hunter College and Columbia University. He has also been involved in various panel discussions and symposia for institutions such as the Bronx Museum of the Arts, Saint Ann’s Episcopal Church, the Southern New York State Symposium on the Bronx River, and the 125th anniversary of the Bronx Park System. He has also featured in TV and radio documentaries in the US, Britain, Canada, Hong Kong and Germany. He is also known for leading walking and bus tours of landmarks and historical areas of the borough of The Bronx.

Mr. Ultan served as Vice President of the Teaneck Chapter of the American Association of University Professors and Secretary of the Council of Fairleigh Dickinson University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors from 1992 to 1993. He was also involved with the New-York Historical Society, the American Historical Association, the New York City Committee on Cultural Concerns and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs’ Program Guidelines Committee. He was also selected to serve on the New York City Mayor’s Task Force on Spontaneous Memorials in 2002.

Appointed to the government office of Bronx Borough Historian in 1996, Mr. Ultan is a valued member of his community. He was elected president of the 91 Van Cortlandt Owners Corp. He helped found the Bronx Council on the Arts and served on the Board of Directors for the National Shrine of the Bill of Rights. His active civic life also includes serving the Bronx County Historical Society as its President and in various other roles and he was also involved with the Bronx Borough President’s Bicentennial Advisory Committee, Historic Preservation Committee of St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, the Bronx Civic League and was chosen as President of the Bronx Day Commission.

With a specialist’s knowledge of the history of the Bronx, Mr. Ultan has shared his thoughts and findings as an author. Publishing over 10 books, his works include ‘The Northern Borough: A History of the Bronx’, ‘The Bronx County Building’s Historical Murals: An Artistic Legacy,’ ‘The Bronx in the Innocent Years: 1890-1925’ and ‘Presidents of the United States, Volume VI of Roots of the Republic.’ He has also co-authored titles such as ‘A Historical Sketch of the Bronx’ and ‘The Bronx: The Ultimate Guide to New York City’s Beautiful Borough.’

Mr. Ultan received Fairleigh Dickinson University’s 50-Year Award in 2014. He also received numerous other awards throughout his illustrious career, including the New York City Book Award for Outstanding Borough History from the New York Society Library in 2000, the Award of Honor from Bissel Gardens’ in 1999, the Bronx County Historical Society’s Edgar Allan Poe Award for Literary Excellence in 1996, the Bronx Landmarks Education Award in 1995, the Outstanding Faculty Award from Fairleigh Dickinson University as well as Edward Williams College’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award in 1994. In a pinnacle moment of his career, he received the Key to the borough of The Bronx in 2014. He was also Named a Centennial Historian of New York City in 1998 and earlier had been elected to the Alumni Association of Hunter College Hall of Fame in 1974.

Mr. Ultan has also been profiled in various issues of Who’s Who titles including Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Education, Who’s Who in the East and Who’s Who in the World.

Mr. Ultan attributes his success to his aspiration to discover and explore and share his wealth of knowledge with others. He also acknowledges his family and colleagues for their continued support.