John J. O'Connor (historian)

John Joseph O'Connor (November 9, 1904 – June 5, 1978) was an American historian, sociologist, author, and educator who specialized in social justice and improving relations between different racial and religious groups.

[2] After receiving his master's degree, O'Connor began his teaching career at Georgetown where he progressed from instructor of history to assistant professor (1927-1936).

[3] After serving for two years in the Ordnance Department of the U.S. Army (1943-1945), he returned to Georgetown as a history professor in the School of Foreign Service, where he remained until his retirement in 1967.

[4] O'Connor was the author or co-author of several books, including Twenty-Five in Ireland (Brent Knold Press, 1932); Catholic Revival in England (Macmillan, 1942); and two textbooks that he co-authored with St. John's University colleague Walter L. Willigan: Sociology (Longmans Green and Company, 1940), and Social Order (Longmans Green and Company, 1941).

O'Connor was a founder and secretary of the Catholic Interracial Council of Washington, D.C., and for his work in improving racial relationships he was one of the two winners of the 1949 James Hoey Award from the Catholic Interracial Council of New York City.