Reavis L. Mitchell Jr.

Reavis Lee Mitchell Jr. (July 12, 1947 – June 16, 2020) was an American historian and academic administrator. He was the dean of the School of Humanities and Behavioral Social Sciences and professor of history at Fisk University, a historically black university in Nashville, Tennessee. He was the chairman of the Tennessee Historical Commission from 2015 to 2020.

Early life and education Mitchell was born on July 12, 1947, in Nashville, Tennessee. He attended St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School and Pearl High school,

Career Mitchell began his career as a member of the history faculty at Fisk University in 1980. He was also the executive vice president of the Tennessee Historical Society. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

Dr. Mitchell's life was honored at the 2021 Nashville Conference on African American History and Culture in Nashville, Tennessee. The conference produced a profile on him as part of the 2021 conference proceedings.

Personal life Mitchell had a wife, Dr. Patricia W. Mitchell, and four sons, Reavis L. Mitchell III, Roland W. Mitchell, Reagan P. Mitchell, and Roman B.W. Mitchell He resided in Brentwood, Tennessee, and he attended St. Vincent de Paul Church, a Catholic church in North Nashville.

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