Cyril E. Black, emeritus James S. McDonnell Distinguished Professor of History and International Affairs at Princeton University, died of congestive heart failure on July 18, 1989 at the age of 73.

Professor Black received his B.A. from Duke University, and a M.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard. In 1939 he became a member of the Princeton faculty and, in 1946, inaugurated the study of Russian history for undergraduates with a course he continued to teach until the 1970s. From 1968 to 1985, Professor Black chaired the university's Center for International Studies. He retired from Princeton in 1986.

Throughout his research career, Professor Black wrote or contributed to many publications including his most recent book, Understanding Soviet Politics: The Perspective of Russian History.

During World War II, he undertook several assignments for the State Department and, as a Foreign Service Auxiliary Officer, was an aid to the U.S. Political Adviser on the Allied Control Commission in Bulgaria from 1944 to 1945.

Professor Black is survived by his wife, son, daughter, and granddaughter.