Nathan Covington Brooks (August 12, 1809 – October 6, 1898) was an American educator, historian, and poet. Born in West Nottingham, Cecil County, Maryland, Brooks grew up to become the first principal of Baltimore City College, the third oldest public high school in the United States, and the only president of the Baltimore Female College, the first institution of higher education for women in Maryland. He also was the owner of The American Museum, a literary magazine, in which he published several works of the famed poet Edgar Allan Poe, and the author of several textbooks on classical literature. Brooks died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Nathan Covington Brooks, the youngest son of John and Mary Brooks, was born in West Nottingham, Cecil County, Maryland on August 12, 1809. He began his education at the West Nottingham Academy, and upon graduating enrolled at St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland. There he received a Master of Arts with his thesis consisting of a poem.[1] After receiving his degree, Brooks began his teaching career at the age of 16 in Charlestown, Cecil County.[2] He held this position for two years before opening a private school in Baltimore, Maryland in 1826, where he remained for five years. In 1831, he was elected principal of the Franklin Academy, located in Reisterstown, Maryland. After three years, Brooks resigned to become principal of the Brookeville Academy in Montgomery County, Maryland.[3] However, in 1836, he resigned from the academy because the school was unable to pay his salary.[4]
In 1839, Brooks was unanimously selected out of a pool of 45 candidates to be the first principal of the new male high school in Baltimore—later renamed the Baltimore City College.[3] He served in this capacity until 1849, when he resigned to serve as the only president of the Baltimore Female College, the first institution of higher learning for women in Maryland.[5] While at the Baltimore Female College, Brooks was granted an LL.D. from Emory College in Oxford, Georgia in 1859.[3] He served as president of the Baltimore Female College until it was closed in 1890.[5]
Brooks was married twice and fathered 11 children. He was wed to Mary Elizabeth Gobright on May 8, 1826, and later married Christiana Octavia Crump on June 26, 1867.[2] Brooks died on October 6, 1898 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[6] He was buried in the family lot at Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore.[7]
The American Museum
In 1838, Brooks purchased Summer Lincoln Fairfield's The North American Quarterly and moved the publication from Philadelphia to Baltimore. Brooks partnered with Dr. Joseph E. Snodgrass, a Baltimore physician, to transform the publication into The American Museum of Science, Literature and the Arts. The magazine mainly functioned as a literary publication, featuring literary criticism as well as poetry and short stories.[8]
Brooks, who was a friend of the famed poet Edgar Allan Poe, published several of Poe's works in The American Museum. Poe's "Ligeia", "A Predicament" (published as "The Scythe of Time"), and "The Haunted Palace" were all originally published in Brooks' magazine.[9] Nevertheless, the magazine was short lived. Only two volumes of the magazine were published and it ceased to exist after 1839.[8]
Literary works
Throughout his career as an educator, Brooks contributed poetry and prose writings to various literary magazines. Among the literary magazines that Brooks submitted works to, were Burton's Gentleman's Magazine, Graham's Magazine, the New York Mirror, and the Southern Literary Messenger. Brooks also wrote several anthologies of poetry, including Scriptural Anthology, which was published in 1837 and The Literary Amaranth, which was published in 1840.[3] Poe wrote an ambivalent review of Brooks' Scriptural Anthology, which appeared in Graham's Magazine in December 1841. In his review, Poe wrote, "among many inferior compositions of length, there were several shorter pieces of great merit;—for example 'Shelley's Obsequies' and 'The Nicthanthes'."[10] Poe was also critical of Brooks' comic works, while praising his more serious prose.[10]
In addition to his poetry and prose, Brooks authored several textbooks, which focused mainly on classical literature, and a few popular history texts. These included First Lessons in Latin, published in 1845, First Lessons in Greek, published in 1846, A Complete History Of The Mexican War, published in 1849, and The History of the Church. Brooks also translated and published several editions of the works of Ovid, Caesar, and Virgil.[11]
References
^Johnston, George, ed. (1887). The Poets and Poetry of Cecil county, Maryland. Elkton, MD: George Johnston. p. 118. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
^ ab"The American Museum". E.A. Poe Society. 2000-04-21. Retrieved 2007-06-18.
^"Poe's writings in The American Museum". E.A. Poe Society. 2000-04-21. Retrieved 2007-06-18.
^ abPoe, Edgar Allan (December 1841). "A Chapter on Autography". Graham's Magazine: 279. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
^Morford, Mark (December 1982 – January 1983). "Early American School Editions of Ovid". The Classical Journal. The Classical Association of the Middle West and South, Inc. 78 (2): 152–3.
External links
Media related to Nathan C. Brooks at Wikimedia Commons
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Nathan Covington Brooks August 12 1809 October 6 1898 was an American educator historian and poet Born in West Nottingham Cecil County Maryland Brooks grew up to become the first principal of Baltimore City College the third oldest public high school in the United States and the only president of the Baltimore Female College the first institution of higher education for women in Maryland He also was the owner of The American Museum a literary magazine in which he published several works of the famed poet Edgar Allan Poe and the author of several textbooks on classical literature Brooks died in Philadelphia Pennsylvania Nathan Covington BrooksBrooks in 1879 publicationBorn 1809 08 12 August 12 1809West Nottingham Cecil County Maryland U S DiedOctober 6 1898 1898 10 06 aged 89 Philadelphia Pennsylvania U S Resting placeGreen Mount CemeteryBaltimore Maryland U S Alma materSt John s College MA OccupationsEducatorhistorianpoetSpouse s Mary Elizabeth Gobright m 1826 wbr Christiana Octavia Crump m 1867 wbr Children11Signature Contents 1 Biography 2 The American Museum 3 Literary works 4 References 5 External linksBiography EditNathan Covington Brooks the youngest son of John and Mary Brooks was born in West Nottingham Cecil County Maryland on August 12 1809 He began his education at the West Nottingham Academy and upon graduating enrolled at St John s College in Annapolis Maryland There he received a Master of Arts with his thesis consisting of a poem 1 After receiving his degree Brooks began his teaching career at the age of 16 in Charlestown Cecil County 2 He held this position for two years before opening a private school in Baltimore Maryland in 1826 where he remained for five years In 1831 he was elected principal of the Franklin Academy located in Reisterstown Maryland After three years Brooks resigned to become principal of the Brookeville Academy in Montgomery County Maryland 3 However in 1836 he resigned from the academy because the school was unable to pay his salary 4 In 1839 Brooks was unanimously selected out of a pool of 45 candidates to be the first principal of the new male high school in Baltimore later renamed the Baltimore City College 3 He served in this capacity until 1849 when he resigned to serve as the only president of the Baltimore Female College the first institution of higher learning for women in Maryland 5 While at the Baltimore Female College Brooks was granted an LL D from Emory College in Oxford Georgia in 1859 3 He served as president of the Baltimore Female College until it was closed in 1890 5 Brooks was married twice and fathered 11 children He was wed to Mary Elizabeth Gobright on May 8 1826 and later married Christiana Octavia Crump on June 26 1867 2 Brooks died on October 6 1898 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania 6 He was buried in the family lot at Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore 7 The American Museum EditIn 1838 Brooks purchased Summer Lincoln Fairfield s The North American Quarterly and moved the publication from Philadelphia to Baltimore Brooks partnered with Dr Joseph E Snodgrass a Baltimore physician to transform the publication into The American Museum of Science Literature and the Arts The magazine mainly functioned as a literary publication featuring literary criticism as well as poetry and short stories 8 Brooks who was a friend of the famed poet Edgar Allan Poe published several of Poe s works in The American Museum Poe s Ligeia A Predicament published as The Scythe of Time and The Haunted Palace were all originally published in Brooks magazine 9 Nevertheless the magazine was short lived Only two volumes of the magazine were published and it ceased to exist after 1839 8 Literary works EditThroughout his career as an educator Brooks contributed poetry and prose writings to various literary magazines Among the literary magazines that Brooks submitted works to were Burton s Gentleman s Magazine Graham s Magazine the New York Mirror and the Southern Literary Messenger Brooks also wrote several anthologies of poetry including Scriptural Anthology which was published in 1837 and The Literary Amaranth which was published in 1840 3 Poe wrote an ambivalent review of Brooks Scriptural Anthology which appeared in Graham s Magazine in December 1841 In his review Poe wrote among many inferior compositions of length there were several shorter pieces of great merit for example Shelley s Obsequies and The Nicthanthes 10 Poe was also critical of Brooks comic works while praising his more serious prose 10 In addition to his poetry and prose Brooks authored several textbooks which focused mainly on classical literature and a few popular history texts These included First Lessons in Latin published in 1845 First Lessons in Greek published in 1846 A Complete History Of The Mexican War published in 1849 and The History of the Church Brooks also translated and published several editions of the works of Ovid Caesar and Virgil 11 References Edit Johnston George ed 1887 The Poets and Poetry of Cecil county Maryland Elkton MD George Johnston p 118 Retrieved 2007 11 05 a b Nathan Covington Brooks E A Poe Society 2007 09 30 Retrieved 2007 11 05 a b c d Johnston George ed 1887 The Poets and Poetry of Cecil county Maryland Elkton MD George Johnston p 119 Retrieved 2007 11 05 The Brookeville Academy The Town of Brookeville Maryland 2006 Archived from the original on 2008 12 01 Retrieved 2007 11 05 a b Steiner Bernard C 1894 History of Education in Maryland Washington Government Printing Office p 269 Obituary Notes New York Times 1898 10 07 p 7 The Late Nathan C Brooks The Baltimore Sun 1898 10 08 p 7 Retrieved 2022 12 01 via Newspapers com a b The American Museum E A Poe Society 2000 04 21 Retrieved 2007 06 18 Poe s writings in The American Museum E A Poe Society 2000 04 21 Retrieved 2007 06 18 a b Poe Edgar Allan December 1841 A Chapter on Autography Graham s Magazine 279 Retrieved 2007 11 05 Morford Mark December 1982 January 1983 Early American School Editions of Ovid The Classical Journal The Classical Association of the Middle West and South Inc 78 2 152 3 External links Edit Media related to Nathan C Brooks at Wikimedia Commons Works by Nathan C Brooks on the Internet Archive Brooks Poetry The Metamorphoses of Publius Ovidius Naso translated by Nathan Covington BrooksAcademic officesPreceded byNew position Principal of Baltimore City College1839 1849 Succeeded byRev Dr Francis G WatersPreceded byNew position President of Baltimore Female College1849 1890 Succeeded byPosition abolished after dissolution of college Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nathan C Brooks amp oldid 1125191043, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
