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William Abbott Oldfather

William Abbott Oldfather (23 October 1880 – 27 May 1945) was an American classical scholar. He was influential for building strong academic traditions in classical studies at the University of Illinois and for his studies of ancient Locris in Greece.[1]

William Abbott Oldfather
William Abbott Oldfather, c. 1906.
Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives.
Born(1880-10-23)October 23, 1880
DiedMay 27, 1945(1945-05-27) (aged 64)
OccupationAcademic
Spouse
Margaret Agnes Giboney
(m. 1902)
Children2
RelativesCharles Henry Oldfather (brother)
Academic background
EducationA.B. Hanover College, 1899; LL.D., 1933
A.B. Harvard University, 1901; A.M., 1902
Ph.D. University of Munich, 1908
Thesis"Lokrika: sagengeschichtliche Untersuchungen" (1908)
Academic work
DisciplineClassics scholar
Sub-disciplineHistory of Locris

Early life and education edit

William Oldfather was born in 1880 to American parents stationed in Urumiah, Persia (now Reza'iyeh, Iran or Urmia, Iran). His parents were Presbyterian missionaries, Jeremiah Oldfather and Felicia (née Rice). His father's paternal immigrant ancestor had immigrated from Germany in 1770 before the American Revolution and his mother's ancestors included pioneer explorer Daniel Boone.[2] His younger brother was Charles Henry Oldfather (1887–1954), who also became a classical scholar.[3] He was noted for many translations, and they sometimes worked together.

In 1890 the family returned to the United States, working in Harmony, Indiana. Oldfather attended local schools and did his college work at Hanover College, with a second bachelor's degree completed at Harvard College, followed by a master's degree.[4]

He married Margaret Agnes Giboney in 1902; they had two daughters. He started his academic career teaching Classics at Northwestern University, and studying deeply in important German scholarship. In 1906 he traveled to Germany for additional graduate work; he was awarded a doctorate by the University of Munich in 1908. He studied with Hellenist Otto Crusius, the Latinist Friedrich Vollmer, historian Robert von Pöhlmann; and archeologist and art historian Adolf Furtwängler. Oldfather was strongly influenced by his studies in Germany: he became a great admirer of German scholarship, nearly bilingual in the language, and sympathetic to the Socialist cause.[3]

Academic career edit

Returning to the United States, Oldfather worked for a year at Northwestern before moving to the faculty of the University of Illinois in 1909. In 1910, he and Arthur Stanley Pease worked together to create what is now the Classics Library Collection. Becoming a full professor in 1915, he served as "Czar of Classics" and made numerous contributions. He was head of his department from 1926 to his death in 1945. Among his students was the classicist Richmond Lattimore.[3]

During World War I there was extensive anti-German sentiment. Oldfather and several colleagues in 1917 were accused by Federal agents of "pro-German sympathies and disloyalty to the United States."[5] Insisting on a public meeting at the university, Oldfather and his colleagues were exonerated but most of them did not have positions equivalent to his and were dismissed, part of widespread discrimination against German-associated persons during the war.[5] After the war, Oldfather worked to re-establish connections with German scholars and support major projects in classical studies.

From 1915 Oldfather also served as chief editor of a monograph series, Illinois Studies in Languages and Literature, and, from 1931, as curator of the classical museum. He made his major academic contributions on the history of Locris in ancient Greece, which he studied throughout his life. Oldfather observed that German scholarship in the classics interrogated the past on significant issues related to the problems of politics and economics that recur in modern life. He believed they had a more substantive approach than some English and American scholarship of the period.

He supported the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War, warned against fascists in Germany and Italy and, during World War II, warned of a coming competition with the Soviet Union. He died before the end of the war and beginning of the Cold War

In 1909, Oldfather founded the University of Illinois' Walking Club. He met his death during one of the club's outings. Late one Sunday afternoon in May 1945 he attempted to shoot his canoe over a knee-high dam in the Salt Fork River near Homer, Illinois. An expert canoeist, he had done this many times at this spot, but this time, the canoe capsized. Attempting to retrieve his gear, Oldfather was drawn under the dam by a powerful back current, and he drowned. His body was found nine hours later.[6]

Works edit

  • Ysopet-Avionnet: The Latin and French Texts (1919) with Kenneth McKenzie
  • Discourses of Epictetus (1925), Loeb Classical Library, translator
  • Contributions Toward a Bibliography of Epictetus (1927)
  • Index Apvleianvs (1934)
  • Index verborum Ciceronis Epistularum (1938) with H. V. Canter and K. M. Abbott
  • Studies in the text tradition of St. Jerome's Vitae patrum (1943), editor

Notes edit

  1. ^ Michael Armstrong. 1993. "A German Scholar and Socialist in Illinois: The Career of William Abbott Oldfather", The Classical Journal 88.3:235-53.
  2. ^ "A Classic Scholar," Dave Evensen 1 Feb 2014, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Newsletters
  3. ^ a b c IDL pp 62–69 at cwcfamily.org
  4. ^ Armstrong (1993), "German Scholar", pp.235-236
  5. ^ a b Armstrong (1993), "German Scholar", pp.237-238
  6. ^ "U of I Classics Department Celebrating 100th Year," Andrea Lynn, Illinois News Bureau

External links edit

  • William Abbott Oldfather at the Database of Classical Scholars
  • Works by or about William Abbott Oldfather at Internet Archive
  • William Abbott Oldfather at Find a Grave

william, abbott, oldfather, october, 1880, 1945, american, classical, scholar, influential, building, strong, academic, traditions, classical, studies, university, illinois, studies, ancient, locris, greece, 1906, courtesy, university, illinois, archives, born. William Abbott Oldfather 23 October 1880 27 May 1945 was an American classical scholar He was influential for building strong academic traditions in classical studies at the University of Illinois and for his studies of ancient Locris in Greece 1 William Abbott OldfatherWilliam Abbott Oldfather c 1906 Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives Born 1880 10 23 October 23 1880Urumiah PersiaDiedMay 27 1945 1945 05 27 aged 64 Homer Illinois U S OccupationAcademicSpouseMargaret Agnes Giboney m 1902 wbr Children2RelativesCharles Henry Oldfather brother Academic backgroundEducationA B Hanover College 1899 LL D 1933A B Harvard University 1901 A M 1902Ph D University of Munich 1908Thesis Lokrika sagengeschichtliche Untersuchungen 1908 Academic workDisciplineClassics scholarSub disciplineHistory of Locris Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Academic career 3 Works 4 Notes 5 External linksEarly life and education editWilliam Oldfather was born in 1880 to American parents stationed in Urumiah Persia now Reza iyeh Iran or Urmia Iran His parents were Presbyterian missionaries Jeremiah Oldfather and Felicia nee Rice His father s paternal immigrant ancestor had immigrated from Germany in 1770 before the American Revolution and his mother s ancestors included pioneer explorer Daniel Boone 2 His younger brother was Charles Henry Oldfather 1887 1954 who also became a classical scholar 3 He was noted for many translations and they sometimes worked together In 1890 the family returned to the United States working in Harmony Indiana Oldfather attended local schools and did his college work at Hanover College with a second bachelor s degree completed at Harvard College followed by a master s degree 4 He married Margaret Agnes Giboney in 1902 they had two daughters He started his academic career teaching Classics at Northwestern University and studying deeply in important German scholarship In 1906 he traveled to Germany for additional graduate work he was awarded a doctorate by the University of Munich in 1908 He studied with Hellenist Otto Crusius the Latinist Friedrich Vollmer historian Robert von Pohlmann and archeologist and art historian Adolf Furtwangler Oldfather was strongly influenced by his studies in Germany he became a great admirer of German scholarship nearly bilingual in the language and sympathetic to the Socialist cause 3 Academic career editReturning to the United States Oldfather worked for a year at Northwestern before moving to the faculty of the University of Illinois in 1909 In 1910 he and Arthur Stanley Pease worked together to create what is now the Classics Library Collection Becoming a full professor in 1915 he served as Czar of Classics and made numerous contributions He was head of his department from 1926 to his death in 1945 Among his students was the classicist Richmond Lattimore 3 During World War I there was extensive anti German sentiment Oldfather and several colleagues in 1917 were accused by Federal agents of pro German sympathies and disloyalty to the United States 5 Insisting on a public meeting at the university Oldfather and his colleagues were exonerated but most of them did not have positions equivalent to his and were dismissed part of widespread discrimination against German associated persons during the war 5 After the war Oldfather worked to re establish connections with German scholars and support major projects in classical studies From 1915 Oldfather also served as chief editor of a monograph series Illinois Studies in Languages and Literature and from 1931 as curator of the classical museum He made his major academic contributions on the history of Locris in ancient Greece which he studied throughout his life Oldfather observed that German scholarship in the classics interrogated the past on significant issues related to the problems of politics and economics that recur in modern life He believed they had a more substantive approach than some English and American scholarship of the period He supported the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War warned against fascists in Germany and Italy and during World War II warned of a coming competition with the Soviet Union He died before the end of the war and beginning of the Cold WarIn 1909 Oldfather founded the University of Illinois Walking Club He met his death during one of the club s outings Late one Sunday afternoon in May 1945 he attempted to shoot his canoe over a knee high dam in the Salt Fork River near Homer Illinois An expert canoeist he had done this many times at this spot but this time the canoe capsized Attempting to retrieve his gear Oldfather was drawn under the dam by a powerful back current and he drowned His body was found nine hours later 6 Works editYsopet Avionnet The Latin and French Texts 1919 with Kenneth McKenzie Discourses of Epictetus 1925 Loeb Classical Library translator Contributions Toward a Bibliography of Epictetus 1927 Index Apvleianvs 1934 Index verborum Ciceronis Epistularum 1938 with H V Canter and K M Abbott Studies in the text tradition of St Jerome s Vitae patrum 1943 editorNotes edit Michael Armstrong 1993 A German Scholar and Socialist in Illinois The Career of William Abbott Oldfather The Classical Journal 88 3 235 53 A Classic Scholar Dave Evensen 1 Feb 2014 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Newsletters a b c IDL pp 62 69 at cwcfamily org Armstrong 1993 German Scholar pp 235 236 a b Armstrong 1993 German Scholar pp 237 238 U of I Classics Department Celebrating 100th Year Andrea Lynn Illinois News BureauExternal links editWilliam Abbott Oldfather at the Database of Classical Scholars Works by or about William Abbott Oldfather at Internet Archive William Abbott Oldfather at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Abbott Oldfather amp oldid 1146017062, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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