A. Owen Aldridge
Encyclopedia
Alfred Owen Aldridge was a professor of French and comparative literature, founder-editor of the journal Comparative Literature Studies
, and author of books on a wide range of literature studies.
on December 16, 1915. He was awarded degrees by Indiana University
, the University of Georgia
for his M.S., and Duke University
where he took his Ph.D. In 1952-1953 he had started the Fulbright Program
in France, which led to his undertaking a second doctorate, on the subject of "La Littérature Comparée" which he completed at the University of Paris
in 1955. Following his doctorates he was employed in the department of English at the University of Maryland
, then in 1967 became professor of French and comparative literature at the University of Illinois.
He published widely and became well-known as a pioneer of colonial American literary studies and as an explorer of East-West literary relations. He served as president of the American Comparative Literature Association
. In 1963 together with Melvin J. Friedman he founded the journal Comparative Literature Studies
, which he edited or co-edited for many years. He retired in 1986 and died on January 29, 2005.
s:
Comparative Literature Studies
Comparative Literature Studies is an academic journal in the field of comparative literature. It publishes essays ranging across the traditions of Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America. Articles also explore movements, themes, forms, the history of ideas, relations between authors, and...
, and author of books on a wide range of literature studies.
Career
He was born in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
on December 16, 1915. He was awarded degrees by Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
for his M.S., and Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
where he took his Ph.D. In 1952-1953 he had started the Fulbright Program
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
in France, which led to his undertaking a second doctorate, on the subject of "La Littérature Comparée" which he completed at the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
in 1955. Following his doctorates he was employed in the department of English at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
, then in 1967 became professor of French and comparative literature at the University of Illinois.
He published widely and became well-known as a pioneer of colonial American literary studies and as an explorer of East-West literary relations. He served as president of the American Comparative Literature Association
American Comparative Literature Association
The American Comparative Literature Association is the principal learned society in the United States for scholars whose work connects several different literary traditions and cultures or that examines the premises of cross-cultural literary study...
. In 1963 together with Melvin J. Friedman he founded the journal Comparative Literature Studies
Comparative Literature Studies
Comparative Literature Studies is an academic journal in the field of comparative literature. It publishes essays ranging across the traditions of Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America. Articles also explore movements, themes, forms, the history of ideas, relations between authors, and...
, which he edited or co-edited for many years. He retired in 1986 and died on January 29, 2005.
Legacy
The A. Owen Aldridge Prize was established in his memory.Honors
Following his retirement his lifetime's work was awarded the unusual honor by his colleagues of three festschriftFestschrift
In academia, a Festschrift , is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during his or her lifetime. The term, borrowed from German, could be translated as celebration publication or celebratory writing...
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