Eric Wollencott Barnes
Encyclopedia
Eric Wollencott Barnes (May 7, 1907, Little Rock, Arkansas
– December 31, 1962, Boston, Massachusetts) was an American
educator, diplomat, actor, and author.
, where he graduated in 1930. He received a diplome d'études superieures from the University of Paris
in 1931, followed by a fellowship at the Sorbonne
, then obtained a teaching post at the University of Paris in 1932.
In 1940 Barnes received a Doctor of Letters degree from the University of Paris.
, and was appointed Vice Consul at Bucharest, Romania, and then in Sofia
, Bulgaria
. Returning to the U.S. in the mid-1930s he pursued an acting career in New York, where he appeared in several plays under the stage name Eric Wollencott.
In 1938 he took a position at Russell Sage College
in Troy, New York
, where he quickly rose to become an associate professor and chair of the English department. He became a full professor in 1945.
During World War II
Barnes served as a civilian consultant to the Joint Chiefs of Staff
and as a military information officer with the O.S.S.
in Algiers
.
After the war (September 1946) Barnes took a position at Dickinson College
, as the Thomas Beaver Professor of English Literature and chair of the department.
Barnes left Dickinson officially in 1953 to head the Institution of American Studies at the Free University of Berlin
, where he had been since 1951. He remained in Berlin until 1957, whereupon he returned to the U.S. to teach at the Loomis School in Windsor, Connecticut
. He was the author of many academic works in both French and English, including a series of histories for grade-school students.
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
– December 31, 1962, Boston, Massachusetts) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator, diplomat, actor, and author.
Education
Barnes attended public schools in Little Rock. He entered UCLA in 1925, and in 1926 transferred to L'École des Sciences Politiques in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where he graduated in 1930. He received a diplome d'études superieures from 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 1931, followed by a fellowship at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
, then obtained a teaching post at the University of Paris in 1932.
In 1940 Barnes received a Doctor of Letters degree from the University of Paris.
Career
In 1930 Barnes enlisted in the United States Foreign ServiceUnited States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
, and was appointed Vice Consul at Bucharest, Romania, and then in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. Returning to the U.S. in the mid-1930s he pursued an acting career in New York, where he appeared in several plays under the stage name Eric Wollencott.
In 1938 he took a position at Russell Sage College
Russell Sage College
Russell Sage College is a women's college located in Troy, New York, approximately north of New York City in the Capital District. It is one of the three colleges that make up The Sage Colleges...
in Troy, New York
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, where he quickly rose to become an associate professor and chair of the English department. He became a full professor in 1945.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Barnes served as a civilian consultant to the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
and as a military information officer with the O.S.S.
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
in Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
.
After the war (September 1946) Barnes took a position at Dickinson College
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
, as the Thomas Beaver Professor of English Literature and chair of the department.
Barnes left Dickinson officially in 1953 to head the Institution of American Studies at the Free University of Berlin
Free University of Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin is one of the leading and most prestigious research universities in Germany and continental Europe. It distinguishes itself through its modern and international character. It is the largest of the four universities in Berlin. Research at the university is focused on the...
, where he had been since 1951. He remained in Berlin until 1957, whereupon he returned to the U.S. to teach at the Loomis School in Windsor, Connecticut
Windsor, Connecticut
Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, and was the first English settlement in the state. It lies on the northern border of Connecticut's capital, Hartford. The population was estimated at 28,778 in 2005....
. He was the author of many academic works in both French and English, including a series of histories for grade-school students.
Works
- Lady of Fashion: The Life and the Theatre of Anna Cora Mowatt (1954), biography of the Victorian actress and playwrightAnna Cora MowattAnna Cora Mowatt Ritchie was an author, playwright, public reader, and actress.- Childhood :Anna Cora Ogden was born in Bordeaux, France, March 5, 1819. She was the tenth of fourteen children. Her father was Samuel Gouveneur Ogden , an American merchant...
- The Man Who Lived Twice (1956), biography of Edward SheldonEdward SheldonEdward Brewster Sheldon was an American dramatist. His plays include Salvation Nell and Romance , which was made into a motion picture with Greta Garbo....
, playwright - The War Between the States (1959)
- Free Men Must Stand: The American War of Independence (1962)
- Free Men Must Stand: The War That Made a Nation (1964)