Roberta Teale Swartz
Encyclopedia
Roberta Teale Swartz Chalmers (9 June 1903, Brooklyn, New York – 13 May 1993, Wellesley, Massachusetts
) was an American academic, a poet, and co-founder of the Kenyon Review.
, where she took her bachelor of arts
degree in 1925 magna cum laude. After obtaining her Master of Arts
degree at Radcliffe College
, Harvard University
in 1926, she went on to Oxford University, where she obtained her B.Litt. degree in 1929. On 3 September 1929, she married Gordon Keith Chalmers
, with whom she had three sons and a daughter.
, Worcester, Massachusetts
in 1926-27. From there, she went on to become instructor
in English at Mount Holyoke College
, and was promoted to assistant professor in 1931. She left Mount Holyoke in 1934 on her husband's selection as president of Rockford College
, where she served as associate professor of English. On his selection as president of Kenyon College
in 1937, she eventually served as associate professor there in 1942-45. In 1937, Mount Holyoke College
awarded her a D.Litt. degree.
While at Kenyon, she became a major influence in the establishment of the Kenyon Review in 1939 and served as an advisor to its first editor John Crowe Ransom
.
After her husband's death in 1956, she was appointed visiting lecturer at Wellesley College in 1956-57, and then she was appointed associate professor of English at Queens College, Charlotte, North Carolina
, from 1959 to 1968.
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of Greater Boston. The population was 27,982 at the time of the 2010 census.It is best known as the home of Wellesley College and Babson College...
) was an American academic, a poet, and co-founder of the Kenyon Review.
Early life and education
The daughter of William King Swartz and his wife Carrie Teale, Swartz attended Mount Holyoke CollegeMount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College is a liberal arts college for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was the first member of the Seven Sisters colleges, and served as a model for some of the others...
, where she took her bachelor of arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1925 magna cum laude. After obtaining her Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree at Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College was a women's liberal arts college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was the coordinate college for Harvard University. It was also one of the Seven Sisters colleges. Radcliffe College conferred joint Harvard-Radcliffe diplomas beginning in 1963 and a formal merger agreement with...
, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1926, she went on to Oxford University, where she obtained her B.Litt. degree in 1929. On 3 September 1929, she married Gordon Keith Chalmers
Gordon Keith Chalmers
Gordon Keith Chalmers was a scholar of seventeenth century English thought and letters, president of Rockford College and Kenyon College, and a national leader in American higher education.-Early life and education:The son of Wiliam Everett Chalmers and his wife Mary Dunklee Maynard, Gordon...
, with whom she had three sons and a daughter.
Academic career
Roberta Teale's first appointment was as an English teacher at Bancroft SchoolBancroft School
Located on a campus in Worcester, Massachusetts, Bancroft School is an independent, coeducational, K-12, college-preparatory day school serving the communities of Central Massachusetts and MetroWest Boston....
, Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
in 1926-27. From there, she went on to become instructor
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
in English at Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College is a liberal arts college for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was the first member of the Seven Sisters colleges, and served as a model for some of the others...
, and was promoted to assistant professor in 1931. She left Mount Holyoke in 1934 on her husband's selection as president of Rockford College
Rockford College
Rockford College is a private American liberal arts college in Rockford, Illinois. It was founded in 1847 as Rockford Female Seminary and changed its name in 1892. The college is known as the alma mater of Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams, who was a member of the class of...
, where she served as associate professor of English. On his selection as president of Kenyon College
Kenyon College
Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, founded in 1824 by Bishop Philander Chase of The Episcopal Church, in parallel with the Bexley Hall seminary. It is the oldest private college in Ohio...
in 1937, she eventually served as associate professor there in 1942-45. In 1937, Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College is a liberal arts college for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was the first member of the Seven Sisters colleges, and served as a model for some of the others...
awarded her a D.Litt. degree.
While at Kenyon, she became a major influence in the establishment of the Kenyon Review in 1939 and served as an advisor to its first editor John Crowe Ransom
John Crowe Ransom
John Crowe Ransom was an American poet, essayist, magazine editor, and professor.-Life:...
.
After her husband's death in 1956, she was appointed visiting lecturer at Wellesley College in 1956-57, and then she was appointed associate professor of English at Queens College, Charlotte, North Carolina
Queens University of Charlotte
Queens University of Charlotte is a private, co-educational, comprehensive university located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The school has approximately 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students through the College of Arts and Sciences, the McColl School of Business, the Wayland H. Cato, Jr. School...
, from 1959 to 1968.
Published works
- Lilliput New York : Harcourt, Brace, 1926.
- Lord Juggler & other poems New York: Harper, 1932
- Mount Holyoke College hundred year poems 1937
Unpublished works
- Clarastella by Robert Heath (fl.FloruitFloruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
1636-59), edited, introduction and notes by Roberta Teale Swartz. Mount Holyoke archives