Dates
- 1900-1938
Scope and Contents Note
Charles H. Whitman’s papers consist of 10 folders in one half-sized manuscript box. The collection existed originally as part of the Faculty Biographical files and was removed and converted into a Rutgers manuscript collection (R-MC). The papers document Charles H. Whitman during his tenure at Rutgers College from 1906 to his death in 1938.
Included in the collection are:
I. Letters and Postcards 1906-1935.
a. Letters to Rutgers, 1906-1935. (1 folder)
Contains letters addressed primarily to President Wm. Demarest regarding responsibilities, the English department from the begining of his tenure in 1906-to 1935. Also includes personal accounts of Whitman’s bout of Scarlet Fever, reference to the outbreak of war in Europe (1914) and references to New Jersey College for Women.
b. Postcards, 1907-1932. (1 folder)
Includes postcards sent by others to Whitman from ,Whitman to his wife, and from Whitman to President Demarest.
II. Faculty Information and Biographical Data.
Includes “vita”; list of writings’ and Rutgers Faculty survey questionnaires.
III. Publications and Writings, 1919-1925.
Includes Yale University Press catalog (1919) and articles written for Rutgers Alumni Monthly.
IV. Obituaries and Tributes, 1938.
Includes one obituary clipping ; annotated speech written and presented by William Demarest; and Board of Trustees announcement.
V. European Tour books, 1922-1928.
Annotated by Whitman who participated as lecture and organizer of several European tours. Most were sponsored as “Intercollegiate” or “University” tours.
VI. Photographs, n.d.
Three 8x10 promotional photographs.
VII. Yale materials, 1900.
Program for play entitled “Royster Doyster” (1900) performed by graduate students including Whitman.
VIII. Clippings, 1922-1937.
Extent
0.25 Cubic Feet (in one manuscript box)
Language of Materials
Materials written in English.
Abstract
Charles Huntington Whitman was born in Abbot Maine in 1873. Graduated from Colby College as an undergraduate in 1897 he received his Ph.D . From Yale in 1900. After serving as an instructor and assistant professor in English at Lehigh University from 1900-1906, he came to Rutgers. In 1911 he gained full professorship of English Language and Literature and also became head of the Rutgers College English Department. Whitman’s papers consist of 10 folders in one half-sized manuscript box. The papers document Charles H. Whitman during his tenure at Rutgers College from 1906 to his death in 1938.
Biographical Sketch
Charles Huntington Whitman was born in Abbot Maine in 1873. Graduated from Colby College as an undergraduate in 1897 he received his Ph.D . From Yale in 1900. After serving as an instructor and assistant professor in English at Lehigh University from 1900-1906, he came to Rutgers. In 1911 he gained full professorship of English Language and Literature and also became head of the Rutgers College English Department. His first major academic accomplishment was a translation of “The Christ of Cynwulf” in 1900 and later his “Subject Index to the Poems of Edward Spenser,” in 1919 gained him international professional recognition.
His specialty was English literature–he gravitated heavily towards Drama during his years at Rutgers. Well-received by the students, Paul Robeson acknowledged Whitman as a major influence in his life contributing to Robeson’s appreciation of Shakespeare. In addition to his duties as Chair of the Department of English, Whitman taught extension courses at Rutgers and NYU’s Summer school. Most notable amongst his professional activities was his participation as a faculty and lecturer in various “study abroad”in Europe programs including “University Afloat” in 1926.
Whitman resided in Highland Park with his wife and children, all of whom attended Rutgers College and New Jersey College for Women. He died in 1938.
- Title
- Guide to the Charles Huntington Whitman Papers
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- Erika Gorder
- Date
- 1999
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description note
- English
Part of the Rutgers University Archives Repository
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