Ben Hur Lampman
Encyclopedia
Ben Hur Lampman was a U.S.
newspaper editor, essayist, short story
writer, and poet
. He was a longtime editor at The Oregonian
in Portland, Oregon
, and he served as Poet Laureate
of Oregon
from 1951 until his death.
. In 1916, he moved to Portland to become a reporter for The Oregonian. In 1920 he published an account of the 1919 Centralia Massacre
. In 1921 he was appointed an editor of the editorial page. He also wrote nature essays in The Oregonian.
His stories and essays also appeared in national magazines such as the Saturday Evening Post. Some of his essays about life in Portland were collected in his 1942 book At the End of the Car Line. In 1943 he won an O. Henry Award
for his short story "Blinker Was a Good Dog" which originally appeared in the Atlantic Monthly. Some of his papers and manuscripts are now in the collection of the library of the University of Oregon
.
Lampman also wrote a column in the Oregonian entitled "Where to Bury A Dog" which is frequently cited in pet memorials. It was included in How Could I Be Forgetting, a 1926 compilation of the author's essays and poems.
, Wisconsin
and raised in a small town in Neche, North Dakota
where his father, H.H. Lampman was editor of the local newspaper. As a boy, he worked in his father's print shop. He left home at age 15 and worked in the wheat country of Canada
. He returned to North Dakota. At the age of 19, he married Lena Sheldon (his same age), a New York City
resident who had moved to the Dakotas to become a school teacher. During his time in North Dakota, he was editor of the Nelson County Arena newspaper located in Michigan, North Dakota. As of the 1930 U.S. Census, he and his wife had one son and two daughters: Hubert Lampman, Caroline S. Lampman, and Hope H. Lampman.
He is buried in Lincoln Memorial Park in Portland.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
newspaper editor, essayist, short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
writer, and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. He was a longtime editor at The Oregonian
The Oregonian
The Oregonian is the major daily newspaper in Portland, Oregon, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 1850...
in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, and he served as Poet Laureate
Poet Laureate
A poet laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government and is often expected to compose poems for state occasions and other government events...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
from 1951 until his death.
Career
Lampman's first job as a writer was with the local newspaper of Gold Hill, OregonGold Hill, Oregon
Gold Hill is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, in the United States. As of July 1, 2009, the population was 1,080 people.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
. In 1916, he moved to Portland to become a reporter for The Oregonian. In 1920 he published an account of the 1919 Centralia Massacre
Centralia Massacre (Washington)
The Centralia Massacre was a violent and bloody incident that occurred in Centralia, Washington on November 11, 1919, during a parade celebrating the first anniversary of Armistice Day...
. In 1921 he was appointed an editor of the editorial page. He also wrote nature essays in The Oregonian.
His stories and essays also appeared in national magazines such as the Saturday Evening Post. Some of his essays about life in Portland were collected in his 1942 book At the End of the Car Line. In 1943 he won an O. Henry Award
O. Henry Award
The O. Henry Award is the only yearly award given to short stories of exceptional merit. The award is named after the American master of the form, O. Henry....
for his short story "Blinker Was a Good Dog" which originally appeared in the Atlantic Monthly. Some of his papers and manuscripts are now in the collection of the library of the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
.
Lampman also wrote a column in the Oregonian entitled "Where to Bury A Dog" which is frequently cited in pet memorials. It was included in How Could I Be Forgetting, a 1926 compilation of the author's essays and poems.
Personal life
Lampman was born in BarronBarron, Wisconsin
Barron is a city in Barron County , in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 3,248 at the 2000 census...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
and raised in a small town in Neche, North Dakota
Neche, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 437 people, 169 households, and 114 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,248.0 people per square mile . There were 188 housing units at an average density of 536.9 per square mile...
where his father, H.H. Lampman was editor of the local newspaper. As a boy, he worked in his father's print shop. He left home at age 15 and worked in the wheat country of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He returned to North Dakota. At the age of 19, he married Lena Sheldon (his same age), a New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
resident who had moved to the Dakotas to become a school teacher. During his time in North Dakota, he was editor of the Nelson County Arena newspaper located in Michigan, North Dakota. As of the 1930 U.S. Census, he and his wife had one son and two daughters: Hubert Lampman, Caroline S. Lampman, and Hope H. Lampman.
He is buried in Lincoln Memorial Park in Portland.