Erwin Kempton Mapes
Encyclopedia
Erwin Kempton Mapes was an American
scholar of Spanish-American literature
and Hispanist
, renowned for his work on the Hispanic Modernists.
Mapes received his bachelors
from Cornell College
in Mount Vernon, Iowa
in 1909. He then went to Harvard University
and studied Hispanic Studies under Jeremiah D. M. Ford
, receiving his masters
in 1915. He received his doctorate
from the University of Paris
with a study on Rubén Darío
, published in 1925 as L'influence française dans l'oeuvre of Rubén Darío.
Before receiving his doctorate, Mapes taught at various small colleges including Western State College of Colorado
in Gunnison
. Afterwards, in 1925, he was appointed as an associate professor at the State University of Iowa
where he taught until his retirement. He was made full professor in 1937.
During his life he concentrated his study of literary criticism on Rubén Darío
, Manuel Gutiérrez Nájera
and Modernism
in Spanish-American literature. He was for many years considered the highest authority in these subjects. Almost all of his work was published in American and French journals. He also published a few books, designed to educate, such as Y va de cuento (1943), in collaboration with Juan Lopez Morillas. In 1958 he published a critical edition of Cuentos completos y otras narraciones of Manuel Gutiérrez Nájera.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
scholar of Spanish-American literature
Latin American literature
Latin American literature consists of the oral and written literature of Latin America in several languages, particularly in Spanish, Portuguese, and indigenous languages of the Americas. It rose to particular prominence globally during the second half of the 20th century, largely due to the...
and Hispanist
Hispanist
A Hispanist is a scholar specialising in Hispanic studies, that is Spanish or Portuguese language, literature, linguistics, or civilization, and by extension, Basque, Catalan and Galician....
, renowned for his work on the Hispanic Modernists.
Mapes received his bachelors
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Cornell College
Cornell College
Cornell College is a private liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Originally called the Iowa Conference Seminary, the school was founded in 1853 by Reverend Samuel M. Fellows...
in Mount Vernon, Iowa
Mount Vernon, Iowa
Mount Vernon is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States, adjacent to the city of Lisbon. The city's population was 3,390 when the 2000 census figures were released, but that number was later revised to 3,808 because the Census Bureau had incorrectly reported that 418 residents of a Cornell...
in 1909. He then went to 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...
and studied Hispanic Studies under Jeremiah D. M. Ford
Jeremiah D. M. Ford
Jeremiah Denis Mathias Ford, Ph.D was a college professor of French and Spanish at Harvard.He was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and attended Harvard . From 1910 to 1911, he was vice president of the Modern Language Association...
, receiving his masters
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in 1915. He received his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
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...
with a study on Rubén Darío
Rubén Darío
Félix Rubén García Sarmiento , known as Rubén Darío, was a Nicaraguan poet who initiated the Spanish-American literary movement known as modernismo that flourished at the end of the 19th century...
, published in 1925 as L'influence française dans l'oeuvre of Rubén Darío.
Before receiving his doctorate, Mapes taught at various small colleges including Western State College of Colorado
Western State College of Colorado
Western State College of Colorado is a four-year public liberal arts college located in Gunnison, Colorado. The enrollment stands at about 2400 students with a high percentage, one-fourth, from out of state. The far flung appeal for some students is found in the idyllic mountains and ski slopes...
in Gunnison
Gunnison, Colorado
The historic City of Gunnison, a Home Rule Municipality, is the county seat and the most populous city of Gunnison County, Colorado, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,854. It was named in honor of John W...
. Afterwards, in 1925, he was appointed as an associate professor at the State University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
where he taught until his retirement. He was made full professor in 1937.
During his life he concentrated his study of literary criticism on Rubén Darío
Rubén Darío
Félix Rubén García Sarmiento , known as Rubén Darío, was a Nicaraguan poet who initiated the Spanish-American literary movement known as modernismo that flourished at the end of the 19th century...
, Manuel Gutiérrez Nájera
Manuel Gutiérrez Nájera
Manuel Gutiérrez Nájera was a Mexican writer and political figure.-Background:He was born in Mexico City on December 22, 1859, and in his youth worked as a journalist and was elected as a Deputy....
and Modernism
Modernism
Modernism, in its broadest definition, is modern thought, character, or practice. More specifically, the term describes the modernist movement, its set of cultural tendencies and array of associated cultural movements, originally arising from wide-scale and far-reaching changes to Western society...
in Spanish-American literature. He was for many years considered the highest authority in these subjects. Almost all of his work was published in American and French journals. He also published a few books, designed to educate, such as Y va de cuento (1943), in collaboration with Juan Lopez Morillas. In 1958 he published a critical edition of Cuentos completos y otras narraciones of Manuel Gutiérrez Nájera.