Robert Pelton Sibley
Encyclopedia
Robert Pelton Sibley was an American academic and a headmaster of Deerfield Academy
.
Born in Westfield, Mass.
, Sibley graduated from Amherst College
in 1900. At commencement, he was awarded the Henry D. Hyde prize in oratory, a victory reported in the New York Times.
From 1900 to 1902, he was the fiftieth head of school, or principal as the position was then known, of Deerfield Academy
. He was succeeded by the legendary Frank Boyden
.
In 1903, he graduated from Columbia University
with a Master of Arts degree.
In 1907, he took up a post as an instructor in English at Ohio Wesleyan University
.
From 1909 to 1920, he was professor of English language and literature at Lake Forest College
, where he also served as registrar. In his final year there, the University awarded him an honorary doctorate in humane letters.
From 1920, he was a faculty member and secretary of Cornell's
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
. Six years later he was transferred to the College of Arts and Sciences
. There he would serve as assistant dean, secretary of the university faculty, and chairman of the faculty committee on student affairs.
In 1934, he became the second husband of artist Cora Billiard.
Sibley died at age 78 at his home in Cutchogue, New York
. His passing was noted by an obituary in the New York Times, which remarked that he had "become known as a specialist in American fiction."
Deerfield Academy
Deerfield Academy is an independent, coeducational boarding school in Deerfield, Massachusetts, United States. It is a four-year college-preparatory school with approximately 600 students and about 100 faculty, all of whom live on or near campus....
.
Born in Westfield, Mass.
Westfield, Massachusetts
Westfield is a city in Hampden County, in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 41,094 at the 2010 census. The ZIP Code is 01085 for homes and businesses, 01086 for Westfield State...
, Sibley graduated from Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
in 1900. At commencement, he was awarded the Henry D. Hyde prize in oratory, a victory reported in the New York Times.
From 1900 to 1902, he was the fiftieth head of school, or principal as the position was then known, of Deerfield Academy
Deerfield Academy
Deerfield Academy is an independent, coeducational boarding school in Deerfield, Massachusetts, United States. It is a four-year college-preparatory school with approximately 600 students and about 100 faculty, all of whom live on or near campus....
. He was succeeded by the legendary Frank Boyden
Frank Boyden
-Personal life:He attended Amherst College, class of 1902.He married Helen Sears Childs on June 29, 1907. She was a 1904 graduate of Smith College, which awarded her a Doctorate of Humane Letters in 1934....
.
In 1903, he graduated from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
with a Master of Arts degree.
In 1907, he took up a post as an instructor in English at Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Delaware, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1842 by Methodist leaders and Central Ohio residents as a nonsectarian institution, and is a member of the Ohio Five — a consortium of Ohio liberal arts colleges...
.
From 1909 to 1920, he was professor of English language and literature at Lake Forest College
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest College, founded in 1857, is a private liberal arts college in Lake Forest, Illinois. The college has 1,500 students representing 47 states and 78 countries....
, where he also served as registrar. In his final year there, the University awarded him an honorary doctorate in humane letters.
From 1920, he was a faculty member and secretary of Cornell's
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
The New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is a statutory college at Cornell University, a private university located in Ithaca, New York...
. Six years later he was transferred to the College of Arts and Sciences
Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences is a division of Cornell University. It has been part of the university since its founding, although its name has changed over time. It grants bachelors degrees, and masters and doctorates through affiliation with the Cornell University Graduate School...
. There he would serve as assistant dean, secretary of the university faculty, and chairman of the faculty committee on student affairs.
In 1934, he became the second husband of artist Cora Billiard.
Sibley died at age 78 at his home in Cutchogue, New York
Cutchogue, New York
Cutchogue is a census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York . The population was 2,849 at the 2000 census.Cutchogue CDP roughly represents the area of Cutchogue hamlet in the town of Southold.-Geography:...
. His passing was noted by an obituary in the New York Times, which remarked that he had "become known as a specialist in American fiction."