Walter Havighurst
Encyclopedia
Walter Edwin Havighurst critic, novelist, literary and social historian of the Midwest, professor of English at Miami University
.
, he grew up in Fox River Valley. Havighurst attended Ohio Wesleyan University
and earned a Bachelor of Arts, University of Denver
(1924); attended King's College, London, 1925-26 Bachelor of Sacred Theology Boston University
(1928); Masters of Arts Columbia University
(1928) and was awarded honorary degrees from Lawrence College, Ohio Wesleyan University
, Marietta College
, and Miami University.
Havighurst joined the faculty of Miami University, Oxford, Ohio in 1928 and served interim terms on the faculties of Connecticut College
, the University of Colorado and the university of British Columbia
. In 1968, Miami named him Regents Professor of English Emeritus. He retired as research professor emeritus in 1969.
He married Marion Boyd, a poet and writer, in 1930 and resided in Oxford, Ohio
, she died in 1974. He remained in Oxford until the last few years of his life when he moved to Richmond, Indiana
to live with relatives, where he died of heart disease.
He was from a distinguished academic family including his brother, Robert J. Havighurst
, a noted professor at the University of Chicago
.
Author of over thirty books, including Pier 17, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize
and Annie Oakley
of the Wild West (Oakley's life was the inspiration for the earlier musical
Annie Get Your Gun
). His writing earned awards from the Friends of American Writers, the American Association for State and Local History
and the Rockefeller Foundation
. River Road to the West received the American History Prize of the Society of Midland Authors.
He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi
, Phi Delta Theta
, the Society of American Historians, the Authors League and served as vice president of the Society of Midland Authors.
A major bequest
from Havighurst created the Havighurst Center for Russian and Post-Soviet Studies
at Miami University upon his death.
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
.
History
The son of Lawrence College professors Freeman Alfred Havighurst and Winifred Weter, born in Appleton, WisconsinAppleton, Wisconsin
Appleton is a city in Outagamie, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is situated on the Fox River, 30 miles southwest of Green Bay and 100 miles north of Milwaukee. Appleton is the county seat of Outagamie County. The population was 78,086 at the 2010 census...
, he grew up in Fox River Valley. Havighurst attended 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...
and earned a Bachelor of Arts, University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
(1924); attended King's College, London, 1925-26 Bachelor of Sacred Theology Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
(1928); Masters of Arts 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...
(1928) and was awarded honorary degrees from Lawrence College, 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...
, Marietta College
Marietta College
Marietta College is a co-educational private college in Marietta, Ohio, USA, which was the first permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory. The school offers 42 majors along with a large number of minors, all of which are grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation...
, and Miami University.
Havighurst joined the faculty of Miami University, Oxford, Ohio in 1928 and served interim terms on the faculties of Connecticut College
Connecticut College
Connecticut College is a private liberal arts college located in New London, Connecticut.The college was founded in 1911, as Connecticut College for Women, in response to Wesleyan University closing its doors to women...
, the University of Colorado and the university of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
. In 1968, Miami named him Regents Professor of English Emeritus. He retired as research professor emeritus in 1969.
He married Marion Boyd, a poet and writer, in 1930 and resided in Oxford, Ohio
Oxford, Ohio
Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States, in the southwestern portion of the state. It lies in Oxford Township, originally called the College Township. The population was 21,943 at the 2000 census. This college town was founded as a home for Miami University. Oxford...
, she died in 1974. He remained in Oxford until the last few years of his life when he moved to Richmond, Indiana
Richmond, Indiana
Richmond is a city largely within Wayne Township, Wayne County, in east central Indiana, United States, which borders Ohio. The city also includes the Richmond Municipal Airport, which is in Boston Township and separated from the rest of the city...
to live with relatives, where he died of heart disease.
He was from a distinguished academic family including his brother, Robert J. Havighurst
Robert J. Havighurst
Robert James Havighurst was a professor, physicist, educator, and aging expert. Both his father, Freeman Alfred Havighurst, and mother, Winifred Weter Havighurst, had been educators at Lawrence University. Havighurst worked and published well into his 80s...
, a noted professor at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
.
Author of over thirty books, including Pier 17, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
and Annie Oakley
Annie Oakley
Annie Oakley , born Phoebe Ann Mosey, was an American sharpshooter and exhibition shooter. Oakley's amazing talent and timely rise to fame led to a starring role in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, which propelled her to become the first American female superstar.Oakley's most famous trick is perhaps...
of the Wild West (Oakley's life was the inspiration for the earlier musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
Annie Get Your Gun
Annie Get Your Gun (musical)
Annie Get Your Gun is a musical with lyrics and music written by Irving Berlin and a book by Herbert Fields and his sister Dorothy Fields. The story is a fictionalized version of the life of Annie Oakley , who was a sharpshooter from Ohio, and her husband, Frank Butler.The 1946 Broadway production...
). His writing earned awards from the Friends of American Writers, the American Association for State and Local History
American Association for State and Local History
The American Association for State and Local History is a non-profit association for state and local history, with a primary focus on museums and historical societies. It is headquartered in Nashville, TN, and has over 6,300 members...
and the Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
. River Road to the West received the American History Prize of the Society of Midland Authors.
He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi
Phi Kappa Phi
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is an honor society established 1897 to recognize and encourage superior scholarship without restriction as to area of study and to promote the "unity and democracy of education"...
, Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
, the Society of American Historians, the Authors League and served as vice president of the Society of Midland Authors.
A major bequest
Bequest
A bequest is the act of giving property by will. Strictly, "bequest" is used of personal property, and "devise" of real property. In legal terminology, "bequeath" is a verb form meaning "to make a bequest."...
from Havighurst created the Havighurst Center for Russian and Post-Soviet Studies
The Havighurst Center for Russian and Post-Soviet Studies
The Havighurst Center for Russian and Post-Soviet Studies at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, was established in 2000. The result of an endowment left by Walter E...
at Miami University upon his death.