Elizabeth Stevenson (academic)

Elizabeth Stevenson (June 13, 1919 – July 30, 1999) was an American author. In 1956, Stevenson became the first woman recipient of the Bancroft Prize when she won it for her book Henry Adams: A Biography. She was also awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship in 1951 and 1958.

Elizabeth Stevenson
Born(1919-06-13)June 13, 1919
Panama Canal Zone
DiedJuly 30, 1999(1999-07-30) (aged 80)
Decatur, Georgia
Notable awardsBancroft Prize (1956), Guggenheim Fellowship (1951 and 1958)

Early life and education

Stevenson was born on 13 June 1919 in the Panama Canal Zone.[1] She grew up in Great Falls, Montana during her childhood before moving to Atlanta, Georgia with her family.[2] She graduated from Agnes Scott College with a Bachelor of Arts and majoring in English and history.[3]

Career

Stevenson published her first book in 1949 titled The Crooked Corridor; A Study of Henry James. Stevenson's second book was a published biographical work on Henry Adams which won the Bancroft Prize in 1956.[4] Her following books were a collection of Henry Adam's works in 1958[5] and a biography on Lafacadio Hearn in 1961.[6] Additional books that Stevenson wrote include a timeline of the 1920s and an analysis on landscape architecture.[2]

Outside of writing, Stevenson was a member of the War Production Board during the second World War and worked for the Atlanta Public Library in the 1950s.[5] In 1960, she worked at Emory University as a dean's assistant until 1974 when she began teaching American studies.[2] As the first woman faculty member at the Institute for Liberal Arts at Emory University,[7] Stevenson remained at the university until her retirement in 1986 and given the title of emeritus.[8]

Awards and honors

Stevenson was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship twice in 1951 and 1958.[9] In 1956, Stevenson was the first woman to win the Bancroft Prize with her book Henry Adams: A Biography.[10]

Death

Stevenson died of cancer on July 30, 1999, at Peachtree Hospice in the DeKalb Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia. Her remains were cremated and a memorial service was held at Decatur on August 1, 1999.[11]

References
  1. Broer, Lawrence R.; Walther, John Daniel, eds. (1990). Dancing Fools and Weary Blues: The Great Escape of the Twenties. Bowling Green State University Popular Press. p. 120. ISBN 0879724579.
  2. Saunders, Sally (July 26, 1979). "Acclaimed biographer Stevenson getting back in touch with her Montana roots". Great Falls Tribune (Great Falls, Montana).
  3. Rosenberger, Francis Coleman (1973–1974). "Introduction". Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington, D.C. 49: xvi–xvii.
  4. "Elizabeth Stevenson". Wilson Library Bulletin. 31: 300. 1956.
  5. "Prize-Winning Author Visiting in Great Falls". Great Falls Tribune (Great Falls, Montana). August 18, 1963. p. 21.
  6. "Books of the Times". Arizona Daily Sun (Tucson, Arizona). July 30, 1961. p. C8.
  7. "History of the ILA". Emory College of Arts and Literature. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  8. "EmoryFindingAids : Elizabeth Stevenson papers, ca. 1950-1999". EmoryFindingAids. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  9. "Elizabeth Stevenson". John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  10. "Bancroft prize to Elizabeth Stevenson". Library Journal. 111: 1878. September 1, 1986.
  11. Sibley, Celia (August 1, 1999). "Obituary. Elizabeth Stevenson". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 40. ISSN 1539-7459. OCLC 1035119455. Retrieved December 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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