Spingarn, Joel Elias, 1875-1939

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Literary critic and reformer; taught at Columbia University in New York, 1899-1911.

From the description of Letter : [New York], to Elbridge Colby, 1911 March 17. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 21417689

Joel E. Spingarn was an educator and writer who worked with social reform causes, primarily with the NAACP.

From the description of Joel E. Spingarn Collection, 1910-1947. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 84422765

From the description of Joel E. Spingarn Collection, 1910-1947. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702148310

Joel Spingarn was an educator and writer who published works on literary criticism and collections of his own poetry. He is most well-known for his involvement in social reform, primarily his work with the NAACP and his establishment of the Spingarn Medal, given to recognize the contributions of African-Americans.

From the guide to the Joel E. Spingarn Collection, 1910-1947, (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)

Joel and Amy Spingarn were philanthropists, humanitarians, and patrons of the arts.

From the description of Joel E. and Amy E. Spingarn papers, 1898-1972. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122485290

From the guide to the Joel E. and Amy E. Spingarn papers, 1898-1972, (The New York Public Library. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division.)

Joel Elias Spingarn (1875-1939) was an American literary critic, poet, teacher, and social reformer. After teaching comparative literature at Columbia University, he became active in literary and public affairs. He helped to found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909 and served as president from 1930 to 1939. The Spingarn medal which he endowed in 1913 is awarded yearly by the NAACP.

From the guide to the Joel E. Spingarn papers, 1890-1939, (The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.)

Joel E. Spingarn was born May 17, 1875 in New York City. He received a doctorate from Columbia University. He was a professor at Columbia but left academic life in 1911. He was a poet, editor and critic as well as a social reformer. He was an early member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and he established the Spingarn Medal. He served as NAACP president in the 1930's. He died July 26, 1939.

From the guide to the Joel E. Spingarn Papers, 1934-1938., (Special Collections, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary)

American professor of comparative literature at Columbia, literary critic, and poet.

From the description of Letter to Kathrine Larned Boggess, 1928. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 122332637

Botanist, professor, civil rights leader.

Spingarn was a member of the Board of Managers of the New York Botanical Garden.

From the description of Papers, [ca. 1931-1940] (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 155462516

Joel Elias Spingarn (1875-1939) was an American literary critic, poet, teacher, and social reformer.

After teaching comparative literature at Columbia University, he became active in literary and public affairs. He helped to found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909 and served as president from 1930 to 1939. The Spingarn medal which he endowed in 1913 is awarded yearly by the NAACP.

From the description of Joel E. Spingarn papers, 1890-1939. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122466640

Joel E. Spingarn was born in 1875, in New York City. He was educated as a literary critic, became an expert in horticulture and dedicated his life to the plight of the Black race. He served at various times as Chairman of the Board, President and Treasurer of the NAACP.

  • 1875 May 17: Born to Elias Spingarn and Sarah Barnett Spingarn in New York. Spingarn's father was from Austria and his mother was from England.
  • 1892: First of several trips to Europe
  • 1893: Admitted to junior class at Columbia College
  • 1895 - 1896 : Bachelor's degree from Columbia with honors. Studied English and comparative literature in graduate school at Harvard
  • 1899: Doctorate from Columbia University. Published A History of Literary Criticism in the Renaissance.
  • 1900: Address to International Congress of Comparative History in Paris on American Scholarship
  • 1903: Founding editor of Journal of Comparative Literature
  • 1905: Married Amy Einstein
  • 1911: Spingarn left Columbia
  • 1913 - 1919 : Chairman of the Board of the NAACP
  • 1915: Went to military training camp, Des Moines, Iowa.
  • 1916: Convened the Amenia Conference - invited the leaders of race struggle to his estate in Amenia, N.Y. to plan a course of action for racial problems
  • 1916: Established the Spingarn Medal for the man or woman of African decent and American citizenship, who during the year shall have made the highest achievement in any field of human endeavor.
  • 1918: Discharged from Army as lieutenant-colonel.
  • 1919: One of the founders of Harcourt, Brace and Co.
  • 1919 - 1930 : Treasurer of the NAACP
  • 1930 - 1939 : President of the NAACP
  • 1933: Second Amenia Conference inviting black youth.
  • 1939 July 26: Died

From the guide to the Joel E. Spingarn Papers, 1908-1967, (Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Papers, [ca. 1931-1940] New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Columbiana Manuscripts, 1572-1986, [Bulk Dates: 1850-1920]. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Cane, Melville, 1879-1980. Melville Cane papers, 1901-1979. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Spingarn, Joel Elias, 1875-1939. Letters, 1900-1901, New York, to E.P. Evans, Munich. University of Michigan
creatorOf Spingarn, Joel E, 1875-1939. Papers, 1934-1938. William & Mary Libraries
creatorOf Joel E. Spingarn papers, 1890-1939 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Papers, 1950-1975 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kanas Collection
creatorOf Spingarn, Joel Elias, 1875-1939. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1922-1951. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Woodberry, George Edward, 1855-1930. Papers, 1866-1951. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Spingarn, Joel Elias, 1875-1939. Letter to Kathrine Larned Boggess, 1928. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Papers, 1911-1944 (inclusive), 1929-1937 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Amy Lowell correspondence, 1883-1927 (inclusive), 1910-1925 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Chapman, John Jay, 1862-1933. Additional papers, 1841-1940 Houghton Library
referencedIn Chase, Lewis Nathaniel, 1873-1937. Lewis Nathaniel Chase papers, 1807-1941. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Trent, William Peterfield, 1862-1939. Papers, ca.1800-1941. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Melville Cane Papers, 1901-1979. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf George Sidney Hellman papers, 1888-1958, 1900-1958 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Spingarn, Joel Elias, 1875-1939. Correspondence, 1921-1938, from Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Joel E. Spingarn Papers, 1934-1938. Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary
creatorOf Spingarn, Joel Elias, 1875-1939. Letters, 1918-1938, n.d., to Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn James Weldon Johnson and Grace Nail Johnson papers, circa 1850-2005, 1900-1976 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Cook, Geo. Wm. (George William). George William Cook papers, 1855-1931. Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University
referencedIn James Oppenheim papers, 1898-1932 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Century Company records New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn William Pickens papers (Additions), 1909-1950 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
referencedIn William Roscoe Thayer papers, 1762-1927 (inclusive), 1872-1921 (bulk) Houghton Library
creatorOf Joel E. and Amy E. Spingarn papers, 1898-1972. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964. New York Public Library collection, 1917-1964. Herbert Hoover Library
creatorOf Oppenheim, James, 1882-1932. James Oppenheim papers, 1898-1932. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Joel E. Spingarn Papers, 1908-1967 Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University
referencedIn Perske, Martha. Individual manuscripts, 150 AD. - 1998. George Washington University
referencedIn Ovington, Mary White, 1865-1951. Mary White Ovington papers, 1854-1948. Wayne State University. Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs
referencedIn Miller, Loren. Papers of Loren Miller, 1876-2003 (bulk dates 1932-1966) Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf Evans family. Evans family papers, 1866-1918. University of Michigan
creatorOf Spingarn, Joel Elias, 1875-1939. Correspondence to Lewis George Sterner, 1928. University of Pennsylvania Library
referencedIn Braithwaite, William Stanley, 1878-1962. Papers, 1897-1930 Houghton Library
referencedIn William Pickens papers (Additions), 1909-1950. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Spingarn, Joel Elias, 1875-1939. [Letter] 1911 November 14, New York City [to] Mrs. [Edwin] Markham, [Staten Island] / J.E. Spingarn. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Joel E. Spingarn Collection, 1910-1947 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Spingarn, Joel Elias, 1875-1939. Correspondence with Margaret Naumburg, 1932. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Loren Miller papers, 1876-2003, 1932-1966 Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery
referencedIn Garrison family papers, 1801-1948 (inclusive), 1840-1907 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Joel E. and Amy E. Spingarn papers, 1898-1972 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
referencedIn Moorfield Storey Papers, 1876-1929 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn John Jay Chapman papers Houghton Library
creatorOf Spingarn, Joel Elias, 1875-1939. Letter : [New York], to Elbridge Colby, 1911 March 17. George Washington University
creatorOf Spingarn, Joel Elias, 1875-1939. Joel E. Spingarn papers, 1890-1939. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Frederick Coykendall papers, 1914-1928. Houghton Library
referencedIn George Sidney Hellman papers, 1888-1958, 1900-1958 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Columbia University. University Archives. Columbiana Manuscripts, 1572-1986 [Bulk Dates: 1850-1920]. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Spingarn, Joel Elias, 1875-1939. Correspondence with Van Wyck Brooks, 1920-1939. University of Pennsylvania Library
creatorOf Harcourt Brace & Company. Correspondence with Van Wyck Brooks, 1921-1962. University of Pennsylvania Library
referencedIn Erskine, John, 1879-1951. John Erskine papers, [ca. 1890]-1951. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn George Edward Woodberry Papers, 1866-1951 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Beard, Charles A. (Charles Austin), 1874-1948. person
associatedWith Boggess, Kathrine, person
associatedWith Borah, William Edgar, 1865-1940. person
correspondedWith Braithwaite, William Stanley, 1878-1962 person
associatedWith Brooks, Eleanor Stimson. person
associatedWith Cane, Melville, 1879-1980. person
correspondedWith Century Company corporateBody
correspondedWith Chapman, John Jay, 1862-1933 person
associatedWith Chase, Lewis Nathaniel, 1873-1937. person
associatedWith Colby, Elbridge, 1891-1982. person
associatedWith Columbia University. University Archives. corporateBody
correspondedWith Cook, Geo. Wm. (George William) person
correspondedWith Coykendall, Frederick, 1872-1954 person
correspondedWith Dellenbaugh, Frederick Samuel, 1853-1935 person
associatedWith Du Bois, W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt), 1868-1963. person
associatedWith Du Pont, Henry Francis, b. 1880-1969. person
associatedWith Erskine, John, 1879-1951. person
associatedWith Evans, E. P. (Edward Payson), 1831-1917. person
associatedWith Evans family. family
associatedWith Fish, Hamilton, 1888 person
associatedWith Fish, Hamilton, 1888-1991. person
correspondedWith Garrison family. family
associatedWith Harcourt Brace & Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. corporateBody
associatedWith Hellman, George Sidney, 1878-1958. person
associatedWith Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964. person
correspondedWith Howe, M. A. De Wolfe (Mark Antony De Wolfe), 1864-1960 person
associatedWith Joel E. Spingarn High School (Washington, D.C.) corporateBody
associatedWith Johnson, James Weldon, 1871-1938. person
correspondedWith Lowell, Amy, 1874-1925 person
associatedWith Markham, Edwin, 1852-1940, person
associatedWith Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis), 1880-1956. person
associatedWith Miller, Loren person
associatedWith Miller, Loren. person
associatedWith National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. corporateBody
associatedWith Oppenheim, James, 1882-1932. person
correspondedWith Ovington, Mary White, 1865-1951. person
associatedWith Perske, Martha person
associatedWith Pickens, William, 1881-1954. person
associatedWith Roberts, Owen J. (Owen Josephus), 1875-1955. person
associatedWith Roumain, Jacques, 1907-1944. person
associatedWith Spingarn, Amy. person
associatedWith Spingarn, Amy E., (Amy Einstein), 1883- person
associatedWith Spingarn, Arthur B. (Arthur Barnett), 1878- person
associatedWith Spingarn family family
associatedWith Spingarn family. family
associatedWith Spingarn, Stephen J., 1908- person
associatedWith Steichen, Edward, 1879-1973. person
associatedWith Storey, Moorfield, 1845-1929. person
correspondedWith Thayer, William Roscoe, 1859-1923 person
associatedWith Thomas, Lowell, 1892-1981. person
associatedWith Trent, William Peterfield, 1862-1939. person
associatedWith Welles, Sumner, 1892-1961. person
associatedWith White, Walter Francis, 1893-1955. person
associatedWith Woodberry, George Edward, 1855-1930. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
France
Haiti
New York (State)--Amenia
Washington (D.C.)
United States
Haiti
Subject
American literature
African American authors
African Americans
African Americans
African Americans
Afro
Authors, American
American poetry
Clematis
Criticism
High school
High schools
Horticulture
Lynching
Lynching
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Philanthropists
Shrubs
Trees
Voodoo
Voodoo
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1914-1918
Occupation
Botanists
Critic
Poets
Activity

Person

Birth 1875-05-17

Death 1939-07-26

Americans

English,

French

Information

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SNAC ID: 48778359