Aaron, Daniel, 1912-....

Daniel Aaron was born in Chicago in 1912. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1933 and received his doctorate in 1943 from Harvard University. Aaron's first teaching position was at Harvard, where he lectured from 1936-1939 in the Department of English. In 1939, Aaron joined the Smith faculty. During his time at Smith, Aaron travelled as a visiting lecturer to the Guggenheim (1947), Bennington College (1950-51), the University of Helsinki (1951-52), Amherst College (1954-55), the University of Warsaw (1962-63), Columbia University (1960-61), and MIT (1965). In 1961, he was named Jordan Professor of English Language and Literature. His articles and books include Poland: A Self Interview (1964), Men of Good Hope (1951), and the critically acclaimed Writers on the Left (1961). In 1972-1983, he became the Director of Graduate Study in American Civilization at Harvard University where he was named the Victor S. Thomas Professor of English and American Literature. During this time, he founded the Library of America. In 2010, Aaron received the National Humanities Medal. At the time of writing, Aaron still works at Harvard University.

From the guide to the Daniel Aaron Papers RG 42., 1939 - 1972, (Smith College Archives)