Wheeler, Benjamin Ide, 1854-1927

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Benjamin ide Wheeler, Greek scholar, philologist and president of the University of California, was born July 15, 1854 at Randolph, Massachusetts. He attended Thornton Academy and Colby Academy prior to entering Brown University. Upon his graduation in 1875, he taught in Providence High School for two years, then became a tutor at Brown from 1879 to 1881. He continued his studies in Germany, at Leipzig, Heidelberg, Jena and Berlin from 1881 to 1885, obtaining his doctorate, summa cum laude, at Heidelberg in 1885. After travelling in Greece during the spring and summer of 1885, he went to Harvard as instructor in German and Latin. In 1886 he accepted a professorship at Cornell, teaching Greek and comparative philology, and publishing many related articles. In 1895 he was a member of the staff of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.

Wheeler turned down tempting offers from Colgate University and other schools to accept the presidency of the young University of California in 1899. This post he held until his resignation twenty years later in 1919, having seen the University expand in students, staff and physical structure. After his retirement, he resumed his teaching career, and in 1920 travelled to Japan as a member of a commission appointed by the Board of Trade on the Pacific Coast to attempt to strengthen relationships between Japan and the United States. Wheeler died in 1927.

Included among his publications are: Alexander the Great; Dionysus and Immortality; The Greek Noun Accent; and Introduction to the Study of Language.

From the guide to the Benjamin Ide Wheeler Papers, 1854-1927, (The Bancroft Library)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Ritter, William Emerson, 1856-1944. Papers, 1893-1944 bulk 1903-1923. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
referencedIn Walter Chauncey Camp papers, 1870-1983, 1870-1925 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn William Carey Jones papers, 1834-1923 (bulk 1884-1923). UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Lange, Alexis Frederick, 1862-1924. Alexis Frederick Lange papers, [ca. 1910-1923]. California Digital Library
referencedIn Fairclough, H. Rushton (Henry Rushton), b. 1862. Henry Rushton Fairclough papers, 1886-1937. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn George Sarton additional papers, 1901-1956 Houghton Library
referencedIn University of California, Berkeley. Department of Genetics Collection, 1911-1947 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Sloan, Elizabeth Haskell. Preliminary pages for a biography of Benjamin Ide Wheeler, [ca. 1942]. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Stanford University, President's Office, Rhodes Scholarship Committee, records, 1904-1916 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Wheeler, Benjamin Ide, 1854-1927. Benjamin Ide Wheeler letters to Lawrence H. Wilson : Berkeley, Calif., 1911 Feb. 12-15. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Houghton Mifflin Company contracts, 1831-1979 (inclusive) 1880-1940 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Henry Rushton Fairclough papers, 1886-1937 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Wagner, Harr, 1857-1936. Harr Wagner correspondence, 1899-1903. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn George and Phoebe Apperson Hearst papers, 1849-1926 Bancroft Library
referencedIn David Starr Jordan papers, 1861-1964 Cecil H. Green Library. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Wendell family papers Houghton Library
referencedIn Fahey-Sloan Family Collection, 1880-1960 University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
referencedIn Fairchild, Charles S. (Charles Stebbins), 1842-1924. Fairchild collection, [18th century-ca. 1928]. Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Benjamin Ide Wheeler Award Committee. Benjamin Ide Wheeler Award Committee minutes, 1928-1963. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Andrews, Eugene Plumb, 1866-1957. Eugene Plumb Andrews papers, 1895-1956. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Wheeler, Benjamin Ide, 1854-1927. Writings and addresses, 1890-1921. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Stratton, Frederick Smith, 1859-1915. Frederick Smith Stratton papers, circa 1886-1917. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Bowman, J. N. (Jacob Neibert), 1875-1968. Reminiscences of the University of California, 1906-1912 : ms.S, 1963. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Walter Hines Page letters from various correspondents, American period Houghton Library
referencedIn William Carey Jones papers, 1834-1923 (bulk 1884-1923). UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Wheeler, Benjamin Ide, 1854-1927. Autograph letter signed Benj. I. Wheeler to: "My dear Mr. Palmer" July, 19, 18[99]. Wellesley College
creatorOf Babcock, E. B. (Ernest Brown), 1877-1954. Ernest Brown Babcock papers, 1909-1958. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Welsh, Charles, 1850-1914. Charles Welsh letters received, 1901-1903. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn Griffiths, Farnham P. (Farnham Pond), 1884-1958. Farnham P. Griffiths papers : additions, 1906-1952. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Julia Gorman Porter papers, 1906-1987 (bulk 1928-1987). UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Camp, Walter, 1859-1925. Walter Chauncey Camp papers, 1870-1983 (inclusive), 1870-1925 (bulk). Yale University Library
referencedIn Hyde, Robert Wilson, 1875-1951. [Tribute to Benjamin Ide Wheeler] : Berkeley, Calif. : ms., 1919 June 4. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Charles Eliot Norton papers Houghton Library
referencedIn William Woodville Rockhill papers Houghton Library
referencedIn Jordan, David Starr, 1851-1931. Papers of David Starr Jordan, 1861-1964. Library of Congress
creatorOf University of California (1868-1952). Diploma (B.A.) for Sharlie Jeannette Ward, 1902 May 12. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Pforzheimer, Walter L. (Walter Lionel), 1914-2003. Walter Lionel Pforzheimer collection, 1487-1997 (inclusive), 1487-1982 (bulk). Yale University Library
referencedIn Camp, Walter, 1859-1925. Walter Chauncey Camp papers, 1870-1983 (inclusive), 1870-1925 (bulk). Yale University Library
creatorOf Fryer, John, 1839-1928. John Fryer papers, [ca. 1861-1921]. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Jordan, David Starr, 1851-1931. David Starr Jordan papers, 1861-1964. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Peter J. Shields Collection, 1896-1968. University of California, Davis. General Library. . Dept. of Special Collections
referencedIn Fahey, Robert, 1914-1994. Fahey/Sloan family collection, 1880-1960. University of the Pacific, William Knox Holt Memorial Library
referencedIn McLean, Ross Hanlin, 1888-1977. Ross Hanlin and Mary M. Bruckheiser McLean papers, 1907-1920, 1907-1912 (bulk) Cornell University Library
referencedIn Drury, Newton Bishop, 1889-1978. Reminiscences of Newton Bishop Drury : oral history, 1972. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Henry Meade Bland Papers, ca. 1905-1931 Bancroft Library
creatorOf Wheeler, Benjamin Ide, 1854-1927. Benjamin Ide Wheeler papers, [ca. 1870-1923] UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Barrows family papers, 1861-1931. Houghton Library
referencedIn Osterhout, W. J. V. (Winthrop John Van Leuven), 1871-1964. Papers, 1894-1961. American Philosophical Society Library
creatorOf Hardy, M. McLean, Mrs. Reminiscences of Mrs. M. McLean Hardy of Berkeley, Calif. : and related materials : typescripts and ms., 1915-1916. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Howard, Charles Webb, 1831-1908?. Charles Webb Howard letters, 1896-1905. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn W. J. V. (Winthrop John Van Leuven) Osterhout papers, 1894-1961, 1894-1961 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Mitchell, Lucy Sprague, 1878-1967. Pioneering in Education : oral history transcript / Lucy Sprague Mitchell tape recorded interviews conducted by Irene M. Prescott in 1960. Regional Cultural History Project, University of California, Berkeley, California, 1962 : and related material, 1960-1962. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Olney family. Olney family papers, 1861-1978. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Stanford University. President's Office. Stanford University, President's Office, Rhodes scholarship committee records, 1904-1916. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Hearst, George, 1820-1891. George and Phoebe Apperson Hearst papers, 1849-1926. Bancroft Library
creatorOf Wheeler, Benjamin Ide, 1854-1927. [Publications]. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Drury, Newton Bishop, 1889-1978. Parks and Redwoods, 1919-1971 : oral history, 1972. With introductions by Horace M. Albright and DeWitt Nelson. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Benjamin Ide Wheeler Papers, 1854-1927 Bancroft Library
referencedIn Brown, Elmer Ellsworth, 1861-1934. Personal papers, 1827-1936. Churchill County Museum
creatorOf Ham, Roswell Gray, 1891-1983. Roswell Gray Ham papers, [ca. 1913-1941]. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Walter Lionel Pforzheimer collection, 1487-1997 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Henry Carter Adams papers Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn W.R. Grace & Co. W.R. Grace & Co. records, 1828-1986, bulk 1861-1960. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Willey, Samuel H. (Samuel Hopkins), 1821-1914. Samuel H. Willey letter : San Francisco, to President Benjamin I. Wheeler, Berkeley : ALS, 1902 Dec. 23. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Arthur Twining Hadley, president of Yale University, records, 1899-1921 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Houghton Mifflin Company correspondence and records, 1832-1944. Houghton Library
referencedIn Douglas Tilden Papers, 1860-1970 Bancroft Library
referencedIn Elmer Ellsworth Brown Papers, 1827-1936 New York University. Archives
referencedIn Davis, Horace, 1831-1916. Horace Davis papers, 1865-1915. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Portraits of University of California individuals and groups, ca. 1850-[ongoing] Bancroft Library
referencedIn Theodore Roosevelt Papers, 1759-1993, (bulk 1878-1919) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Portrait photographs of George Rippey Stewart and Benjamin Ide Wheeler [graphic]. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn George Lincoln Burr papers Cornell University Library
creatorOf Sherman, Edwin Allen, 1829-1914. Edwin Allen Sherman papers, 1872-1971, (bulk 1896-1913). UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Wheeler, Benjamin Ide, 1854-1927. Benjamin Ide Wheeler letter, 1898 December 22, to William J. Youngs. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Schwartz, Milton Harry. Milton Harry Schwartz scrapbooks, [1896-1952]. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Century Company records New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adams, Henry Carter, 1851-1921 person
associatedWith Andrews, Eugene Plumb, 1866-1957. person
associatedWith Babcock, E. B. (Ernest Brown), 1877-1954. person
correspondedWith Barrows family. family
associatedWith Benjamin Ide Wheeler Award Committee. corporateBody
correspondedWith Bland, Henry Meade, 1863-1931 person
associatedWith Bowman, J. N. (Jacob Neibert), 1875-1968. person
associatedWith Brown, Elmer Ellsworth, 1861-1934. person
associatedWith Burr, George Lincoln, 1857-1938. person
associatedWith Camp, Walter, 1859-1925. person
correspondedWith Century Company corporateBody
associatedWith Davis, Horace, 1831-1916. person
correspondedWith Dellenbaugh, Frederick Samuel, 1853-1935 person
associatedWith Drury, Newton Bishop, 1889-1978. person
associatedWith Fahey, Robert, 1914-1994. person
associatedWith Fairclough, H. Rushton (Henry Rushton), b. 1862. person
associatedWith Fryer, John, 1839-1928. person
associatedWith Griffiths, Farnham P. (Farnham Pond), 1884-1958. person
associatedWith Ham, Roswell Gray, 1891-1983. person
associatedWith Hardy, M. McLean, Mrs. person
associatedWith Hearst, George, 1820-1891. person
associatedWith Hearst, George Randolph. person
associatedWith Hearst, Phoebe Apperson, 1842-1919 person
correspondedWith Houghton Mifflin Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Howard, Charles Webb, 1831-1908? person
associatedWith Ide family. family
correspondedWith Jones, William Carey, 1854-1923. person
associatedWith Jordan, David Starr, 1851-1931. person
associatedWith Lange, Alexis Frederick, 1862-1924. person
associatedWith McLean, Ross Hanlin, 1888-1977. person
associatedWith Mitchell, Lucy Sprague, 1878-1967. person
associatedWith Northup, Clark Sutherland, 1872-1952. person
associatedWith Norton, Charles Eliot, 1827-1908 person
associatedWith Olney family. family
associatedWith Osterhout, W. J. V. (Winthrop John Van Leuven), 1871-1964. person
associatedWith Page, Walter Hines, 1855-1918 person
associatedWith Palmer, George Herbert, 1842-1933. person
associatedWith Pforzheimer, Walter L. (Walter Lionel), 1914-2003. person
associatedWith Porter, Julia Gorman, 1897- person
associatedWith Ritter, William Emerson, 1856-1944. person
associatedWith Robert & Al Fahey person
correspondedWith Rockhill, William Woodville, 1854-1914 person
correspondedWith Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. person
correspondedWith Sarton, George, 1884-1956 person
associatedWith Schwartz, Milton Harry. person
associatedWith Sherman, Edwin Allen, 1829-1914. person
correspondedWith Shields, Peter J., 1862-1962 person
associatedWith Sloan, Elizabeth Haskell. person
associatedWith Stanford University. President's Office. corporateBody
associatedWith Stanford University. President's Office. corporateBody
associatedWith Stratton, Frederick Smith, 1859-1915. person
correspondedWith Tilden, Douglas, 1860-1935 person
associatedWith University of California (1868-1952) corporateBody
associatedWith University of California (1868-1952). President. corporateBody
associatedWith Wagner, Harr, 1857-1936. person
associatedWith Welsh, Charles, 1850-1914. person
correspondedWith Wendell family. family
associatedWith Wheeler, Benjamin, 1807-1876. person
associatedWith Wheeler family. family
associatedWith Willey, Samuel H. (Samuel Hopkins), 1821-1914. person
associatedWith Wilson, Lawrence H. person
associatedWith W.R. Grace & Co. corporateBody
associatedWith Yale University. President's Office. corporateBody
associatedWith Youngs, William J., 1851-1916. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
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Birth 1854-07-15

Death 1927-05-02

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