Erskine, John, 1879-1951

Epithet: Reverend; DD

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001087.0x000214

Title: 9th Earl of Mar

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001087.0x000219

John Erskine, educator, writer and musician, was born in New York on October 5, 1879. He received an A.B. in 1900, an A.M. in 1901, a Ph.D. in 1903 and an LL.D. in 1929 from Columbia University, as well as honorary degrees from Amherst College and the University of Bordeaux. He served during World War I in France, and was made a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor. He served as instructor in English at Amherst before joining the faculty of Columbia University, where he spent most of his life. Erskine is credited with having started the system of General Education at Columbia through his Great Books colloquium. Erskine was also a musician of considerable talent, who performed occasionally at concerts and wrote two opera librettos, and a prolific writer who said that he had written something every day since the age of 16. He was married twice: to Pauline Ives until their divorce in 1945, and later to Helen Worden. Erskine died in 1951 at the age of 71. Erskine's books include the autobiographical works The Memory of Certain Persons (1947), My Life as a Teacher (1948), My Life in Music (1950) and My Life as a Writer (unfinished); as well as several essays, poems and novels, of which the most successful was The Private Life of Helen of Troy (1926).

From the description of Erskine papers, 1909-1950. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 51877920

Title: 7th Earl of Mar

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001087.0x000218

Epithet: of Add MS 33950

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001094.0x000154

American teacher, novelist, editor, essayist, and musician.

From the description of Papers of John Erskine [manuscript], 1898-1948. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647876461

The theologian John Erskine was born in Edinburgh in 1721. He was educated at Edinburgh University and became a minister. He was ordained Minister of Kirkintilloch in 1744. Early in his career he cultivated relations with other churches and ministers in Europe and in colonised countries, particularly in America. When it became obvious that Britain and the States would part company he wrote many pamphlets urging both sides to make concessions and to avert war. Erskine also cultivated relations with churches and ministers in the Netherlands and Germany. In 1753 he became Minister at Culross, Fife, and was also Minister at Greyfriars in Edinburgh. The degree of D.D. was conferred on him by Glasgow University in 1766. His publications include Theological dissertations (1765), Considerations on the spirit of Popery (1778), and the two volumes of Sketches and hints of church history and theological controversy, chiefly translated and abridged from modern foreign writers (1790 and 1797). John Erskine D.D. died on 19 January 1803.

From the guide to the Correspondence of John Erskine D.D. (1721-1803), 1779-1802, (Edinburgh University Library)

John Erskine wrote extensively on American literature and culture. He taught at Amherst College and Columbia University.

From the description of [Letter] 1949 Feb. 14, 540 Park Ave., New York 21, New York [to] Geraldine Blanchet / John Erskine. (Smith College). WorldCat record id: 225162241

John Erskine, educator, writer and musician, was born in New York on October 5, 1879. He received an A.B. in 1900, an A.M. in 1901, a Ph.D. in 1903 and an LL.D. in 1929 from Columbia University, as well as honorary degrees from Amherst College and the University of Bordeaux. He served during World War I in France, and was made a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor. He served as instructor in English at Amherst before joining the faculty of Columbia University, where he spent most of his life. Erskine is credited with having started the system of General Education at Columbia through his Great Books colloquium. Erskine was also a musician of considerable talent, who performed occasionally at concerts and wrote two opera librettos, and a prolific writer who said that he had written something every day since the age of 16. He was married twice: to Pauline Ives until their divorce in 1945, and later to Helen Worden. Erskine died in 1951 at the age of 71.

Erskine's books include the autobiographical works The Memory of Certain Persons (1947), My Life as a Teacher (1948), My Life in Music (1950) and My Life as a Writer (unfinished); as well as several essays, poems and novels, of which the most successful was The Private Life of Helen of Troy (1926).

From the guide to the Erskine Papers, 1909-1950, (Amherst College Archives and Special Collections)

Professor of English.

Erskine was instructor at Amherst College, 1903-1906, Assoc. professor, 1906-1909; Adj. professor of English, Columbia University, 1909-1916; professor of English, 1916-1937, a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and President of the Juilliard School of Music. Author of THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HELEN OF TROY and many other books and articles.

From the description of John Erskine papers, [ca. 1890]-1951. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 493895987

Epithet: of Stowe MS 228

Title: Earl of Mar

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001087.0x00021c

Epithet: of Stowe MS 170

Title: Earl of Mar

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001087.0x00021b