Salinger, Herman, 1905-1983

Herman Salinger was a professor of German and Comparative Literature at Duke from 1955-1974.

Herman Salinger grew up in St. Louis, MO. He received his B.A. from Princeton University, his M.A. from Stanford University and his Ph.D. from Yale University. He also undertook graduate studies at the University of Berlin and the University of Cologne. During World War II, he fought in Germany as a captain in the U.S. Air Force. After teaching at Princeton, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Kansas and Grinnell College, Salinger came to Duke in 1955 as a professor of German and Comparative Literature, serving as chair in both departments. He remained on the Duke faculty until his retirement in 1974. His 1963 book of poetry, A Sign is the Sword won the Roanoke-Chowan Poetry Award. He died in 1983.