Gish, Robert

Robert Franklin Gish, writer, teacher, and scholar, was born April 1, 1940. Gish was raised in Albuquerque, N.M. where he taught both high school and college English. In 1992 Gish began teaching at California Polytechnic Institute as Professor of English and Ethnic Studies. Main themes in his writings include the land, literature, and peoples of the West and Southwest.

Part of the Robert Gish Pictorial Collection (PICT 000-645).

Robert Franklin Gish, writer, teacher, and scholar, was born April 1, 1940. Raised in Albuquerque New Mexico, he graduated from Valley High School in 1958. At the University of New Mexico, Gish earned his B.A. in English and Philosophy in 1962, his M.A. in English and Secondary Education in 1967, and his Ph.D. in English in 1972.

Gish taught English at Valley High School in Albuquerque from 1962-1967. He spent one year as an instructor of English at UNM and two years as an instructor of English at the University of Northern Iowa before being appointed Associate Professor of English at the University of Northern Iowa in 1969. He held that post until 1979 when he was promoted to Professor of English. In 1976, he became an advisor and mentor for Native American student writer and poet, Ray Young Bear. Consequently, he became involved with the Mesquakie Indian tribe. A member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, Gish has long been involved in Native American issues.

In 1992, Gish accepted a position at California Polytechnic Institute as Professor of English and Ethnic Studies. As Director of the fledgling Ethnic Studies program at Cal Poly, he wrote numerous articles and presentations to promote the new program. He has taken part in many academic conferences as both presenter and attendee, and was heavily involved with the Midwestern Language Association conferences in 1978 and 1979. In addition, Gish has given many public lectures, readings, and radio interviews.

Gish's New Mexico upbringing has influenced his writing career. Main themes in his writings include the land, literature, and peoples of the West and Southwest. To date, he has 17 books to his credit with the most recent publication released in 1998. His books include several biographies, original works of fiction, short stories, poetry, and a collection of essays. He has contributed to multiple books in the form of chapters, introductions, and afterwards. Since 1969, he has had numerous scholarly articles and over 250 essay and book reviews published in such journals as The Western Historical Quarterly, as well as newspapers including the Los Angeles Times.