Bode, Carl, 1911-1993

Carl Bode was born March l4, l9ll in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Paul and Celeste Helene (Schmidt) Bode. He attended the University of Chicago where he received his Bachelor's degree in Philosophy in l933. After graduation, he taught at the Milwaukee Vocational School until l937. The following year he married Margaret Lutze with whom he had three daughters: Barbara, Janet and Carolyn; he remarried in l972 to Charlote W. Smith. Carl Bode went on to achieve his Master's degree in l938 and his Doctorate in l94l from Northwestern University. From l944 to l945 he served in the United States Army.

Following his stint in the Army, Bode was employed as Assistant Professor of English at the University of California, Los Angeles from l946 to l947. He then came to the University of Maryland where he was employed as Professor of English until l983, when he achieved the status of Professor Emeritus. From l950 to l957, Professor Bode served as executive secretary of the American Civilization program at the University of Maryland. He has also been a visiting professor at such prestigious academic institutions as the California Institute of Technology, Claremont College, Northwestern University, Stanford University and the University of Wisconsin.

Among Professor Bode's varied achievements are his selection as a Ford Foundation fellow from l952 to l953, a Newberry Library Fellow in l954, and a Guggenheim Foundation Fellow from l954 to l955. He also held the post of Cultural Attache to the American Embassy to Great Britain from l957 to l959 (on leave from the University of Maryland); during this time he was elected Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and served as chairman of the United States Educational Commission in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Bode has contributed substantially to various organizations throughout his career. In l952, he founded and served as the first president of the American Studies Association and from l955 to l957 he was the Director of the Thoreau Society of America, becoming its President in l960. He served as vice-president and later, president of the Popular Culture Association, from l972 to l980. From l972 to l976 he served as chairman of the Maryland Arts Council. Professor Bode also founded the Mencken Society in l976 and served as its first president until l979. He has been a member of the Maryland Humanities Council since l98l.

Professor Bode's interest and accomplishments in a wide range of fields is reflected in his membership in these diverse organizations: American Association of University Professors; American Historical Association; College English Association; Modern Language Association; Emerson Society; the English Speaking Union; Alpha Tau Omega; Phi Beta Kappa (honorary) and the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C.

Bode publications include volumes of poetry; anthologies of American literature; collections of Henry David Thoreau's poetry and letters; definitive works on H.L. Mencken; a collection of newspaper columns for the Baltimore Evening Sun ; selections of the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson; and works on the history of Maryland. Notable volumes among his numerous works include:

Professor Bode has also edited, co-edited or contributed extensively to various literary works, including:

Author, professor of English at the University of Maryland College Park, and officer of various literary and cultural organizations.