O'Sheel, Shaemas, 1886-1954

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1886-09-19
Death 1954-04-02

Biographical notes:

Shaemas O'Sheel (1886–1954) was an Irish-American poet and critic. Born Shaemas Shields, he changed his surname to the more Gaelic "O'Sheel" soon after high school. He worked for the United States Senate (1913-1916) followed by employment with various newspapers, did publicity and advertising work, and was active in the Irish independence movement. He was "a very ardent Communist and a staunch supporter of the Soviet Union" (letter, O'Sheel to Young, April 17, 1938), though he disagreed vigorously with their foreign policy; as a result many of the usual Communist and radical outlets such as New Masses were closed to him. He published four books of poetry, and his work appeared in the New York Times, the New York Times Book Review, Harper's, and other national publications.

[Portions of this biographical sketch adapted from O'Sheel's obituary in the New York Times, April 4, 1954.]

From the guide to the Shaemas O'Sheel Letters, 1938-1941, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries)

Links to collections

Comparison

This is only a preview comparison of Constellations. It will only exist until this window is closed.

  • Added or updated
  • Deleted or outdated

Information

Permalink:
SNAC ID:

Subjects:

  • Poets, American
  • Communists
  • Literature
  • Radicalism
  • Radicalism in literature
  • Radicals

Occupations:

  • Poets

Places:

not available for this record

SNAC Cooperative Logo

Social Networks and Archival Context

SNAC is a discovery service for persons, families, and organizations found within archival collections at cultural heritage institutions.

Sponsors

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Institute of Museum and Library Services
National Endowment for the Humanities

Hosts

University of Virginia Library
National Archives and Records Administration