Zabel, Morton Dauwen, 1901-1964

Morton Dauwen Zabel (1901-1964), author, critic, editor and scholar of nineteenth-century English and European literature. Received his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1933. Zabel served as associate editor of Poetry: A Magazine of Verse from 1928-1936 and full editor 1936-1937. His professional association with the University of Chicago began in 1947 when he was appointed to the English Department and actively continued until his death in 1964.

From the description of Morton Dauwen Zabel papers 1901-1964 (inclusive). (University of Chicago Library). WorldCat record id: 645645684

Zabel originally wrote to Brooks in his capacity as editor of Poetry Magazine, and the two became quite friendly, especially in the later years of their lives.

From the description of Correspondence to Van Wyck Brooks, 1937-1963. (University of Pennsylvania Library). WorldCat record id: 191062537

Literary critic, editor, scholar, and educator.

From the description of Morton Dauwen Zabel papers 1861-1964, bulk 1930-1960. (Newberry Library). WorldCat record id: 311299037

Morton Dauwen Zabel (1901-1964) was a poet, literary critic, scholar and editor. Zabel's writing career began in poetry, with contributions to Poetry: A Magazine of Verse, a publication for which he later became associate editor. Zabel's articles and reviews appeared in The New Republic, The Nation, The Southern Review, The Arts, The Partisan Review, and The Sewanee Review . He authored Craft and Character in Modern Fiction and the Art of Ruth Draper . Zabel taught at Loyola University, becoming Chairman of the Department of English in 1929. He was chosen by the Rockefeller Foundation as Chair of North American Literature at the National University of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro in 1943. Upon his return, he was hired as a professor of English at the University of Chicago, where taught until his death in 1964. Zabel was awarded a Guggenheim fellowship in 1944 (Janssen, 2008). For additional information, see Lisa Janssen, "Biography of Morton Dauwen Zabel," the Morton Dauwen Zabel Papers at the Newberry Library, Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections, Chicago.

Henry Pettit (1906 - 1994) was Professor of English at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He was named Honorary Curator of Rare Books in Norlin Library in the early 1950's, managing the collections and encouraging the acquisition of such materials as eighteenth-century English literature and examples of early printing. Pettit was a scholar of the English poet Edward Young (1683-1765), compiling A Bibliography of Young's Night Thoughts (1954) and editing The Correspondence of Edward Young (1971).

From the guide to the Morton Dauwen Zabel Letter to Henry Pettit (MS 238), 5 May 1955, (University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries. Special Collections Dept.)

Morton Dauwen Zabel was born in Minnesota Lake, Minnesota, on August 10, 1901. He received his A. B. from St. Thomas Military College in 1921, his M.A. from the University of Minnesota in 1922, and his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1933. A scholar, critic, and specialist of nineteenth-century English and European literature, Zabel traveled and studied widely during his lifetime. He authored several books; the most notable being Literary Opinion in America, published in 1943.

Zabel served as associate editor of Poetry: A Magazine of Verse from 1928-1936 and full editor 1936-1937. His professional association with the University of Chicago began in 1947 when he was appointed to the English Department and actively continued until his death in 1964.

From the guide to the Zabel, Morton Dauwen. Papers, 1901-1964, (Special Collections Research Center University of Chicago Library 1100 East 57th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.)