Schoenbaum, S. (Samuel), 1927-1996

Samuel Schoenbaum was born in New York City in March, 1927. He attended public schools in the Bronx. In 1947 he obtained a B.A. degree from Brooklyn College, an M.A. (1949) and a Ph.D. (1953) from Columbia University. He came to the Northwestern University as an instructor in the Department of English in 1953, where he taught courses in Elizabethan Drama. He was promoted to professor in 1963. He was awarded the Franklyn Bliss Snyder Chair in 1975.

During his years at Northwestern, Schoenbaum spent much time and energy on research and writing. He received two Guggenheim Fellowships, a Newberry Library Fellowship, a senior fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities, and two grants from the Huntington Library. With these aids he was able to pursue his writing of books and numerous articles in his chief field of Renaissance drama, and Shakespeare. For many years he edited Renaissance Drama, a Northwestern University Press publication. In addition, he served on numerous national and international boards and committees connected with the Renaissance and Shakespeare.

In August of 1975, he resigned to return to New York City as Distinguished Professor of English at Queens College and the City University Graduate Center. Schoenbaum's book, William Shakespeare: A Documentary Life, was published in 1975 on the Bard's 411th birthday. In later years Schoenbaum was engaged in collaborating on a six volume edition of John Middleton's complete works. Schoenbaum died on March 27, 1996.

From the guide to the Samuel Schoenbaum (1927-1996) Papers, 1951-1976, (Northwestern University Archives)