Thorpe, Clarence De Witt, 1887-

Professor of English at the University of Michigan.

From the description of Clarence D. Thorpe papers, 1921-1959. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34419212

Keats scholar, Professor of English at the University of Michigan, 1924-1958.

From the description of Literary papers, 1920-1958. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34369249

Clarence De Witt Thorpe, who spent most of his life studying and teaching English literature and composition, was born in Iowa Falls, Iowa on December 14, 1887. He received his A.B. from Elsworth College in 1911 and his A.M. from the University of Arizona in 1912. He headed the English department at Northern Arizona State Teachers College from 1912 to 1918 except for a leave of absence in 1914 to 1915 at which time he completed a second masters at the University of Michigan. He then became assistant professor of English and rhetoric at the University of Arizona in 1919. In 1921 Thorpe left Arizona for the University of Oregon. In 1924 he returned to the University of Michigan where he became instructor of rhetoric and where, one year later, he received his Ph.D. Thorpe rose through the academic ranks at Michigan until he became a full professor in 1928.

Thorpe was active in several professional associations including the Michigan Academy of Sciences, the Modern Language Association of America, the Modern Humanities Research Association, and the National Council of English Teachers. Thorpe published numerous books and articles including works on public speaking, college composition and romantic poetry and criticism. In 1929, he co-edited a volume entitled, The Fred Newton Scott Anniversary Papers . Thorpe was himself a frequent public speaker and his papers contain notes for several public lectures and talks. Thorpe died on December 22, 1959.

From the guide to the Clarence De Witt Thorpe Papers, 1921-1959, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)