Edith R. Mirrielees
Professor Edith Ronald Mirrielees (September 10, 1878 - June 3, 1962) was a pioneering teacher of creative writing; she inspired many talented, distinguished students, including novelist John Steinbeck at Stanford University.
Biography
[edit]Edith Ronald Mirrielees was born on September 10, 1878, in Pittsfield, Illinois, and grew up in Big Timber, Montana.[1]
Before graduating, she taught in Montana public schools.[1] At 25 years old, in 1903, Mirrielees entered Stanford University to study History (later changed to English).[1] She graduated in 1906, B.A. in 1907. As a student, she was the editor of the literary magazine, Sequoia, the associate editor of the yearbook, Stanford Quad, and co-founder of the women's honorary society, Cap and Gown.[2]
From 1909 to 1944, she was first instructor and then professor of English literature at Stanford University.[2] She is best known for her courses in Creative Writing and for the influence she had on such famous American writers as John Steinbeck,[3] Howard Pease, Archie Binns, Allen Drury,[1] and Irma Hannibal.[4] Her book Story Writing is an essential reference in the field.[5][1]
During World War I, she served with the Stanford Red Cross unit in France. She was an advisor on educational matters to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.[1]
After retirement, she founded and published the magazine Pacific Spectator (1947-1951).[1][6]
In 1951, she wrote the foreword for the speculative fiction anthology World of Wonder, edited by Fletcher Pratt.
In 1959, she published Stanford: The Story of a University.[7][2][1]
In 1961, Mills College awarded her an honorary doctorate in Letters in recognition of her outstanding contribution as a professor.[1]
She spent the last year of her life writing Stanford mosaic: reminiscences of the first seventy years at Stanford University , a tale of memories of Stanford's first seventy years.[8][1]
She corresponded with Avis De Voto, Bernard De Voto, Mary Stegner, Wallace Stegner, and Harry Bush.[9] She was friends with Robert Frost.[10]
Mirrielees died on June 3, 1962, in Stanford, California.[1]
Legacy
[edit]Mirrielees House at Stanford University is an apartment residence used primarily for upperclass students.[2]
Stanford University endows the Edith Mirrielees Professorship in Creative Writing.
Montana State University holds the Edith R. Mirrielees Prize competition.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Memorial Resolution – Edith Ronald Mirrielees (1878–1962)" (PDF). stanford. Retrieved 10 January 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d "Mirrielees House". Stanford University. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ "It has never got easier". Letters of Note. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ "restricted access Two Views of Stanford's Teaching Legends: Margery Bailey and Edith Mirrielees and Their Effect on John Steinbeck and Irma Hannibal". Project Muse. doi:10.1353/str.2013.0010. S2CID 109769811. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ Edith Ronald Mirrielees, Story Writing, Wilside Press LLC, 2008
- ^ Carnochan, W. B. "English Stanford 1891–2000 A Brief History". Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ Edith R. Mirrielees, Stanford, the Story of a University, Putnam, New York, 1959
- ^ Edith Ronald Mirrielees, Stanford mosaic; reminiscences of the first seventy years at Stanford University, Stanford Calif. Stanford University Press (1962), ASIN:B002CPS42M
- ^ "Guide to the Edith R. Mirrielees Papers". The Online Archive of California. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ Stanlis, Peter J. (2011). Conversations with Robert Frost: The Bread Loaf Period. Transaction Publishers. p. 84. ISBN 9781412815246. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
External links
[edit]- Works by Edith R. Mirrielees at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
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