Elizabeth Stevenson (academic)

Elizabeth Stevenson (June 13, 1919 – July 30, 1999) was an American author. In 1956, Stevenson became the first woman recipient of the Bancroft Prize when she won it for her book Henry Adams: A Biography. She was also awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship in 1951 and 1958.

Elizabeth Stevenson
Born(1919-06-13)June 13, 1919
Ancón, Panama
DiedJuly 30, 1999(1999-07-30) (aged 80)
Decatur, Georgia
Notable awardsBancroft Prize (1956), Guggenheim Fellowship (1951 and 1958)

Early life and education

In the Panama Canal Zone, Stevenson's birth occurred at Ancón, Panama on June 13, 1919.[1][2] She grew up in Great Falls, Montana during her childhood.[3] Niven started living in Atlanta, Georgia as a teenager.[4] She graduated from Agnes Scott College with a Bachelor of Arts and majoring in English and history.[5]

Career

Stevenson began her career at Southern Bell during the 1940s.[4] She also worked for the War Production Board and War Assets Administration by 1947.[6] The following year, she joined the Atlanta Public Library as an assistant and remained there until 1956.[2] In 1960, she worked at Emory University as a dean's assistant until 1974 when she began teaching American studies.[3] During the mid 1970s, she was the "first female faculty member" at the Institute for the Liberal Arts with Emory.[7] Stevenson remained at the university until her retirement in 1986 and given the title of emeritus.[8]

As an author, Stevenson wrote about Henry James with her 1949 book titled The Crooked Corridor: A Study of Henry James.[9] In 1955, Stevenson moved on to Henry Adams with Henry Adams: A Biography.[10] Stevenson continued her publications on Adams as the editor for A Henry Adams Reader during 1958.[11] In 1960, Stevenson was chosen to be part of the National Book Awards as a judge for the nonfiction category.[12][13]

She then moved on to Lafcadio Hearn when she released Lafcadio Hearn: A Biography the following year.[2] As a contributor, she was a part of Pride and Prejudice's 1962 re-release.[14] She expanded her writings in 1967 with the release of Babbitts and Bohemians: The American 1920s.[15] Her book on Frederick Law Olmsted, Park Maker: A Life of Frederick Law Olmsted, was released ten years later.[16]

Awards and honors

From the Georgia Writers Association, The Crooked Corridor won the Literary Achievement category in 1950.[17] Henry Adams was the non-fiction recipient during the 1956 edition of the GWA awards.[18] That year, Henry Adams received the Bancroft Prize.[19] With her win, Stevenson was the Bancroft Prize's first female recipient.[20][21] While in Atlanta, Stevenson won the city's 1955 Woman of the Year in Arts award during 1956.[4] Her book on Hearn was selected as a GWA winner in 1962.[22]

Stevenson was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship twice in 1951 and 1958.[23] She received a research stipend for her Olmstead biography from the National Endowment for the Humanities in 1974.[24] The following year, she was given a grant from the American Council of Learned Societies for this book.[25]

Death

Stevenson died of cancer on July 30, 1999, at Peachtree Hospice in the DeKalb Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia. Her remains were cremated and a memorial service was held at Decatur on August 1, 1999.[26]

References
  1. Broer, Lawrence R.; Walther, John Daniel, eds. (1990). Dancing Fools and Weary Blues: The Great Escape of the Twenties. Bowling Green State University Popular Press. p. 120. ISBN 0879724579.
  2. May, Hal; Lesniak, James G., eds. (1989). "Stevenson, Elizabeth 1919-". Contemporary Authors. New Revision. Vol. 26. Detroit: Gale Research Inc. p. 406. ISBN 0810319802. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  3. Saunders, Sally (July 26, 1979). "Acclaimed biographer Stevenson getting back in touch with her Montana roots". Great Falls Tribune (Great Falls, Montana). p. 6.
  4. Davis, Edwina (January 9, 1956). "Miss Stevenson WOTY in Arts". The Atlanta Journal. p. 6.
  5. Rosenberger, Francis Coleman (1973–1974). "Introduction". Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington, D.C. 49: xvi–xvii.
  6. "Great Falls Woman Has New Book Published Monday". The Independent Record. November 13, 1949. p. Six.
  7. "History of the ILA". Institute for the Liberal Arts. Emory College of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  8. "EmoryFindingAids : Elizabeth Stevenson papers, ca. 1950-1999". EmoryFindingAids. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  9. Wagenknecht, Edward (December 25, 1949). "A New Study of Works of Henry James". Chicago Tribune. Part 4 p. 4.
  10. "Former Falls Girl Publishing Second Biographical Work". Great Falls Tribune. November 27, 1955. p. 10.
  11. Fuigham, Matthew T. (March 23, 1958). "Introduction To Henry Adams' Works Shows Wide Range Of His Scholarship". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. p. 4D.
  12. Lochridge, Betsy Hopkins (January 31, 1960). "Atlantian Will Help Judge Book Award". The Atlanta Journal. p. 2-E.
  13. "National Book Awards 1959". National Book Foundation. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  14. Daniel, Frank (March 5, 1962). "A Good Book Is Larger Than the Author". The Atlanta Journal. p. 23.
  15. Appel, David (September 17, 1967). "Babbitts, Bohemians In Mad, Mad Years". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. sec. 7 p. 7.
  16. Murphy, Ray (June 21, 1977). "Park pioneer". Boston Evening Globe. p. 17.
  17. "Atlantian Wins Literary Prize Of Writer Group". The Atlanta Journal. June 26, 1950. p. 9.
  18. "Georgia Authors Slated For Achievement Awards". The Atlanta Journal. November 2, 1956. p. 28.
  19. "Atlantian Gets Bancroft Prize for Writing". The Atlanta Journal. April 24, 1956. p. 24.
  20. Coats, Clara Beth (May 20, 1956). "Bancroft Prize Goes to Woman for 1st Time for Biography of Henry Adams". The Abilene Reporter-News. p. 13-C.
  21. "The Bancroft Prizes: Previous Awards". Columbia University Libraries. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  22. "6 Georgia Authors To Receive Honors". The Atlanta Journal. October 23, 1962. p. 13.
  23. "Elizabeth Stevenson". John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  24. "NEH grant details: To Complete: Life and Times of Frederick Law Olmstead". National Endowment of the Humanities. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  25. "Elizabeth Stevenson". American Council of Learned Societies. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  26. Sibley, Celia (August 1, 1999). "Obituary. Elizabeth Stevenson". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 40. ISSN 1539-7459. OCLC 1035119455. Retrieved December 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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