Yale Bulletin and Calendar

September 22, 2006|Volume 35, Number 3

R.W.B. Lewis

Newly endowed R.W.B. Lewis Directorship at Yale College Writing Center honors critic's life and work

The directorship of the Yale College Writing Center has been endowed in the name of the late R.W.B. Lewis, a renowned literary critic and biographer who taught at Yale for nearly 30 years.

The gift, made by a former student who wishes to remain anonymous, honors the life and work of Lewis, who had a profound influence on the study of American literature.

"Yale has a serious commitment to the critical role of writing in a liberal arts education," says President Richard C. Levin. "This position in Dick Lewis' name will serve as a permanent tribute to a writer who made every subject he engaged in memorable, and to a memorable teacher who made every student mindful of great writing."

Lewis was a prolific writer of literary criticism, essays and biographies. He combined a passion for American writers and the American experience with a deep knowledge of the European tradition. His first book, "The American Adam: Innocence, Tragedy and Tradition in the 19th Century," (1955) is considered one of the foundation texts of American studies; his last book was a biography of Dante, the 13th-century Italian poet. Lewis' widely acclaimed "Edith Wharton: A Biography" earned him a Pulitzer Prize in 1976, as well as the first National Book Critics Circle Award for nonfiction and a Bancroft Prize for American history. A member of the Academy of Arts and Letters, he received its Gold Medal for biography in 2000.

The Niel Gray Professor of English and American Studies at Yale, Lewis taught at the University from 1959 until his retirement in 1988. He served a number of times as director of graduate studies in American studies and also chaired the department. From 1966 to 1972, he was master of Calhoun College, where he lived with his wife, Nancy, and their three children. The Lewises were active in the life of Calhoun and in the wider Yale community.

Alfred E. Guy Jr.

Alfred E. Guy Jr. is the inaugural R.W.B. Lewis Director of the Yale College Writing Center. He holds a bachelor's degree in English from Harvard College and a doctorate, also in English, from New York University. He came to Yale in 2004 after serving as director of the expository writing program at Johns Hopkins University.

Guy has noted that as part of recent enhancements to its curriculum, Yale now offers writing courses in more than 20 academic departments, including history, sociology and biomedical engineering. The Writing Center coordinates these courses and also provides one-on-one help to undergraduates across the curriculum.

"Writing has been central to Yale College courses for many years, and Professor Lewis' example is no small part of that tradition. He wrote masterfully, traversing many fields and genres, and since he was known for his accessibility and his willingness to invest in individual students, it's very fitting for us to continue this work in the company of his name," Guy says.

T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

Project will make select Yale College courses available to all on Internet

F&ES professor wins MacArthur Fellowship

Newly endowed R.W.B. Lewis Directorship . . .

Center to focus on the study of antisemitism

Yale Library donates computers to hurricane-damaged university

David LaVan chosen to take part in 'Frontiers of Engineering'

New Republic editor visits as Poynter Fellow

Conference to explore frontier violence in American history, culture

Sports columnist Christine Brennan is this year's first Chubb Fellow

Yale Philharmonia to present three concerts at the Shubert

JE exhibit features photographer's portraits of gay and lesbian authors

'This Old Stuff' and a treasure hunt are highlights of open house

Circumcision advocacy programs reduce incidence of HIV, report shows

Geologist honored for a second time with GSA Award for his research

Conference examines the work of German political theorist . . .

Two assistant professors win awards for environmental health research

Five alumni are honored with the Yale Medal . . .

Forum explored the topic of 'Biodiversity and Human Health'

Yale Books in Brief

Campus Notes