Carl Van Doren facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carl Van Doren
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Van Doren as the commencement speaker for the University of Kentucky in 1929
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Carl Clinton Van Doren
September 10, 1885 Hope, Illinois, US
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| Died | July 18, 1950 (aged 64) |
| Alma mater | University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (B.A.), Columbia University (Ph. D) |
| Spouse(s) | Irita Bradford (1912–1935), Jean Wright Gorman (1939–1945) |
Carl Clinton Van Doren (born September 10, 1885 – died July 18, 1950) was a famous American writer. He was known for being a critic and for writing biographies. A biography is a book about someone's life.
Carl had a younger brother named Mark Van Doren, who was also a well-known writer and teacher. His nephew was Charles Van Doren.
Carl Van Doren won a very important award called the Pulitzer Prize in 1939. He won it for his book about the life of Benjamin Franklin.
Contents
About Carl Van Doren's Life
Carl Van Doren was born on September 10, 1885. His hometown was Hope, in Illinois, USA. His father, Charles Lucius Van Doren, was a country doctor.
Carl and his younger brother, Mark, grew up on their family's farm.
Education and Teaching
Carl went to college at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He earned his first degree there in 1907. Later, he went to Columbia University and earned a higher degree called a doctorate in 1911.
After finishing his studies, Carl taught at Columbia University. He taught there for many years, until 1930.
Important Achievements
In 1939, Carl Van Doren received the Pulitzer Prize. This is one of the highest awards for writers in the United States. He won it for his detailed biography about Benjamin Franklin.
In 1942, Carl was chosen to be a member of the American Philosophical Society. This is a group of smart people who work to share knowledge.
His Writings
Carl Van Doren wrote a book called The American Novel in 1921. This book helped people see how important writer Herman Melville was. Melville wrote famous books like Moby Dick.
Carl also worked as an editor for a magazine called The Nation. He was in charge of the book section from 1920 to 1922.
Family Life
In 1912, Carl Van Doren married Irita Bradford. She was an editor for a book review section at a newspaper. They had three daughters together: Ann, Margaret, and Barbara. Carl and Irita later divorced in 1935.
Carl married Jean Wright Gorman in 1939. They were married for a few years before they also divorced in 1945.
Working on History
Carl Van Doren worked with another historian, Howard Henry Peckham. They worked together on a book called Secret History of the American Revolution. This book was published in 1941.
They looked at old papers from the British Army. These papers showed that Benedict Arnold was a traitor during the American Revolutionary War.
Carl Van Doren's Legacy
Carl Van Doren passed away on July 18, 1950, in Torrington, Connecticut.
Today, a building at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is named after him. It is a residence hall, which is a place where students live.
