Frederick W. Hilles facts for kids
Frederick Whiley "Ted" Hilles (1900–1975) was a well-known professor of English literature at Yale University. He was an expert on the life and writings of Sir Joshua Reynolds, a famous artist. During World War II, Hilles worked in intelligence for the U.S. Army at a secret location called Bletchley Park in England.
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Early Life and Family
Frederick Whiley Hilles was born in 1900. His father, Charles D. Hilles, was a Republican leader. In 1930, Frederick married Susan Morse. They spent their first year of marriage in England before returning to Yale in 1931. They had two children, a daughter named Susan and a son named Frederick Jr. They also had many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Career Highlights
Frederick Hilles was a professor of English literature at Trumbull College, which is part of Yale University. He was especially known for his knowledge of Sir Joshua Reynolds's writings. Hilles edited Reynolds's letters, which were published in 1929. His book, The Literary Career of Sir Joshua Reynolds (1936), was an important source for other experts studying Reynolds. This book was dedicated to his friend and teacher, Chauncey Brewster Tinker. Later, people called Hilles "the greatest living Reynolds collector" because he collected so many of his works.
World War II Service
During World War II, Hilles served in the United States Army. He became a lieutenant colonel. He was one of many American officers, often from academic backgrounds, who were sent to England. Their job was to work at the secret code-breaking center at Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire.
At Bletchley Park, Hilles was in charge of a group called MIS in Hut 3. This group was responsible for sharing secret information, called Ultra intelligence, with American channels. This was part of an agreement between the American and British forces from 1943. Hilles lived nearby and drove to Bletchley Park every day. He also often traveled to Cambridge and London. The MIS unit at Bletchley Park closed in July 1945. After the war, Hilles wrote a history of the unit for the U.S. Government. This account was kept secret for many years but was made public in 2012.
Return to Yale
After the war, Hilles returned to his civilian life at Yale University. He was promoted to a full professor in 1948. He also played a key role in helping Yale acquire the important papers of the writer Ezra Pound.
Death and Legacy
Frederick W. Hilles passed away in 1975. His wife, Susan Hilles, honored his memory by funding the construction of the Susan Morse and Frederick Whiley Hilles Library. This library, often called the Hilles Library, is located at Radcliffe College, which is now part of Harvard University.
Selected Publications
- The literary career of Sir Joshua Reynolds. University Press, Cambridge, & Macmillan, New York, 1936.
- "Sir Joshua's prose" in The age of Johnson: Essays presented to Chauncey Brewster Tinker., F.W. Hilles (Ed.) Yale University Press, New Haven, 1949.
- Portraits by Sir Joshua Reynolds: Character sketches of Oliver Goldsmith, Samuel Johnson, and David Garrick together with other manuscripts of Reynolds &c. William Heinemann, 1952.
- New light on Dr. Johnson. Essays on the occasion of his 250th birthday. Archon Books, 1967. (Editor and contributor)
See also
- John Edgcumbe
- John Ingamells
- Edmond Malone
