Kemp Malone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kemp Malone
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| Born | 14 March 1889  |
| Died | 13 October 1971 (aged 82) |
| Occupation | Philologist, linguist, university teacher |
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Kemp Malone (born March 14, 1889, died October 13, 1971) was an American expert in old languages and literature. He studied the Middle Ages, the history of words, and the English language. He was a professor of English Literature at Johns Hopkins University for many years.
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Early Life and Studies
Kemp Malone was born in Minter City, Mississippi. His family was very academic. He graduated from Emory College in 1907. He wanted to learn all the languages that influenced Middle English.
Learning Languages Abroad
To achieve his goal, he spent several years studying in Europe. He lived in Germany, Denmark, and Iceland. This helped him understand how languages developed.
Serving in the Army
When World War I started, Malone joined the United States Army. He served for two years. He left the army with the rank of captain.
Contributions to Language Studies
Kemp Malone became a very important scholar. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1945. This is a group for smart people who study many different things.
Leading Academic Groups
He was the president of the Modern Language Association. This group helps teachers and scholars of modern languages. He also led other groups focused on language studies.
Editing Dictionaries and Journals
Malone was the editor for word origins (etymology) in the American College Dictionary in 1947. He also helped start a journal called American Speech. He created it with Louise Pound and Arthur G. Kennedy. The journal shared information about English in America. It was written in a way that regular readers could enjoy.
Views on Old English Poetry
Kemp Malone had strong ideas about Old English poetry. Some people thought these poems were only passed down by speaking them. Malone believed that poets worked hard to create them. He thought poets used traditional ideas but added their own skill.
Wide Range of Interests
Malone studied many different topics. His interests went from very old manuscripts to the names in modern comic strips.
Studying English Language History
He was very interested in American speech and the English language. He explored how words changed over time.
Famous Historical Figures
He also researched historical figures like King Arthur. Malone suggested that Arthur might have been a Roman leader named Lucius Artorius Castus. He also studied early English poets like Cædmon and Beowulf. He even edited a special copy of the Beowulf transcripts in 1951.
Editing Medieval Poetry
Kemp Malone edited and translated many medieval poems. One example is Widsith from the Exeter Book in 1936. He also published a book in 1941. This book turned old English poems into modern English verse.
Malone's Legacy
Kemp Malone's work left a lasting impact. His younger brother, Dumas Malone, was also a famous historian.
His Library Collection
In 1971, he gave rare books from his own library to Emory University. These books are now part of a special collection. You can find them at the Robert W. Woodruff Library at Emory University.
His Writings and Papers
In 1983, his writings and papers were given to Johns Hopkins University. This collection fills 30 large boxes. It helps scholars learn more about his work.
