Stringfellow Barr facts for kids

Stringfellow Barr (born January 15, 1897, in Suffolk, Virginia – died February 3, 1982, in Alexandria, Virginia) was an important American historian and author. He was also the president of St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland. There, he and Scott Buchanan created the famous Great Books curriculum, which focuses on reading and discussing classic works.

Who Was Stringfellow Barr?

Stringfellow Barr was a smart and influential person who believed in a special kind of education. He thought that by reading and discussing the most important books ever written, students could learn to think deeply and understand the world better. His friends often called him "Winkie."

Barr's Early Work and Teaching

Before becoming a college president, Barr was the editor of a magazine called Virginia Quarterly Review from 1931 to 1937. Later, in the 1950s, he taught ancient history and languages (called classics) at Rutgers University.

Helping to Build a Better World

From 1948 to 1958, Stringfellow Barr was the leader of the Foundation for World Government. This group worked to find ways for countries to get along better and solve problems together peacefully.

What Books Did Barr Write?

Stringfellow Barr was a talented writer who made history easy to understand. He wrote several books that looked at big parts of Western history.

Exploring Ancient Civilizations

Two of his most famous books are about ancient times:

• The Will of Zeus: This book tells the story of ancient Greece.
• The Mask of Jove: This book explores the history of ancient Rome.

Understanding Modern History

He also wrote The Pilgrimage of Western Man. This book covers Western history from the time of the Renaissance (a period of great art and learning) all the way up to after World War II.

A Book for Gardeners

Barr also co-wrote The Kitchen Garden Book in 1956 with Stella Standard. This book was a guide for people who wanted to grow their own vegetables and learn how to cook them.

Barr's Ideas on Education and Society

Stringfellow Barr had strong opinions about education in America. He thought that sometimes, schools focused too much on just getting a job and not enough on truly understanding important ideas.

Thoughts on American Education

In his 1958 novel Purely Academic, Barr used humor to share his ideas. One character in the book talks about how some college graduates might seem very educated but still lack deep understanding. The character also wondered why, if American education was supposedly "second-rate," the country was so rich and successful. This was Barr's way of making people think about what truly makes a society strong.

Standing Up for What He Believed In

In 1959, Barr joined many other important people, like Eleanor Roosevelt, to ask the U.S. Congress to get rid of the House Un-American Activities Committee. This committee was known for investigating people they thought might be disloyal to the country, and many felt it went too far.

See also

• Liberal Arts, Inc.