This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Topshelver (talk | contribs) at 21:10, 14 January 2025 (new article on American poet and librarian). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 21:10, 14 January 2025 by Topshelver (talk | contribs) (new article on American poet and librarian)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)| John Russell Hayes | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Born | (1866-06-23)June 23, 1866 West Chester, Pennsylvania |
| Died | December 29, 1945(1945-12-29) (aged 79) West Chester, Pennsylvania |
| Alma mater | Swarthmore College UPenn Law |
| Occupation(s) | Librarian, educator, poet |
| Employer | Swarthmore College |
John Russell Hayes (June 23, 1866 – December 29, 1945) was an American poet, librarian, and educator from Pennsylvania. His poetry evoked the regional landscape and his Quaker heritage. He served as head librarian at Swarthmore College from 1905 to 1927 and later ran the college's Friends Historical Library.
Biography
Hayes was born in 1866 near West Chester, Pennsylvania, to William M. and Rachel (Russell) Hayes. His family were Quakers and had lived in the region for generations. He grew up on the Hayes family farm on the Brandywine in Embreeville and earned a bachelor's degree from Swarthmore College in 1888 and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1892. He practiced law for a year before becoming an assistant professor of English at Swarthmore College. He also studied at Harvard University, the University of Oxford, and the University of Strasbourg. He was head librarian at Swarthmore from 1906 to 1927. He managed the Friends Historical Library from 1927 to 1935, retiring as Librarian Emeritus.
Hayes married Emma Gawthrop of Wilmington, Delaware, in 1892 and had three daughters, Esther, Katharine, and Eleanor, all of whom studied at Swarthmore. His wife died in 1939. John Russell Hayes died on December 29, 1945, in a West Chester hospital and was buried at the Romansville Friends Meeting cemetery. The Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College holds his writings and other papers.
Poetry
Hayes wrote about a dozen books, primarily of verse. His poetry generally evoked the regional landscape, bucolic childhood memories, and his Quaker heritage. He read many poems at memorials and other public occasions. His best-known book is Old Quaker Meeting Houses (Biddle Press, 1910). A complete collection of his poetry was published in 1916.
References
- ^ Hayes, Royal S. (1928). The Hayes Family: Origin, History and Genealogy. Cincinnati, OH: Self-published. pp. 46–49.
- ^ "Collection: John Russell Hayes Papers". Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. 2001. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "John R. Hayes, Poet, Dies at 79". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 1946-01-01. p. 6. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- Baldwin, William C. (1977). Brandywine Creek: A Pictorial History. Josten's/American Yearbook Company. p. 176.
- 1866 births
- 1945 deaths
- 19th-century American educators
- 19th-century American poets
- 19th-century Quakers
- 20th-century American educators
- 20th-century American librarians
- 20th-century American poets
- 20th-century Quakers
- American librarians
- American male poets
- American nature writers
- American poets
- American Quakers
- People from West Chester, Pennsylvania
- Quaker writers
- Swarthmore College alumni
- Swarthmore College faculty
- University of Pennsylvania Law School alumni