Gaisford Prize Explained

The Gaisford Prize is a prize awarded by the Faculty of Classics, University of Oxford for a composition in Classical Greek Verse and Prose by an undergraduate student. The prize was founded in 1855 in memory of Dr Thomas Gaisford (1779–1855). The prizes now also include the Gaisford Essay Prize and the Gaisford Dissertation Prize.

History

Dr Thomas Gaisford, Dean of Christ Church, Regius Professor of Greek in the University of Oxford for more than forty years (1811–1855), died on 2 June 1855. Ten days later, at a meeting held in Christ Church on 12 June, it was resolved to establish a prize in his honour, to be called the Gaisford Prize, and to raise for that purpose £1,000 by public subscription, the interest to be applied "to reward a successful prizeman or prizemen, under such regulations as shall be approved by Convocation".[1] The prizes were first awarded in 1857.[2]

There have been four categories of Gaisford Prize. The two original categories were:

By 2003 the Schedule to the University's Statutes and Regulations[5] provided for a different two prizes, which remained in the Schedule as of 2024:[6]

The 1857–1876 winners of the Greek Prose Prize were listed alongside winners of the Newdigate Prize on the wrapper of Oscar Wilde's published Newdigate-winning poem Ravenna (1878).[7]

Winners of the Gaisford Prize for Greek Verse

Winners of the Gaisford Prize for Greek Prose

Winners of the Gaisford Essay Prize

Winners of the Gaisford Dissertation Prize

Notable winning entries

John Davidson Beazley's winning entry for the 1907 Greek Prose prize, Herodotus at the Zoo, was reprinted by Blackwell in 1911 and later appeared in a collection of classical parodies produced in Switzerland in 1968. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography calls it "an enchanting work".[69]

George Stuart Robertson won the prize for Greek Verse in 1894 with a translation of a hundred lines of Shakespeare into comic iambic verse, and the next year he won the prize for Greek Prose and a Blue for hammer throwing. He heard about the 1896 Summer Olympics, the first of the modern era, and later explained "Greek classics were my proper academic field, so I could hardly resist a go at the Olympics, could I?" On arrival in Athens, he found to his dismay that his discipline of hammer throwing was not to be competed in, so in the spirit of amateurism he entered the shot put, the discus and the tennis. In the discus, he recorded the Games' worst ever throw, and in the tennis doubles he lost his only match but nevertheless won a Bronze Medal. In a ceremony after the Games, Robertson recited an ode to athletic prowess which he had composed in Greek.[70]

Between 1953 and 1956, C. G. R. Leach won all four University prizes for composition in classical languages – the Gaisford Greek Verse and Prose prizes, and the Chancellor's Prizes for Latin Verse and Prose – while his brother J. H. C. Leach won three and was runner-up for a fourth.[3]

In fiction

In Max Beerbohm's satirical tragedy of undergraduate life at Oxford, Zuleika Dobson (1911), the hero, called the Duke of Dorset,[71] has won one of the Prizes:

See also

See also

Notes and References

  1. [Sylvanus Urban|Urban, Sylvanus]
  2. Encyclopedia: Stray . Christopher . Non-identical twins: classics at nineteenth-century Oxford and Cambridge . Oxford Classics: Teaching and Learning, 1800-2000 . Stray . Christopher . 2007 . Bloomsbury . London . 978-1-4725-3782-9 .
  3. Encyclopedia: Prizes and scholarships . The Encyclopaedia of Oxford . Hibbert . Christopher . Hibbert . Edward . 1988 . Macmillan . London . 0-333-39917-X . 338-340 .
  4. http://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/backissues/9495/230695/notc.txt Oxford University Gazette, 23 June 1995
  5. Web site: Schedule . University of Oxford . 19 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20030422224551/http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/statutes/354-051b.shtml . 22 April 2003.
  6. Web site: Part 18: Gaisford Fund . Schedule . University of Oxford . 19 March 2024.
  7. Mason, Stuart, Bibliography of Oscar Wilde, (Reprint by Read Books, 2007, of 1914 edition,) p. 241
  8. Warner, J. H., Gaisford Prize: Greek Hexameters Recited in the Theatre, Oxford, June 24, MDCCCLVII (Oxford: T. and G. Shrimpton, 1857), online at books.google.co.uk, accessed 14 August 2008
  9. Broughton, R., Gaisford Prize: Greek Iambics Recited in the Theatre, Oxford, June 16, MDCCCLVIII (Oxford: T. and G. Shrimpton, 1858), online at books.google.co.uk, accessed 14 August 2008
  10. Luke, George R., Morte D'Arthur, The Gaisford Prize Poem: Recited in the Sheldonian Theatre, July 6, A. D. MDCCCLIX (Oxford: T. and G. Shrimpton, 1859), online at books.google.co.uk, accessed 14 August 2008
  11. Chute, Chaloner W., Gaisford Prize: Greek Iambics Recited in the Theatre, Oxford, June 20, MDCCCLX (Oxford: T. and G. Shrimpton, 1860), online at books.google.co.uk, accessed 14 August 2008
  12. [James Bryce, 1st Viscount Bryce|Bryce, James]
  13. Raper, Robert W., Gaisford Prize: Greek Iambics Recited in the Theatre, Oxford, July 2, MDCCCLXII (Oxford: T. and G. Shrimpton, 1862), online at books.google.co.uk, accessed 14 August 2008
  14. Pearson, Charles J., Gaisford Prize: A translation of Milton's Paradise lost, Book 6, 824–877, Homeric hexameters : recited in the Theatre, Oxford, June 17, MDCCCLXIII
  15. http://rpo.library.utoronto.ca/poet/383.html Selected Poetry of Ernest Myers (1844–1921)
  16. Nutt, George, Gaisford Prize: Greek Comic Iambics Recited in the Theatre, Oxford, Jube xiii, mdccclxvi (Oxford: Rivingtons, 1866), online at books.google.co.uk, accessed 14 August 2008
  17. Bell, Alexander M., Gaisford Prize Recited in the Theatre, Oxford, June 26, 1867, by Alexander M. Bell, Balliol College (Oxford: T. and G. Shrimpton, 1867, 15pp.)
  18. [Arthur Godley, 1st Baron Kilbracken|Godley, John Arthur]
  19. Matthew, H. C. G., 'Godley, (John) Arthur, first Baron Kilbracken (1847–1932), civil servant' in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 (online edition, subscription required), accessed 16 August 2008
  20. Nicholson, Edward Byron, Gaisford Prize: Greek verse recited in the Sheldonian theatre, Oxford, June 14, MDCCCLXXI (Oxford: G. Shrimpton, 1870, 7 pp.)
  21. Haigh, Arthur Elam, Gaisford Prize: Greek Verse (Oxford: Thos. Shrimpton & Son, 1876), online at books.google.co.uk, accessed 14 August 2008
  22. Hamilton, Sidney Graves, Gaisford Prize: Greek Verse (Oxford: 1877), online at books.google.co.uk, accessed 14 August 2008
  23. [William Hardie|Hardie, William Ross]
  24. Foster, op. cit: "Russell, Cecil Henry St. Leger, born at Trinidad, West Indies, 18 April 1862 ; is. Richard, arm. TRINITY, matric. 15 Oct., 81, aged 19 (from Lancing coll.), scholar 81–5, B.A. 86, M.A. 88 (HONOURS: 2 classical mods. 82, Latin verse 82, Greek verse 83, Greek prose 84, 2 classics 85); a master at Clifton coll."
  25. House, Harry Hammond, Gaisford Prize: Greek iambics (Oxford: B. H. Blackwell, 1884, 11 pp.)
  26. Du Pontet, René L. A., Gaisford prize, 1889. Hexameter verse (Oxford: B. H. Blackwell, 1889, 15 pp.)
  27. [Joseph Foster (genealogist)|Foster, Joseph]
  28. Cole, Edward L. D., Gaisford prize, 1896. Greek hexameters (Oxford, B. H. Blackwell, 1896, 13 pp.)
  29. University intelligence . 19 May 1902 . 8 . 36771.
  30. Rose, Kenneth, 'Grigg, Edward William Macleay, first Baron Altrincham (1879–1955), colonial administrator and politician' (rev.) in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004, (online edition, January 2008, subscription required) accessed 16 August 2008
  31. Hunter, Leslie Whitaker, Gaisford Prize for Greek elegiac verse, translation from Tennyson's Lotos-eaters (Oxford: Blackwell, 1906)
  32. J. A. Emerton, 'Driver, Sir Godfrey Rolles (1892–1975)', in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004
  33. [Denys Page|Page, Denys Lionel]
  34. [Hugh Lloyd-Jones|Lloyd-Jones, Hugh]
  35. Davidson, Brian, A translation of Addison's 'Cato', act IV, sc.iv, to act V, sc.1: Gaisford prize for Greek verse (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1930, 8 pp.)
  36. 'BARRETT, (William) Spencer' in Who Was Who, A & C Black, 1920–2007, online edition (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, December 2007: BARRETT, (William) Spencer, accessed 14 August 2008
  37. http://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/1995-6/weekly/250796/notc.htm#2Ref Oxford University Gazette, 25 July 1996
  38. http://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/1998-9/weekly/240998/notc.htm Oxford University Gazette, 24 September 1998
  39. http://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/1999-00/weekly/230999/notc.htm#35Ref Oxford University Gazette, 23 September 1999
  40. http://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/2000-1/weekly/191000/notc.htm#22Ref Oxford University Gazette, 19 October 2000
  41. University, Oxford (2015). 2015-2016 - Vol 146. University of Oxford. Online resource. https://doi.org/10.25446/oxford.17298206.v1
  42. https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/news/academic-prizes-queens-students#22Ref 'Academic prizes for Queen's students'
  43. https://www.exeter.ox.ac.uk/exeter-students-win-classics-prizes/#22Ref 'Exeter students win Classics prizes'
  44. Exonian Wins Gaisford Prize for Greek Verse https://www.exeter.ox.ac.uk/exonian-wins-gaisford-prize-for-greek-verse/ at ox.ac.uk, accessed 18 May 2021
  45. Web site: Balliol undergraduate wins Gaisford Prize for Greek Verse . ox.ac.uk . 21 June 2023.
  46. Luke, George R., Nikais : a Greek dialogue on superstition, Gaisford prize, Greek prose (Oxford: T. and G. Shrimpton, 1858, 23 pp.)
  47. Jones, Martin D. W., 'Bigg, Charles (1840–1908)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 (online (subscription site), accessed 16 August 2008
  48. [Arthur Godley, 1st Baron Kilbracken|Godley, John Arthur]
  49. Jeans, George Edward, Gaisford Prize: Iceland: in Herodotean prose (Oxford: George Shrimpton, 1871, 19 pp.)
  50. Bertie, David M., Scottish Episcopal Clergy, 1689–2000, p. 254: "FAUSSET, William Yorke, M.A. b. 1859... Gaisford Prize (Prose) 1880... D 1884, P 1887... Became headmaster of Ripon Grammar School, Yorks. in 1890"
  51. Russell, Cecil Henry St Leger, Gaisford prize, Greek prose: The Athenian state: a platonic dialogue (Oxford & London: B. H. Blackwell, 1884)
  52. Robertson, George Stuart, Herodotus in Britain, Gaisford prize for Greek prose (Oxford: Blackwell, 1895)
  53. Powell, L. F., 'Chapman, Robert William (1881–1960)', rev. M. Clare Loughlin-Chow, in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 online edn, May 2006 (subscription site), accessed 16 August 2008
  54. [John Beazley|Beazley, John Davidson]
  55. Known as Frank Hardie, later a Fellow of Magdalen and Corpus Christi and President of Corpus Christi from 1950 to 1969
  56. Millar, Fergus, Hannah M. Cotton, & Guy M. Rogers, Rome, the Greek World, and the East, page 401 online at books.google.co.uk, accessed 14 August 2008
  57. http://library.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/fl/f67%7D1.htm#id26703 Rev. Stephen X. Winters S.J. Papers
  58. Hacker, P. M. S. 'Austin, John Langshaw (1911–1960)', in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 online (subscription site), accessed 16 August 2008
  59. Griffith, John Godfrey, Tolstoy's 'Thou shalt not kill': Translated into Greek verse, Gaisford prize for Greek prose, 1936 (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1936)
  60. http://www.new.ox.ac.uk/pdfs/25%20years_distinctions.pdf 25 YEARS OF WOMEN AT NEW COLLEGE DISTINCTIONS
  61. https://gazette.web.ox.ac.uk/files/20june2019-no5245pdf Oxford University Gazette, 20 June 2019
  62. https://sharepoint.nexus.ox.ac.uk/sites/eap/pad/Gazette/Shared%20Documents/Gazette%202019-20/25%20June%202020%20-%20No%205282.pdf Oxford University Gazette, 25 June 2020
  63. Oxford University Gazette, 17 June 2021 at ox.ac.uk, accessed 17 June 2021
  64. Web site: Richard Gaskin's CV. www.academia.edu.
  65. de Melo, Wolfgang David Cirilo, The Early Latin Verb System, Preface, p. ix: "I should like to thank the anonymous committees that gave me the Gaisford Prize for Greek Verse (jointly) and the Gaisford Dissertation Prize (jointly). The latter was for my 2002b article, which forms the basis of Ch. 6."
  66. http://users.ox.ac.uk/~newc1437/CV.htm Oliver Thomas CV
  67. https://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/2016-2017/6july2017-no5176/notices/#254825 Oxford University Gazette, 6 July 2017
  68. https://unioxfordnexus.sharepoint.com/sites/PublicAffairsDirectorate-Gazette/Online%20Gazette%20Issues/Gazette%202021-22/13%20January%202022%20-%20No%205334.pdf Oxford University Gazette, 13 January 2022
  69. Robertson, Martin, 'Beazley, Sir John Davidson (1885–1970)', rev. David Gill, in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 (online edition (subscription required) accessed 16 Aug 2008
  70. Hodge, Gavvandra, Olympian odes: I say, what rhymes with Discoboloi? in The Independent on Sunday August 8, 2004, at findarticles.com
  71. Or in full, John Albert Edward Claude Orde Angus Tankerton Tanville-Tankerton, fourteenth Duke of Dorset, Marquis of Dorset, Earl of Grove, Earl of Chastermaine, Viscount Brewsby, Baron Grove, Baron Petstrap, and Baron Wolock