John W. Atherton Explained

John Atherton
Birth Date:October 17, 1916
Death Date:October 30, 2001 (aged 85)
Children:3
Alma Mater:Amherst College (BA)
University of Chicago (MA, PhD)
Office:1st President of Pitzer College
Termstart:1963
Termend:1970
Predecessor:Position established
Successor:Robert H. Atwell
Death Place:Claremont, California
Battles:World War II
Birth Place:Minneapolis, Minnesota

John William Atherton (October 17, 1916 – October 30, 2001) was an American poet, professor, and the founding president of Pitzer College.[1] [2] [3]

Early life and education

John William Atherton was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota,[4] the son of George R. Atherton.

Atherton began his academic career at Iowa State College, but left to serve as a torpedo and gunnery officer in the United States Navy during World War II.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Amherst College and master’s and doctoral degrees in literature from the University of Chicago.[5]

Career

Active in the United States Naval Reserve for many years, he studied Russian in the Navy School of Oriental Language at Boulder, Colorado.

In 1955 and 1956, he was a Fulbright lecturer at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.[6]

From 1963 Atherton served as Dean of Faculty and a professor of English at Claremont Men's College, which is now known as Claremont McKenna College.[7]

Pitzer College Founding President

Over a period of seventeen months he recruited students, faculty, and trustees and constructed Scott and Sanborn Halls in time for the fall 1964 semester. During the College's first year, students and faculty created the curriculum and the school's system of governance.[8]

Under his tenure the campus grew from 150 students to 650.[9]

He remained president of Pitzer College until June 1970.[10]

Atherton returned to Claremont, California when he retired in 1985.

Literary works

His poems and short stories were published in magazines such as the Saturday Review, The New Yorker, and The Yale Review.

Other appointments

In 1968, he was appointed to the board of governors of the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, California.

Personal life

Atherton married Virginia Richards in 1941. They had three children; John, Thomas and Carol.[11] Atherton died on October 30, 2001, at the age of 85.[12] [13]

Legacy

Atherton was honored in 2004 by the Pitzer College community with the opening of a new residence hall bearing his name.[14]

The John W. Atherton Scholarship is available to seniors majoring in both English and World Literature when attending Pitzer College.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: John Atherton biography.
  2. Web site: John Atherton and architectural model, Pitzer College. 1963.
  3. Web site: Arthur Dubinsky Collection, Pitzer College Archives, picture of John Atherton. Claremont Colleges Digital Library. 1964.
  4. Web site: Minnesota Historical Society Birth Entry for J W Atherton.
  5. https://www.pitzer.edu/communications/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2013/08/2012_spring.pdf A Tribute to John and Virginia Atherton
  6. Web site: John William Atherton's field of interest is Victorian and American architecture. Jacksonville Courier, May 25. 1966.
  7. Web site: Obituary in the S F Gate in 2001.
  8. Web site: Pitzer College History - Pitzer College. 2020-08-03. 2015-12-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20151227173653/http://pitweb.pitzer.edu/pitzer-college-history/. dead.
  9. Web site: John W. Atherton, poet and teacher obituary. Aiken Standard, South Carolina, November 6. 2001. 5.
  10. Web site: Pitzer College President Quits. Pomona Progress Bulletin, March 20. 1969.
  11. Web site: J W Atherton press article.
  12. Web site: Oliver. Myrna. Times. Los Angeles. 2001-11-05. John Atherton, 85; Poet, Professor, Founding President of Pitzer College. 2020-08-03. Los Angeles Times. en-US.
  13. Web site: Oliver. Myrna. Times. Los Angeles. 2001-11-06. John Atherton, poet, Pitzer College founder. 2020-08-03. SFGate.
  14. Web site: Tribute to John and Victoria Atherton.