Alcée Fortier
Encyclopedia
Alcée Fortier was a renowned Professor of Romance Languages
at Tulane University
in New Orleans. In the late 19th and early 20th century, he published numerous works on language, literature, Louisiana history and folklore, Louisiana Créole languages, and personal reminiscence. His perspective was valuable because of his French Créole
ancestry. He was president of the Modern Language Association
and Louisiana Historical Society, was appointed to the State Board of Education, and was active in the American Folklore Society
and the New Orleans Academy of Sciences.
Fortier's life was marked by the interruption of the American Civil War
, and his family's abrupt changes in fortune following the war. He completed classes at the classical school of A.V. Romain in New Orleans and entered the University of Virginia
. Serious illness prevented him from completing his studies there. Fortier returned to New Orleans and read law, then started working as a clerk.
in the city high school, then became principal in the preparatory department of the University of Louisiana
.
In 1880 Fortier was elected professor of French in the University of Louisiana, and was reelected when it became Tulane University
. He worked as a Professor of Romance Languages there his entire career, but expanded his studies to include Louisiana Creole
, Acadian French
, and Louisiana folklore of both Acadians and freedmen, as well as European languages.
Fortier was a prolific author, publishing a range of studies on the French literature of Louisiana and France; dialect studies of Louisiana Créoles, Acadians and Isleños
; Créole folk tales in translation; and in 1903 a four-volume history of Louisiana that was well reviewed by the New York Times.
He was also active in a range of new local, state, and national professional organizations. He was president of the Modern Language Association
(founded 1883) and Louisiana Historical Society (1835), was appointed to the State Board of Education, and was active in the American Folklore Society
(founded 1888) and the New Orleans Academy of Sciences (1859).
Papers presented to the Modern Language Association:
His name is remembered in New Orleans:
Romance languages
The Romance languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family, more precisely of the Italic languages subfamily, comprising all the languages that descend from Vulgar Latin, the language of ancient Rome...
at Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
in New Orleans. In the late 19th and early 20th century, he published numerous works on language, literature, Louisiana history and folklore, Louisiana Créole languages, and personal reminiscence. His perspective was valuable because of his French Créole
Creole peoples
The term Creole and its cognates in other languages — such as crioulo, criollo, créole, kriolu, criol, kreyol, kreol, kriulo, kriol, krio, etc. — have been applied to people in different countries and epochs, with rather different meanings...
ancestry. He was president of the Modern Language Association
Modern Language Association
The Modern Language Association of America is the principal professional association in the United States for scholars of language and literature...
and Louisiana Historical Society, was appointed to the State Board of Education, and was active in the American Folklore Society
American Folklore Society
The American Folklore Society is the US-based professional association for folklorists, with members from the US, Canada, and around the world. It was founded in 1888 by William Wells Newell, who stood at the center of a diverse group of university-based scholars, museum anthropologists, and men...
and the New Orleans Academy of Sciences.
Early life and education
Fortier was born June 5, 1856, in St. James Parish, the son of Florent Louis Fortier and Edwige Aimé. His father and grandfathers were sugar cane planters of French Créole ancestry. The Fortier family had been in the Louisiana territory since the early 17th century. His maternal grandfather was Valcour Aimé, who also had a sugar cane plantation in St. James Parish. The families were prominent in the social and political life of the parish and the state.Fortier's life was marked by the interruption of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and his family's abrupt changes in fortune following the war. He completed classes at the classical school of A.V. Romain in New Orleans and entered the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. Serious illness prevented him from completing his studies there. Fortier returned to New Orleans and read law, then started working as a clerk.
Career
Fortier taught FrenchFrench language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
in the city high school, then became principal in the preparatory department of the University of Louisiana
University of Louisiana
University of Louisiana may refer to:* University of Louisiana System, public multi-campus university system** Northwestern State University of Louisiana...
.
In 1880 Fortier was elected professor of French in the University of Louisiana, and was reelected when it became Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
. He worked as a Professor of Romance Languages there his entire career, but expanded his studies to include Louisiana Creole
Louisiana Creole
Louisiana Creole can refer to:* Louisiana Creole people* Louisiana Creole French language* Louisiana Creole cuisine...
, Acadian French
Acadian French
Acadian French , is a regionalized dialect of Canadian French. It is spoken by the francophone population of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, by small minorities in areas in the Gaspé region of eastern Quebec, by small groups of francophones in Prince Edward Island, in several tiny pockets...
, and Louisiana folklore of both Acadians and freedmen, as well as European languages.
Fortier was a prolific author, publishing a range of studies on the French literature of Louisiana and France; dialect studies of Louisiana Créoles, Acadians and Isleños
Isleños
Isleño is the Spanish word meaning "islander." The Isleños are the descendants of Canary Island immigrants to Louisiana, Cuba, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and other parts of the Americas....
; Créole folk tales in translation; and in 1903 a four-volume history of Louisiana that was well reviewed by the New York Times.
He was also active in a range of new local, state, and national professional organizations. He was president of the Modern Language Association
Modern Language Association
The Modern Language Association of America is the principal professional association in the United States for scholars of language and literature...
(founded 1883) and Louisiana Historical Society (1835), was appointed to the State Board of Education, and was active in the American Folklore Society
American Folklore Society
The American Folklore Society is the US-based professional association for folklorists, with members from the US, Canada, and around the world. It was founded in 1888 by William Wells Newell, who stood at the center of a diverse group of university-based scholars, museum anthropologists, and men...
(founded 1888) and the New Orleans Academy of Sciences (1859).
Selected bibliography
Books:- Sept Grand Auteurs du XIXme Siècle
- Histoire de la Littérature Française
- Louisiana Folk Tales: In French Dialect and English Translation, 1894
- A History of Louisiana, 1903
Papers presented to the Modern Language Association:
- "The French Language in Louisiana and the Negro-French Dialect"
- "The French Literature of Louisiana"
- "Bits of Louisiana Folk Lore", 1887
- "The Acadians of Louisiana and Their Dialect"
- "The Yalinos [Isleños] of Louisiana and Their Dialect"
Legacy and honors
Fortier was significant in the study of French language and literature in Louisiana and the United States, as well as the study of Louisiana Créole dialects - he did work in Louisiana Créole, Cajun and Isleño forms. By publishing folk tales in Louisiana Creole and English, he honored the origin of the stories in African heritage, as well as making the stories more accessible to larger audiences.His name is remembered in New Orleans:
- Alcée Fortier Hall, Tulane University
- Alcée Fortier High School
- Alcée Fortier Street, in New Orleans East
- Alcée Fortier Park at Esplanade Avenue and Mystery Street
External links
- Louisiana Historical Society
- Modern Language Association
- American Folklore Association
- New Orleans Academy of Sciences