Carter Revard
Encyclopedia
Carter Curtis Revard is an American
poet, writer and scholar. He is part Osage
on his father's side. He is also known by his Osage name, Nom-Peh-Wah-The (Nompehwahthe) given to him in 1952 by his grandmother, Mrs. Josephine Jump.
, Oklahoma
, an Osage Indian Agency town. His early education on the Osage reservation
was in a single room with all the other grades of his school. In this environment, schoolwork was coupled with farming and other odd jobs, including greyhound
training, but Revard still credits his teachers at the time with inspiring his interest in literature and science. A scholarship won on the back of a radio quiz enabled him to earn a BA
at the University of Tulsa
, and there he prospered well enough to gain a Rhodes Scholarship
that enabled him to study at Oxford University, earning a BA there as well. A PhD
at Yale University
followed in 1959.
. For most of his career, he has taught at Washington University
in St. Louis
, beginning in 1961. He has been a visiting professor at the University of Tulsa and the University of Oklahoma
. Unusually for a Native American
professor, Revard's major scholarly focus throughout his career has been on medieval British
manuscripts, and their social context. He is a respected voice in this field.
Revard has also produced scholarly work on linguistics
(specifically on the transition between Middle English
and later forms of the language) and Native American literature
.
, Ponca War Dances, revealing himself as a new, strongly political voice in Native American poetry
.
An excerpt from "Discovery of the New World":
Revard has gone on to publish several more anthologies of poetry, the best known of which is probably An Eagle Nation. In most of his works, he interweaves poetry, autobiographical
recollections and short, sometimes allegorical
stories. His poems have also appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, and his work has been translated into French, Spanish, Italian and Hungarian.
An issue of the journal Studies in American Indian Literatures (SAIL) (Spring 2003) was entirely devoted to discussions of his work.
Carter Revard is a member of the Modern Language Association
(MLA), the Association for Studies in American Indian Literature, the River Styx Literary Organization, the Association of American Rhodes Scholars, the University of Tulsa Board of Visitors, the St. Louis Gourd Dancers and Phi Beta Kappa.
He has served the American Indian Center of St. Louis as board member, Secretary and President.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
poet, writer and scholar. He is part Osage
Osage Nation
The Osage Nation is a Native American Siouan-language tribe in the United States that originated in the Ohio River valley in present-day Kentucky. After years of war with invading Iroquois, the Osage migrated west of the Mississippi River to their historic lands in present-day Arkansas, Missouri,...
on his father's side. He is also known by his Osage name, Nom-Peh-Wah-The (Nompehwahthe) given to him in 1952 by his grandmother, Mrs. Josephine Jump.
Early life and education
Revard was born in PawhuskaPawhuska, Oklahoma
Pawhuska is a city in and the county seat of Osage County, Oklahoma, United States, and the capital of the Osage Nation. The population was 3,589 at the 2010 census, a decline of 1.2 percent from 3,629 at the 2000 census. The ZIP Code for the city is 74056...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, an Osage Indian Agency town. His early education on the Osage reservation
Indian reservation
An American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs...
was in a single room with all the other grades of his school. In this environment, schoolwork was coupled with farming and other odd jobs, including greyhound
Greyhound racing
Greyhound racing is the sport of racing greyhounds. The dogs chase a lure on a track until they arrive at the finish line. The one that arrives first is the winner....
training, but Revard still credits his teachers at the time with inspiring his interest in literature and science. A scholarship won on the back of a radio quiz enabled him to earn a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
at the University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
, and there he prospered well enough to gain a Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
that enabled him to study at Oxford University, earning a BA there as well. A PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
followed in 1959.
Academic career
After gaining his doctorate, Revard taught at Amherst CollegeAmherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
. For most of his career, he has taught at Washington University
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, beginning in 1961. He has been a visiting professor at the University of Tulsa and the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
. Unusually for a Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
professor, Revard's major scholarly focus throughout his career has been on medieval British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
manuscripts, and their social context. He is a respected voice in this field.
Revard has also produced scholarly work on linguistics
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
(specifically on the transition between Middle English
Middle English
Middle English is the stage in the history of the English language during the High and Late Middle Ages, or roughly during the four centuries between the late 11th and the late 15th century....
and later forms of the language) and Native American literature
Native American Studies
Native American Studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that examines the history, culture, politics, issues and contemporary experience of Native peoples in North America, or, taking a hemispheric approach, the Americas...
.
Creative writings
In 1980 Revard published his first anthologyAnthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
, Ponca War Dances, revealing himself as a new, strongly political voice in Native American poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
.
An excerpt from "Discovery of the New World":
- The creatures that we met this morning
- marveled at our green skins
- and scarlet eyes.
- They lack antennae
- and can't be made to grasp
- your lawful proclamation that they are
- our lawful food and prey and slaves
- nor can they seem to learn
- their body-space is needed to materialize
- our oxygen absorbers —
- which they conceive are breathing
- and thinking creatures whom they implore
- at first as angels or (later) as devils
- when they are being snuffed out
- by an absorber swelling
- into their space. . . .
- We need their space and oxygen
- which they do not know how to use,
- yet they will not give up their gas unforced,
- and we feel sure,
- whatever our "agreements" made this morning,
- we'll have to cook them all:
- the more we cook this orbit,
- the fewer next time around.
Revard has gone on to publish several more anthologies of poetry, the best known of which is probably An Eagle Nation. In most of his works, he interweaves poetry, autobiographical
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
recollections and short, sometimes allegorical
Allegory
Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
stories. His poems have also appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, and his work has been translated into French, Spanish, Italian and Hungarian.
Awards and professional recognition
- 2007 - American Indian Festival of Words Author Award
- 2005 - Lifetime Achievement Award, Native Writers' Circle of the AmericasNative Writers' Circle of the AmericasThe Native Writers' Circle of the Americas is an organization of Native American writers, most notable for its literary awards, presented annually to Native American writers in three categories: First Book of Poetry, First Book of Prose, and Lifetime Achievement...
- 2002 - Finalist, Oklahoma Book Award, Nonfiction category
- 2000 - Writer of the Year, Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers
- 1994 - Oklahoma Book Award, Poetry category
An issue of the journal Studies in American Indian Literatures (SAIL) (Spring 2003) was entirely devoted to discussions of his work.
Carter Revard is a member 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...
(MLA), the Association for Studies in American Indian Literature, the River Styx Literary Organization, the Association of American Rhodes Scholars, the University of Tulsa Board of Visitors, the St. Louis Gourd Dancers and Phi Beta Kappa.
He has served the American Indian Center of St. Louis as board member, Secretary and President.
Books by Carter Revard
- How the Songs Come Down, Salt Publications (2005)
- Winning the Dust Bowl, University of Arizona Press (2001)
- Family Matters, Tribal Affairs University of Arizona Press (1999)
- An Eagle Nation, University of Arizona Press (1997)
- Cowboys and Indians Christmas Shopping, Point Riders Press (1992)
- Ponca War Dancers, Point Riders Press (1980)
Books about Carter Revard
- The Salt Companion to Carter Revard Ellen L. Arnold (Ed.) http://www.saltpublishing.com/books/scp/9781844710904.htm
See also
- List of writers from peoples indigenous to the Americas
- Native American StudiesNative American StudiesNative American Studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that examines the history, culture, politics, issues and contemporary experience of Native peoples in North America, or, taking a hemispheric approach, the Americas...
External links
- Official website
- Salt Publishing page for Carter, including video and many audio files