Fred Cogswell
Encyclopedia
Fred Cogswell, CM
(November 8, 1917- June 20, 2004) was a Canadian poet
.
Born in East Centreville
, New Brunswick
he served overseas in the Canadian Army during the Second World War. A teacher at the age of sixteen, Cogswell gained a BA(Hons)
and MA
at the University of New Brunswick
and received a PhD
from Edinburgh University. He later became a professor
of English
at the University of New Brunswick, a position he held from 1952 to 1983.
In 1958, Cogswell, along with close friend and travelling poet Warren Kinthompson and a group of students and faculty from the University of New Brunswick founded Fiddlehead Poetry Books, now one of Canada's important small press
publishers operating as Goose Lane Editions
.
Fred Cogswell was made a member of the Order of Canada
in 1981.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(November 8, 1917- June 20, 2004) was a Canadian poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
Born in East Centreville
Centreville, New Brunswick
Centreville is a village in Carleton County, New Brunswick, Canada. As of 2006 the population was 523.Centreville has a few stores, M&D Convenience Store, Freshmart, Grandma's Restaurant & Bake Shop. There is also a Home Hardware store and two stores offering good quality ladies clothing and...
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
he served overseas in the Canadian Army during the Second World War. A teacher at the age of sixteen, Cogswell gained a BA(Hons)
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...
and MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
at the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
and received 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...
from Edinburgh University. He later became a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
at the University of New Brunswick, a position he held from 1952 to 1983.
In 1958, Cogswell, along with close friend and travelling poet Warren Kinthompson and a group of students and faculty from the University of New Brunswick founded Fiddlehead Poetry Books, now one of Canada's important small press
Small press
Small press is a term often used to describe publishers with annual sales below a certain level. Commonly, in the United States, this is set at $50 million, after returns and discounts...
publishers operating as Goose Lane Editions
Goose Lane Editions
Goose Lane Editions is a Canadian book publishing company founded in 1954 in Fredericton, New Brunswick as Fiddlehead Poetry Books by Fred Cogswell and a group of students and faculty from the University of New Brunswick. After Cogswell retired in 1981, his successor, Peter Thomas, changed the name...
.
Fred Cogswell was made a member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 1981.
Selected bibliography
- The Stunted Strong, 1954 (republished 2004)
- The Best Notes Merge, 1988, Borealis Press, ISBN 0-88887-899-0
- Black and White Tapestry, 1989, Borealis Press, ISBN 0-88887-915-6
- Watching An Eagle, 1991, Borealis Press
- In Praise of Old Music, 1992, Borealis Press, ISBN 0-88887-134-1
- When the Right Light Shines, 1992, Borealis Press, ISBN 0-88887-124-4
- In My Own Growing, 1993, Borealis Press, ISBN 0-88887-113-9
- As I See It, 1994, ISBN 0-88887-150-3
- The Trouble With Light, 1996, Borealis Press, ISBN 0-88887-140-6
- Folds, 1997, ISBN 0-88887-171-6
- A Double Question, 1999
- With Vision Added, 2000
Anthologies
- Coastlines: The Poetry of Atlantic Canada, ed. Anne Compton, Laurence Hutchman, Ross Leckie and Robin McGrath (Goose Lane Editions, 2002)
Awards
- Bliss Carman Award for Poetry, 1945, 1947.
- Gold Medal, Philippines Republic, for Distinguished Poet, Magazine Editor, 1957.
- Member of the Order of Canada, 1981.
- L.L.D., St. Francis Xavier University, 1983.
- D.C.L., King's College, 1985.
- L.L.D., Mount AllisonMount AllisonMount Allison is a peak southeast of Fremont, California. It is part of a ridge that includes Mission Peak and Monument Peak. Unlike the former two peaks, Mount Allison is located on unincorporated private property owned by a broadcasting company....
University, 1988. - Alden Nowlan Award for Excellence in Literary Arts, New Brunswick Government, 1995.
- Medal for 125th Anniversary of Canada, 1997.