Joseph M. Bachelor
Encyclopedia
Joseph Morris Bachelor also known as Joseph Morris (May 17, 1887 near Sharonville, Ohio
– December 5, 1947 in Hamilton, Ohio
) was an American author, poet
, editor and educator.
Bachelor was educated at Miami University
(A.B., 1911) and Harvard University
(A.M. 1912). As an undergraduate at Miami University, he joined a local organization which later became the national fraternity, Phi Kappa Tau
. He is considered the author of the fraternity's Ritual and wrote the lyrics to its first song, with Joseph W. Clokey
writing the music. After teaching English
at Cornell College
in Iowa (1913-1917), he worked as an editor for the Century Company in New York City
where he was definitions editor of The New Century Dictionary
in two volumes. He returned in 1927 to teach at his alma mater, Miami University where he remained until his death in 1947. He was a popular and rigorous professor teaching Shakespeare and a course he developed called "Words." Upon his death, he bequeathed over 400 acres (1.6 km²) of woodland and streams, including Harker's Run
, to Miami University. The land is today known as the Bachelor Wildlife and Game Reserve. He collaboarated with other professors on at least ten English textbooks and edited a series of poetry collections (under his pen name Joseph Morris) in collaboration with St. Clair Adams which included poems by Bachelor and Adams.
An academic building on the Miami University campus was named Bachelor Hall
in 1979 as a memorial.
Sharonville, Ohio
Sharonville is a city in Butler and Hamilton counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 13,804 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sharonville is located at .It is part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area....
– December 5, 1947 in Hamilton, Ohio
Hamilton, Ohio
Hamilton is a city in Butler County, southwestern Ohio, United States. The population was 62,447 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Butler County. The city is part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area....
) was an American author, 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...
, editor and educator.
Bachelor was educated at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
(A.B., 1911) and Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
(A.M. 1912). As an undergraduate at Miami University, he joined a local organization which later became the national fraternity, Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau is a U.S. national collegiate fraternity.-History:Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity was founded in the Union Literary Society Hall of Miami University's Old Main Building in Oxford, Ohio on March 17, 1906...
. He is considered the author of the fraternity's Ritual and wrote the lyrics to its first song, with Joseph W. Clokey
Joseph W. Clokey
Joseph Waddell Clokey was an educator, organist and composer of sacred and secular music in the first half of the 20th Century....
writing the music. After teaching English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
at Cornell College
Cornell College
Cornell College is a private liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Originally called the Iowa Conference Seminary, the school was founded in 1853 by Reverend Samuel M. Fellows...
in Iowa (1913-1917), he worked as an editor for the Century Company in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where he was definitions editor of The New Century Dictionary
Century Dictionary
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia was one of the largest encyclopedic dictionaries of the English language. The first edition was published from 1889 to 1891 by The Century Company of New York, in six, eight, or ten volume versions in 7,046 pages with some 10,000 wood-engraved illustrations...
in two volumes. He returned in 1927 to teach at his alma mater, Miami University where he remained until his death in 1947. He was a popular and rigorous professor teaching Shakespeare and a course he developed called "Words." Upon his death, he bequeathed over 400 acres (1.6 km²) of woodland and streams, including Harker's Run
Harker's Run (Ohio)
Harker's Run is a stream originating in Preble County, Ohio, USA. Harker's Run drains into Four Mile Creek on the eastern edge of the campus of Miami University in Oxford just north of where the Trenton Oxford Road crosses Four Mile/Talawanda Creek. The stream flows roughly from north to south,...
, to Miami University. The land is today known as the Bachelor Wildlife and Game Reserve. He collaboarated with other professors on at least ten English textbooks and edited a series of poetry collections (under his pen name Joseph Morris) in collaboration with St. Clair Adams which included poems by Bachelor and Adams.
An academic building on the Miami University campus was named Bachelor Hall
Bachelor Hall (Miami University)
Bachelor Hall is a three story brick academic building on the Miami University campus in Oxford, Ohio. It was built in 1978 and named after Miami University and Harvard University graduate Joseph M. Bachelor...
in 1979 as a memorial.