Tracy Peck

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Tracy Peck (born May 24, 1838 in Bristol , Connecticut , † November 24, 1921 in Rome ) was an American classical philologist who worked as a professor of Latin language and literature at Cornell University (1871-1880) and at Yale University (1880-1908) worked.

Life

Tracy Peck came from an English family who had lived in Connecticut since the 17th century. His parents were Tracy Peck (1785–1862) and Sally Adams Peck (1792–1877); his father was a farmer, senator, councilor and justice of the peace.

Peck enjoyed an excellent education. He studied at Yale University from 1857 to 1861 , graduating with a bachelor's degree (A. B.) and then continued his studies in Europe until 1864. He studied at the universities of Berlin and Jena . After his return to the USA , he passed the master's examination (A.M.) at Yale University in 1864 and taught Latin and mathematics there until 1866 as a tutor. From 1867 to 1869 he went on a second study trip to Europe. He studied in Bonn and traveled to Rome for the first time in 1868.

After a year as a teacher at the Chickering Classical Institute in Cincinnati (1870/71), Peck was appointed professor of Latin language and literature at Cornell University in 1871 . Nine years later he was given a professorship with the same teaching description at his alma mater , Yale University, which he held for 28 years. In addition to his academic teaching position, which he pursued with great success, Peck was also involved in other ways: From 1883 he was a trustee of Williston Seminary, a preparatory institution for college studies in Easthampton . The American Philological Association , of which he was a Life Member from 1871, elected him President for 1885/86. In 1898/99 Peck was director of the American School of Classical Studies in Rome .

In old age, Peck experienced a serious personal loss with the death of his wife Elizabeth (Lillie) Harriet Hall (1849-1903), who died in an accident in February 1903. The couple had two (now adult) children. This loss, combined with his love for the city of Rome, may have contributed to his decision to retire in Rome from 1908. There Peck continued to circulate in academic circles, continued his studies and kept in touch with his daughter in the United States by letter. After the severe earthquake in Messina in 1908 , Peck took in an orphan as a foster daughter.

Peck died on November 24, 1921 at the age of 83. According to his last will, he was buried in the Protestant cemetery . His estate, which includes personal records, diaries, and family correspondence, is in the archives of Beloit College .

Peck's research was not extensive compared to his academic teaching. He published several essays on Latin literary language and a partial edition of Livius' history (with James B. Greenough ). With Clement Lawrence Smith , he edited the College Series of Latin Authors , a series of study editions by Latin authors. In 1902, Rutgers University made him an honorary doctorate (LL. D.) for his various services .

Fonts (selection)

  • with James B. Greenough: Livy: Books XXI and XXII . Boston 1900

literature

  • Norris Galpin Osborn (Ed.): Men of Mark in Connecticut. Ideals of American Life Told in Biographies and Autobiographies of Eminent Living Americans . Volume 2, Hartford (CT) 1904, pp. 166f.
  • Grant Showerman : In memoriam Tracy Peck of Yale, 1838-1921. In: Classical Journal. Volume 17 (1922), pp. 339f. archive.org
  • Meyer Reinhold : Peck, Tracy. In: Ward W. Briggs (Ed.): Biographical Dictionary of North American Classicists . Westport, CT / London: Greenwood Press 1994, ISBN 0-313-24560-6 , pp. 488f.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Peck, Tracy
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American classical philologist
DATE OF BIRTH May 24, 1838
PLACE OF BIRTH Bristol , Connecticut
DATE OF DEATH November 24, 1921
Place of death Rome