American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medal (Poetry)
1 appearances
-
Edition 1 (1911) Winner
James Whitcomb Riley
ジェームズ・ウィットカム・ライリー
Jēmuzu Wittokamu Rairī
Pen Names:
Benjamin F. Johnson of Boone（Pseudonym used for the Boone County dialect poems）,
Jay Whit（Pen name used on early newspaper poems）,
Uncle Sidney（Pen name used for some children's verse）
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1849-10-07 （Greenfield, Indiana, U.S.）
- Died
- 1916-07-22 （Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.） age 66
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Greenfield, Indiana (childhood — early adulthood) → Indianapolis, Indiana (later life) → Miami, Florida (winter residence)
Career
- Occupations
- writer, poet, performing lecturer/reciter
- Active Years
- 1872-1916
- Affiliations
- Western Association of Writers, Redpath Lyceum circuit (associated)
- Memberships
- National Institute of Arts and Letters (member)
- Influenced By
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, John Greenleaf Whittier, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Robert Burns (comparative influence)
- Influenced
- Hamlin Garland, William Allen White, Edgar Lee Masters, Paul Laurence Dunbar (mentored/discovered)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local community school (basic education) | — | Completed Grade 8 | — | 通学は断続的（1850年代–1869） | United States |
Local community school (basic education)
Completed Grade 8
Period:
通学は断続的（1850年代–1869）
Year of Graduation:
1869
Country:
United States
No formal higher education; taught to read and write at home in early childhood.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1902 | Honorary degree (Doctorate) — Yale University | — | — | Yale University | 受与 |
| 1904 | Honorary degree (Doctor of Letters) — University of Pennsylvania | — | — | University of Pennsylvania | 受与 |
| 1912 | Special medal for poetry — National Institute of Arts and Letters | — | — | National Institute of Arts and Letters | 受与 |
Honorary degree (Doctorate) — Yale University
1902
Organization:
Yale University
Result:
受与
Honorary degree (Doctor of Letters) — University of Pennsylvania
1904
Organization:
University of Pennsylvania
Result:
受与
Special medal for poetry — National Institute of Arts and Letters
1912
Organization:
National Institute of Arts and Letters
Result:
受与
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
The Old Swimmin'-Hole and 'Leven More Poems
1883 Poetry collection (dialect/nostalgic poetry)A collection featuring Boone County dialect poems and rural-life themes; included "The Old Swimmin'-Hole" and helped establish Riley's popularity.
nostalgiarural lifechildhooddialect
Little Orphant Annie
Poem (children's poetry)A children's poem about an orphan girl, noted for its didactic voice and use of dialect; a typesetter's error fixed the name as "Annie."
moral lessonschildrendialect
Rhymes of Childhood
1893 Children's poetry collectionA compilation of poems for children, richly illustrated and a bestseller that solidified Riley's reputation as a "children's poet."
childhoodimaginationmorality
The Raggedy Man
Poem (reminiscence)A poem based on childhood memories depicting a familiar, kindly figure who affected Riley's youth.
remembrancecelebration of character
Bibliography
- The Old Swimmin'-Hole and 'Leven More Poems (1883)
- The Boss Girl, A Christmas Story and Other Sketches (1884)
- Old-Fashioned Roses (1888)
- Pipes o' Pan at Zekesbury (1888)
- Rhymes of Childhood (collected children's poems)
Adaptations
- Recordings of Riley reading his poems (Victor Talking Machine Company, 1912)
Translations of Works
- Many works have been cited or translated outside the English-speaking world; comprehensive list of translations is not available here
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- colloquial, dialect-rich style accessible to popular audiencessentimental and humorous toneperformative voice suited to public recitation
- Recurring Motifs
- childhood and nostalgiasimple, good rural folkmoral lessonsregional identity through dialect
Health
-
alcohol addiction1870年代後半〜生涯Affected performances and personal life, led to scandals and contributed to health decline.
-
Bell's palsy1887, 1909（再発）Caused facial paralysis and temporarily limited public activities.
-
neurasthenia (nervous disorder)1901〜晩年Required extended rest and limited travel and writing.
-
stroke (paralysis of right side)1910（初回）、1916（致命的）1910 stroke paralyzed his right arm hindering writing; 1916 stroke led to his death.
-
partial deafness1909頃〜Affected recitations and social interactions.
Legacy
Riley was one of the most widely read American poets of his era; through his dialect and children's verse he helped shape Midwestern cultural identity. He is commemorated by museums, schools, a children's hospital, and annual festivals.
Museums
- James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home Lockerbie neighborhood, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
- Riley Birthplace and Museum Greenfield, Indiana, U.S.
Academic Societies
- National Institute of Arts and Letters (member)
- Western Association of Writers (vice president)
Archives
- Riley collections at the Lilly Library, Indiana University
- Indiana State Library digital collections
In Popular Culture
- Greenfield's annual "Riley Days" festival
- Name used by James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children
- Portrayed on a U.S. postage stamp in 1940
Quotes
-
I have read [the poems] in great pleasure, and think they show a true poetic faculty and insight.
Source: Letter of endorsement from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1875)
Trivia
- Born on the same day Edgar Allan Poe died.
- Used several pen names (Benjamin F. Johnson of Boone, Jay Whit, Uncle Sidney).
- Recorded readings of his poems in 1912 (Victor Talking Machine Company).
- Riley Day was instituted in Indiana in 1912 and his poems were taught in schools.