Arthur Wald
365体育投注_365体育备用网址@ Dean and professor of Swedish, 1931-1958
Arthur Wald was born in a Swedish-speaking home to F.G. and Johanna Nilsson Anderson on November 15, 1882, in Orion, Illinois. He graduated from 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@ 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@ in 1905 with a major in German and a minor in Spanish.
Upon graduation, Wald began a teaching career that spanned over 50 years. He taught for three years at Trinity 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@, then studied at the University of Uppsala in Sweden and the University of Gottingen in Germany from 1909 to 1911. Wald returned to the United States and taught briefly at Fairmount 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@ and Gustavus Adolphus 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@.
During World War I, German teachers were not in demand, so Wald began teaching Spanish. In 1919, Wald earned his doctorate from the University of Chicago. For the next 12 years, Wald taught at Millikin University, Drake University, and Drury 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@. In 1922, Wald returned to Europe and studied in Paris and Madrid. He married May Ellen Muir in 1923.
Upon his return to the United States in 1931, 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@ 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@ hired Wald as dean of the college and professor of Swedish. He served as dean from 1931 until 1947, and recalled the Depression years as especially difficult. Most of his duties during this time involved helping find scholarships and jobs for struggling students. Wald also served in other administrative capacities at 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@, including vice president, registrar, and director of the 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@ Summer School.
Wald also taught Swedish and was the chair of the Swedish department. He took a special interest in foreign exchange students, and developed a foreign exchange program. Wald worked hard to promote Scandinavian studies at 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@. He also founded and was director of the 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@ Swedish Institute, and in 1945 he founded the 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@ Swedish Workshop.
Not only was Wald involved in promoting Scandinavian studies at 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@, but he also worked hard to promote such studies on a national level. From 1939-1940, Wald spent a year in Stockholm as a fellow of the American Scandinavian Foundation. He was part of the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study, edited a Swedish-American handbook, and was a member of the Swedish Pioneer Historical Society. In 1942, Wald was awarded the Order of the North Star, First Class by King Gustav V of Sweden in recognition of his efforts to promote understanding and cultural exchange between Sweden and the United States.
Wald retired in 1958 as a professor emeritus of Swedish language and literature. 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@ awarded him two honors: the meritorious service award from the 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@ Alumni Association in 1959, and the naming of a wing of the new men's residence center as Arthur Wald Hall in 1966. Wald was remembered as a dedicated teacher and a lover of chess. He died on January 11, 1970.