Frank Parker Day
Frank Parker Day was a Canadian author and educator, renowned primarily for his writings centered around fishing, including novels, poetry, and essays. Born in Nova Scotia to a Methodist minister, Day's early life involved frequent relocations due to his father's work, which influenced his perspectives and storytelling. He achieved significant academic milestones, earning a B.A. from Mount Allison University and an M.A. from Oxford University, where he was named a Rhodes Scholar. Day's literary career was highlighted by his most successful novel, "Rockbound," which won acclaim and was featured in Canada Reads. In addition to his writing, he had a distinguished academic career, holding positions at institutions such as the University of New Brunswick and Swarthmore College. His tenure as president of Union College was cut short due to health issues, yet his contributions to literature and education remain noteworthy. Day’s legacy is a blend of his passion for fishing and a commitment to academia, making him a unique figure in Canadian literature.
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Subject Terms
Frank Parker Day
Fiction, Nonfiction and Autobiography Writer
- Born: May 9, 1881
- Birthplace: Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Died: July 30, 1950
- Place of death: Near Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
Biography
Frank Parker Day, a fisherman at heart, was the author of several books that had a single recurring theme: fishing. He wrote novels, but he also wrote poetry and essays for various magazines, including Harper’s Forum. His most successful novel was Rockbound. Day was born to George Frederick, a Methodist minister, and Keziah Hardwick Day. His family, including two siblings, often moved from one Nova Scotia city to another; every three years or so, Day’s father would start a new congregation in a different town. At the age of seventeen, Day attended Pictou Academy in Nova Scotia and earned a B.A. at Mount Allison University, also in Nova Scotia, in 1903. After that, he went on to earn an M.A. at Oxford University in 1909.
In 1910, Day married Mabel Eliza Killamm while working as an English professor at the University of New Brunswick. Two years later, he became head of the English department at Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Day returned to Nova Scotia as an infantry officer at the beginning of World War I to recruit and train the 185th Cape Breton Highlanders. He was promoted to colonel on the battlefield of Amiens in 1918. Upon his return to Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1919, Day was made dean of freshmen and director of General Studies. A few years later, the president of Swarthmore College invited Day to join Swarthmore’s English department in 1926 and Day accepted. Then, in 1928, Day became the president of Union College in Schenectady, New York. Five years later, Day had to resign from his presidency; he had a gall bladder infection that required surgery and a very long recovery.
Day’s academic achievements were recognized when he was named a Rhodes Scholar in 1903 while at Oxford University. He also received an LL.D. from Mount Allison University in 1927 and a D.Litt. from New York University in 1929. The publication of River of Strangers (1926), Day’s first novel, caused him to leave Carnegie Institute of Technology a second (and final) time. His next novel, Rockbound, was chosen for inclusion in the Canada Reads contest and was the winning title. Although Day is well known for only one of his novels, he had many notable achievements during his lifetime.