Hermann Hagedorn
Hermann Hagedorn (1882–1964) was an American poet and biographer born in New York to a German immigrant family. His early life was marked by a strong attachment to his father's German heritage, which influenced his upbringing; he did not learn English until he attended school. After completing his education, Hagedorn joined the English faculty at Harvard University. He is best known for his poetry collections, notably "A Troop of the Guard" and "Poems and Ballads," both published in 1909. Additionally, Hagedorn gained recognition for his biographies of prominent figures, including President Theodore Roosevelt, whom he wrote about extensively, detailing both Roosevelt's ranching life in the Dakota Badlands and his personal experiences. Hagedorn served as the executive director of the Theodore Roosevelt Association and received the Theodore Roosevelt Distinguished Service Medal in 1956. Besides Roosevelt, he also authored biographies on poet Edwin Arlington Robinson and humanitarian Albert Schweitzer. His legacy includes a collection of correspondence and research materials housed at the Syracuse University Library.
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Hermann Hagedorn
- Born: July 18, 1882
- Birthplace: New York, New York
- Died: July 27, 1964
- Place of death: Santa Barbara, California
Biography
Hermann Hagedorn was born in New York in 1882. He was the youngest son of a domineering German immigrant father who maintained a strong attachment to his homeland. As a result, Hagedorn did not speak English until he went to school.
After completing his education, Hagedorn taught at Harvard as a member of the English faculty. He published many books of verse, the most popular of them being A Troop of the Guard and Poems and Ballads, which were both published in 1909. He also published several books on President Theodore Delano Roosevelt, one of which shares stories about Roosevelt during his time as a rancher in the Dakota Badlands, while another provides a glimpse into Roosevelt’s personal life. Hagedorn also served as executive director of the Theodore Roosevelt Association. In 1956, Hagedorn was awarded the Theodore Roosevelt Distinguished Service Medal.
In addition to his biographies on Roosevelt (for which he is best known), Hagedorn also published biographies about poet Edwin Arlington Robinson and Nobel Peace Prize winner Albert Schweitzer. Hagedorn himself died in 1964. A collection of his correspondence, research files, manuscripts, and memorabilia is kept in the special collections department of the Syracuse University Library.