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Kneller, John William (32585456): Difference between revisions
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John William Kneller | '''John William Kneller''' (15 October 1916 – 2 July 2009) was an English-born American Ritchie Boy who served at [[Camp Ritchie]] during World War II and later became a scholar of French literature and the fifth president of Brooklyn College. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
Kneller was born in Oldham, England, to John W. | John William Kneller was born on 15 October 1916 in Oldham, England, to John W. Kneller and Margaret Ann Truslove, the youngest of five brothers. At five he immigrated with his family to Worcester, Massachusetts, and he later became a U.S. citizen. He graduated from Clark University in 1938. | ||
During World War II Kneller served at the Military Intelligence Training Center at Camp Ritchie, Maryland, and worked as a translator for the U.S. Army Air Forces. | |||
After the war Kneller earned an MA (1948) and a PhD in French (1950) at Yale University and was a Fulbright Scholar in French literature at the University of Paris in 1949–1950. From 1950 he taught at Oberlin College, rising from French instructor to professor, department chair, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and provost. In June 1970 Clark University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Letters. He was the fifth president of Brooklyn College from 1969 to 1979, bringing his horse from Oberlin to ride in Prospect Park; during the 1970 student strike after the Kent State shootings and the Cambodian Campaign, students occupied his office, and he suspended classes while keeping campus buildings open to students and faculty. From 1979 to 1995 he taught French literature at Hunter College and the CUNY Graduate Center, where he co-chaired the Henri Peyre Institute for the Humanities, and he was managing editor and then editor-in-chief of the ''French Review''. In 1999 the French government made him a Commandeur of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques. He was married for 61 years to Alice Bowerman Hart, and they had a daughter. Kneller died at his home in Westport, New York, on 2 July 2009, aged 92. | |||
In 1999 | |||
Kneller died | |||
== Research notes == | == Research notes == | ||
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== Timeline == | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline"> | |||
<div class="soldier-timeline-body"> | |||
* 15 October 1916 — Born in Oldham, England. | |||
* c. 1921 — Immigrated to Worcester, Massachusetts. | |||
* 1938 — Graduated from Clark University. | |||
* 1950 — PhD in French, Yale University; joined the Oberlin College faculty. | |||
* 1969–1979 — Fifth president of Brooklyn College. | |||
* 1979–1995 — Taught at Hunter College and the CUNY Graduate Center. | |||
* 1999 — Named Commandeur of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques. | |||
* 2 July 2009 — Died in Westport, New York. | |||
* World War II — Served at Camp Ritchie; translator for the U.S. Army Air Forces. | |||
</div> | |||
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div> | |||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
Latest revision as of 03:38, 25 September 2026
| John William Kneller | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 October 1916 Oldham, England |
| Died | 2 July 2009 Westport, New York |
| Nativity | England |
| Known for | 5th President of Brooklyn College |
| Awards | Commandeur in the Ordre des Palmes Academiques |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| ASN | 32585456 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Camp Ritchie | Class 14 (2 December 1943 – 31 January 1944) |
| Section | 7D |
| Enlisted | Rochester, New York |
- Commandeur in the Ordre des Palmes Academiques
{{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.
John William Kneller (15 October 1916 – 2 July 2009) was an English-born American Ritchie Boy who served at Camp Ritchie during World War II and later became a scholar of French literature and the fifth president of Brooklyn College.
Biography[edit | edit source]
John William Kneller was born on 15 October 1916 in Oldham, England, to John W. Kneller and Margaret Ann Truslove, the youngest of five brothers. At five he immigrated with his family to Worcester, Massachusetts, and he later became a U.S. citizen. He graduated from Clark University in 1938.
During World War II Kneller served at the Military Intelligence Training Center at Camp Ritchie, Maryland, and worked as a translator for the U.S. Army Air Forces.
After the war Kneller earned an MA (1948) and a PhD in French (1950) at Yale University and was a Fulbright Scholar in French literature at the University of Paris in 1949–1950. From 1950 he taught at Oberlin College, rising from French instructor to professor, department chair, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and provost. In June 1970 Clark University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Letters. He was the fifth president of Brooklyn College from 1969 to 1979, bringing his horse from Oberlin to ride in Prospect Park; during the 1970 student strike after the Kent State shootings and the Cambodian Campaign, students occupied his office, and he suspended classes while keeping campus buildings open to students and faculty. From 1979 to 1995 he taught French literature at Hunter College and the CUNY Graduate Center, where he co-chaired the Henri Peyre Institute for the Humanities, and he was managing editor and then editor-in-chief of the French Review. In 1999 the French government made him a Commandeur of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques. He was married for 61 years to Alice Bowerman Hart, and they had a daughter. Kneller died at his home in Westport, New York, on 2 July 2009, aged 92.
Research notes[edit | edit source]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
After you are autoconfirmed, upload a photo and add [[File:Example.jpg|thumb|caption]] here, or set |photo=Example.jpg in the infobox.
Technical record[edit | edit source]
| Field | Imported value |
|---|---|
| Nara ASN | 32585456 |
| Nara Name | KNELLER JOHN W |
| Nara State | 13 |
| Nara County | 27 |
| Nara POE | 2378 |
| Nara DOE | 111242 |
| Nara Grade Alpha | PVT |
| Nara Grade Code | 8 |
| Nara Branch Alpha | BI |
| Nara Branch Code | 0 |
| Branch | Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA |
| Nara Term or Enlistment | 5 |
| Term of enlistment | Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law |
| Defer. Date | 0 |
| Nara Source | 0 |
| Nara Nativity | K1 |
| Nara Year of Birth | 16 |
| Nara Race | 1 |
| Nara Race Description | White citizen |
| Nara Education | 8 |
| Nara Civilian Occupation | 157 |
| Nara Marital Status | 1 |
| Nara Height (inches) | 72 |
| Nara Weight (lbs) | 144 |
| Class_ASN | 32585456 |
| Class_Name | KNELLER, John W. |
| match_method | asn_exact_name_exact |
| row_source | both |
Timeline[edit | edit source]
- 15 October 1916 — Born in Oldham, England.
- c. 1921 — Immigrated to Worcester, Massachusetts.
- 1938 — Graduated from Clark University.
- 1950 — PhD in French, Yale University; joined the Oberlin College faculty.
- 1969–1979 — Fifth president of Brooklyn College.
- 1979–1995 — Taught at Hunter College and the CUNY Graduate Center.
- 1999 — Named Commandeur of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques.
- 2 July 2009 — Died in Westport, New York.
- World War II — Served at Camp Ritchie; translator for the U.S. Army Air Forces.
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Wikipedia: John Kneller
- Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
- Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
- NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
- 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)