Germaine Lafeuille papers

Collection

Identifier: 3P-Lafeuille

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains the personal and professional papers of Germaine Lafeuille, professor of French at Wellesley college dating from 1940 to 1976. Lafeuille was the first Andrew M. Mellon professor in the humanities at Wellesley. She was a specialist in the literature of 16th century France, and author of Le Commentaire de Saint-Gille. Lafeuille was also noted for her translation into French of modern American poetry, including works by Elizabeth Bishop, Marianne Moore, Adrienne Rich, and Robert Frost. Materials found in the collection include correspondence, speeches, notes, and book reviews.

Dates

Creation: 1940-1976

Creator

Lafeuille, Germaine (Person)

Language of Materials

The collection has an equal number of materials in French and in English. Some materials in Spanish and Italian are also present.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. To make an appointment to view materials, please contact the Archives staff by email at archives@wellesley.edu or by phone at (781) 283-3745.

Conditions Governing Use

The Wellesley College Archives welcomes researchers to use materials in the public domain, to make fair use of copyrighted materials as defined by copyright law, and to request permission to use works whose copyright is held by Wellesley College. All materials from the Archives, regardless of copyright status, should be attributed to the Wellesley College Archives, Library and Technology Services, Wellesley College when cited, quoted, or reproduced.

Biographical Note

Germaine Lafeuille was a professor emerita of French and the first Andrew M. Mellon professor in the humanities at Wellesley. She was born in 1910 in Guingamp, a small town in northern Brittany, France. She was educated at the Sorbonne and received a Ph.D from Radcliffe College. Lafeuille taught French literature and language at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and at Bryn Mawr College and Vassar College. She was a teaching fellow in the department of Romance languages at Harvard University and Radcliffe College.

She joined the French department at Wellesley in 1952 and was named to the Mellon chair in 1971. She was a specialist in the literature of 16th century France, and author of Le Commentaire de Saint-Gille. She was also noted for her translation into French of modern American poetry, including works by Elizabeth Bishop, Marianne Moore, Adrienne Rich, and Sylvia Plath. Lafeuille was a member of the Modern Language Association, the Renaissance Society, the American Association of Teachers, and an Officer of L’Ordre des Palmes Academiques.

Lafeuille retired in 1975. A Wellesley student prize, the Germaine Lafeuille Prize in French, is named in her honor. Lafeuille died on November 11, 1981 in Rambouillet, France.

Extent

0.83 Linear Feet (2 letter-sized Hollinger boxes)

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection contains the personal and professional papers of Germaine Lafeuille, professor of French at Wellesley College dating from 1940 to 1976. Materials found in the collection include correspondence, speeches, notes, and book reviews.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in the following series:

I. Italian and Spanish language materials

II. Personal files

III. Speeches and lectures

IV. Translations