Thomas Daniel Young (October 22, 1919 – January 29, 1997) was an American academic. He was the first Gertrude C. Vanderbilt professor of English at

Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University (informally Vandy or VU) is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1873, it was named in honor of shipping and rail magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided the school its initial $1-million ...

, and the author or editor of a dozen books about the literature of the

Southern United States The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, the Southland, or simply the South) is a geographic and cultural region of the United States of America. It is between the Atlantic Ocean ...

Early life

Young was born on October 22, 1919, in Louisville, Mississippi. Young graduated from the

University of Southern Mississippi The University of Southern Mississippi (Southern Miss or USM) is a public research university with its main campus located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor's, ma ...

, where he earned a bachelor's degree. He took a break from his studies to serve in the

United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. He subsequently earned a master's degree from the

University of Mississippi The University of Mississippi (byname Ole Miss) is a public research university that is located adjacent to Oxford, Mississippi, and has a medical center in Jackson. It is Mississippi's oldest public university and its largest by enrollment. ...

, followed by a PhD from

in 1950.

Career

Young began his career at his alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi, where he taught Southern and American Literature from 1950 to 1957, followed by

Delta State University Delta State University (DSU) is a public university in Cleveland, Mississippi Cleveland is a city in Bolivar County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 11,199 as of the 2020 United States Census. Cleveland has a large commercia ...

from 1957 to 1961, where he was also a dean. He became an English professor at Vanderbilt professor at 1961, and he was the chair of its English department from 1967 to 1973. He was awarded the first Gertrude C. Vanderbilt professorship from 1972, and he was the director of the Vanderbilt-in-England program at the

University of Leeds , mottoeng = And knowledge will be increased , established = 1831 – Leeds School of Medicine1874 – Yorkshire College of Science1884 - Yorkshire College1887 – affiliated to the federal Victoria University1904 – University of Leeds , ...

in 1972-1973. He retired from Vanderbilt University in 1985. Young was the author and editor of a dozen books about

Southern literature Southern United States literature consists of American literature written about the Southern United States or by writers from the region. Literature written about the American South first began during the colonial era, and developed significan ...

. He wrote a biography of

John Crowe Ransom John Crowe Ransom (April 30, 1888 – July 3, 1974) was an American educator, scholar, literary critic, poet, essayist and editor. He is considered to be a founder of the New Criticism school of literary criticism. As a faculty member at Kenyon ...

, and edited books about John Peale Bishop,

Malcolm Cowley Malcolm Cowley (August 24, 1898 – March 27, 1989) was an American writer, editor, historian, poet, and literary critic. His best known works include his first book of poetry, ''Blue Juniata'' (1929), his lyrical memoir, ''Exile's Return ...

Andrew Nelson Lytle Andrew Nelson Lytle (December 26, 1902 – December 12, 1995) was an American novelist, dramatist, essayist and professor of literature. Early life Andrew Nelson Lytle was born on December 26, 1902, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He graduated from V ...

and Allen Tate. He also authored his memoir. In 1991,

Mark Royden Winchell Mark Royden Winchell (July 24, 1948 – May 8, 2008) was a biographer, essayist, historian and literary critic. At the time of his death he was Professor of Literature and European Civilization at Clemson University in South Carolina, where he ha ...

co-edited a volume of essays about his scholarly contributions.

Personal life and death

Young married Arlease Lewis. They had three sons, Thomas D. Young Jr., Terry Lewis Young, and Kyle David Young. They resided in

Rose Hill, Jasper County, Mississippi Rose Hill is an unincorporated community in Jasper County, Mississippi, United States. Its ZIP code is 39356. History Rose Hill was named by early settlers for the wild roses that grew in the surrounding area. The community was formerly home to ...

. Young died on January 29, 1997, in Bay Springs, Mississippi. His funeral was held at the Homewood United Methodist Church in Rose Hill, Mississippi, and he was buried in the Twistwood Cemetery.

Selected works

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Young, Thomas D. 1919 births 1997 deaths People from Louisville, Mississippi University of Southern Mississippi alumni United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II University of Mississippi alumni Vanderbilt University alumni University of Southern Mississippi faculty Delta State University Vanderbilt University faculty 20th-century American memoirists

Early life

Career

Personal life and death

Selected works

Further reading

References