Heltzel, Virgil B. (Virgil Barney), 1896-1976

Dates

• Existence: 1896 - 1976

Biography

Virgil Barney Heltzel was born March 14, 1896 in Wardenville, West Virginia. His early education was at Randolph Macon Academy, and in 1916 he obtained a B.A. degree from Randolph Macon College. After teaching for a year (1916-17) in Hinton, West Virginia High School he served two years in the U.S. Army (1917-19). He returned to academia, obtaining a M.A. degree in English from Harvard University (1920), and a PhD degree from the University of Chicago (1925). He began his teaching career at the University of English Department at Northwestern University where he remained until his retirement as a professor of English in 1962. He was a honorary member of Phi Beta Kappa. Randolph Macon awarded him an honorary degree of doctor of letters in 1955. He was the recipient of two Guggenheim Fellowships (1949, 1950), and Henry Huntington International Fellowship (1935-36). He was editor of the Northwestern University Studies (1948-56). In 1956-57 Heltzel lectured in several European universities on a Fulbright grant. For many years he was associate editor of Shakespeare Quarterly (1949-1).

Heitzel was the author of many scholarly books and articles on Elizabethan literature. His books include:

A View of Life and Death of a Sidney (Huntington Library).

Fair Rosamond (1947) NU Press.

All Honor (1947).

Holy Herons Kayis of Counsaile (1954).

The Complete Gentleman, ed. (1962). Folger Shakespeare Lib., Publisher.

After his retirement Heltzel moved to Irensubck, Austria, where he died in 1976.

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