Engle, Paul, 1908-1991

Paul Engle was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on October 12, 1908. Engle attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids, where he graduated cum laude in 1931, emphasizing English literature, American history and languages. In 1932, Paul Engle received his M.A. from the University of Iowa. In the fall of 1933, Paul Engle received the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. He sailed for England, enrolled in Merton College at Oxford University, and began studies under the poet Edmund Blunden. He was awarded a second M.A. degree in 1936, and in July of that year married Mary Nomine Nissen, a former neighbor in Cedar Rapids. After his return to the states in 1937, Engle joined the faculty at the University of Iowa, lecturing primarily on poetry. In 1942, he became professor of English and director of the Creative Writing Program. In 1967, Engle and his future second wife, Chinese poet Hua-ling Nieh Engle, co-founded the International Writing Program (IWP) at the University of Iowa. The couple's work with foreign writers and their families led them to be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1976. Paul retired from his position as director of the IWP in July of 1977. In his retirement from the university, Engle was able to dedicate more time to his writing. Although Paul Engle dedicated a tremendous portion of his professional life to directing writing programs at the University of Iowa, he still managed to find time to raise two daughters from his first marriage, Mary and Sara, as well as two step-daughters, Lan-Lan and Wei-Wei. Throughout his university career, Engle never stopped writing. Over the course of his life, Paul Engle published more than a dozen books of poetry, a novel, a children's book and a full-length libretto. Paul Engle died in March of 1991 at the age of 82.

From the description of Papers of Paul Engle, 1929-1988. (University of Iowa Libraries). WorldCat record id: 233703430

Poet, writer and faculty member of the English department at the University of Iowa; married to Hua-ling Nieh, Chinese novelist.

From the description of Letters, 1835-1983. (University of Iowa Libraries). WorldCat record id: 122577078

Paul Engle was educated at Coe College, the University of Iowa, Columbia University, and Oxford University. He was on the faculty of the English department (1937-1991) and a professor of English (1946-1991) at the University of Iowa, as well as serving as a visiting professor at Louisiana State University and Harvard University. Engle is credited with bringing international acclaim to the University of Iowa's writers' programs which he and his wife, novelist Hualing Nieh, founded in 1966.

From the description of Paul Engle manuscripts, 1947, 1950, 1951. (Louisiana State University). WorldCat record id: 154673279

Educator, administrator, poet, and novelist. Early proponent of the workshop method of writing instruction, longtime director of the Iowa Writers Workshop, and co-founder of the University of Iowa International Writing Program.

From the description of Paul Engle papers, 1930-1991. (Coe College). WorldCat record id: 25198429

"Paul (Hamilton) Engle." Contemporary Authors Online. Biography In Context. http://ic.galegroup.com/ic (accessed June 25, 2013) Information derived from the collection.

American poet and educator Paul (Hamilton) Engle (1908-1991) is perhaps most widely known as the founder and longtime director of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and as the founder of the International Writing Program, both at the University of Iowa. Engle was nominated for a 1976 Nobel Peace Prize for his work with the International Writing Program.

Paul Engle’s first published book of poetry, Worn Earth, received the Yale Series of Younger Poets Prize in 1932. Engle continued to write poetry during the remainder of his life, contributing to numerous periodicals, publishing fourteen volumes of poetry, and editing the collected poetry of other poets.

In 1990, Engle, who also wrote several novels and works of nonfiction, was honored with the Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts by the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters.

Alex Williams, who lived in Toronto, Canada, collected work written by Paul Engle. His correspondence seems to have begun in 1947 when he inquired about Engle's book Worn Earth . Over the next fifteen years Engle wrote to Williams and enclosed a number of his printed pieces, such as Christmas poems, reprints, and booklets.

From the guide to the Paul Engle letters and enclosures to Alex Williams, 1947-1962, (University of Delaware Library - Special Collections)

Author and poet Paul Engle (1908-1991) taught at the University of Iowa and, in 1942, became professor of English and director of the Creative Writing Program. He made signficant contributions to the prestigious Iowa Writers' Workshop. Engle was appointed acting director in 1941 and went on to direct the program for twenty-four more years. In 1967, Engle and his future wife, Chinese poet Hua-ling Nieh Engle, co-founded the International Writing Program (IWP) at the University of Iowa. Their work with foreign writers and their families led to their nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1976. Engle published more than a dozen books of poetry, a novel, a children's book, and a libretto.

Francis Wolle (1889-1979) taught English at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He received his M.A. from the University in 1916. In 1917 he enlisted in the Army, serving in the infantry and conducting intelligence during WWI. Returning to the University, he became involved in the revival of the Little Theatre. In 1923 he took a leave of absence to spend a year at Columbia taking classes towards his Ph.D. He continued for the next several summers, researching his dissertation on Fitz-James O'Brien, work which was later published. He met his future wife, Muriel Sibell (another of the University Little Theatre founders), while working on set design. They married in 1945. Along with his work for the theater, for which he wrote and directed many plays, he coached the cross-country and track teams. He retired in June of 1957 and in 1960 became a deacon in the Episcopal Church. In April 1973 he was ordained as a priest.

From the guide to the Paul Engle Letter to [Francis] Wolle (MS 193), 1946, (University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries. Special Collections Dept.)