Charles Sutphin Pendleton Papers

Charles Sutphin Pendleton, son of George Franklin and Mary Belle (Sutphin) Pendleton, was born in Findlay, Ohio, February 27, 1879. He enrolled at Oberlin College in 1897 and graduated in 1901 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He remained in Oberlin for the following two years as a graduate student and Tutor in English at Oberlin College’s Academy, and received the degree of Master of Arts in 1903. From 1904 to 1910 he was a teacher at East High School in Minneapolis, MN, and a graduate student at the University of Minnesota for part of this time. From 1910 to 1912 he was Professor of English at Carlton College, also in Minnesota. He was a student at Harvard University from 1912 to 1915. From 1915 to 1919 he taught at the University of Wisconsin. The years 1919 to 1921 were spent in study in the University of Chicago, where he received a PhD, Magna Cum Laude, in 1921.

For the following academic year Pendleton was Research Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Winnetka, IL. For the greater part of his career, from 1922 to 1946, he was Professor of English and head of the department at Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville, TN. From 1946 to 1948 he was a teacher at Austin Peay State College in Clarksville, TN. He participated in numerous civic and professional organizations, many in leadership roles, such as the Tennessee Folklore Society, the National Social Science Honor Society, the Nashville Committee of 100 for Law Enforcement, and as editor of the Peabody Journal of Education.

Pendleton was married on August 14, 1905, to Jessie Mitchell Hamilton, Oberlin College class of 1901. Jessie died in 1915. Charles and his second wife, Lillian Hortensia Bruce, were married on April 28, 1916. Lillian was a graduate of Wellesley College (1903), and received an MA from Peabody College (now Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College) in 1927. She was a social worker at Nashville General Hospital as of 1948.

Charles Pendleton’s death occurred during sleep as he rested in his office on the campus of Austin Peay State College after a day of teaching on October 21, 1948. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and grandchildren.

Source

Charles Sutphin Pendleton student file, Alumni and Development Records (RG 28), Oberlin College Archives.

Note written by Anne Cuyler Salsich; revised by Emily Rebmann.