William Lyon Phelps

Lyon Phelps first studied at Yale University, earning a B.A. degree there in 1887 and a Ph.D. in 1891. After earning an M.A. at Harvard University in the same year, he took a professorship there. One year later, he returned to Yale as a professor and taught there until his retirement, holding the chair in Literary Studies from 1901-33.

In addition to his teaching, Phelps wrote numerous reference books, focusing on English-language novels and their authors, but also modern drama and poetry. In 1910, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and in 1921 to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 1937 the American Philosophical Society awarded him its Benjamin Franklin Medal.

Phelps was a fervent and inspiring speaker and preacher who could attract large audiences. Worldwide he became known as a leading literary scholar, educator, author, and book critic. After retiring from Yale, he continued to give public lectures and radio broadcasts and wrote a daily newspaper column on books and authors. He also served on the jury for the Pulitzer Prize for Literature.

Phelps was very athletic, playing baseball as well as golf and lawn tennis.