Earl C. Haag (born June 24, 1929) is an American scholar and author in the

Pennsylvania German The Pennsylvania Dutch ( Pennsylvania Dutch: ), also known as Pennsylvania Germans, are a cultural group formed by German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. They emigrated primarily from German-sp ...

language. His dialect pseudonym is ''Der Alt Professor.'' In 2010, his contributions to the field of German-American studies were recognized by The Society for German-American Studies with the publication of "The Language and Culture of the Pennsylvania Germans: A Festschrift for Earl C. Haag," in a supplemental issue of the ''Yearbook of German-American Studies''.

Formative years

Born on June 24, 1929, Haag graduated from the

University of Connecticut The University of Connecticut (UConn) is a public land-grant research university in Storrs, Connecticut, a village in the town of Mansfield. The primary 4,400-acre (17.8 km2) campus is in Storrs, approximately a half hour's drive from H ...

with a Bacehlor of Arts degree in German in 1952, earned his Master of Arts from

Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a public state-related land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsylvania. Founded in 1855 as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania, Penn State becam ...

, and subsequently advanced to doctoral studies with Pennsylvania German expert Abbott Buffington. He then also pursued additional training in 1953 and 1954 at the

University of Heidelberg } Heidelberg University, officially the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg, (german: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg; la, Universitas Ruperto Carola Heidelbergensis) is a public university, public research university in Heidelberg, B ...

, in

Heidelberg, Germany Heidelberg (; Palatine German language, Palatine German: ''Heidlberg'') is a city in the States of Germany, German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the river Neckar in south-west Germany. As of the 2016 census, its population was 159,914 ...

, where he focused his studies on

Palatinate Palatinate or county palatine may refer to: *the territory or jurisdiction of a count palatine United Kingdom and Ireland *County palatine in England and Ireland * Palatinate (award), student sporting award of Durham University *Palatinate (col ...

dialects.

Academic career

Haag began his long tenure with Pennsylvania State University in 1958. Initially employed by the university's Pottsville Penn State Center in

Pottsville Pottsville usually refers to the city of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Pottsville may also refer to: Other communities *Pottsville, New South Wales, Australia *Pottsville, Arkansas, United States *Pottsville, Kentucky, United ...

Schuylkill County Schuylkill County (, ; Pennsylvania Dutch: Schulkill Kaundi) is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is located in the heart of Pennsylvania's Coal Region and is part of Northeastern Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the populat ...

from 1958 through the early part of 1962, he transferred to the university's new Schuylkill campus when it opened later that year. An assistant professor through the 1970s, Haag was promoted to associate professor of German and English Composition at Penn States's Schuylkill campus in May 1986. Since April 5, 1984, he has researched, written and published the weekly column, ''Es Neinuhr Schtick'', which has been syndicated in multiple newspaper columns across Pennsylvania.

Publications

Haag has written and edited numerous books and other publications throughout his career, including: *
A Pennsylvania German Anthology
' (1988) *''A Pennsylvania German Reader and Grammar'' (1982, 1985, 1997) *''En Pennsylvaanisch Deitsch Yaahr: A Pennsylvania Dutch Year'' (1990) *''The First One Hundred Years: An Index of Publications of the Pennsylvania German Society (1891-1990) Including the Yearbooks of the Pennsylvania German Folklore Society (1936-1966)'' (1998) *''Die Pennsylvaanisch Deitsche: The Pennsylvania Germans **volume one (2010) **volume two (2017) *''Der Schtruwwelpitter gschpassiche Gschichde un lecherliche Pickders'' (Tintenfaß, 2010) *William Keel and

C. Richard Beam Charles Richard Beam (February 15, 1925—January 26, 2018) was a major figure in twentieth-century Pennsylvania German linguistics, folklore studies, and social history who wrote under the pen-name ''Es Bischli-Gnippli'' (Little Clodhopper). He ...

, editors, ''The Language and Culture of the Pennsylvania Germans: a Festschrift for Earl C. Haag'' (2010) *''Pennsylvaanisch Deitsch Schtoris: Pennsylvania Dutch Stories'' (2016)

Public service

From 1961 to 1987, Haag served as a judge for the Schuylkill County spelling bee for students in the county's K-12 schools. He was honored by the ''Pottsville Republican'' (now the ''

Republican Herald The ''Republican Herald'' is a daily newspaper serving Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The newspaper is owned by Times-Shamrock Communications. History The ''Republican-Herald'' was founded in 1884 as ''The Daily Republican'' by J ...

'') in 1987 for his longtime service to the community.At bee, service is rewarded and spellers recover
" Pottsville, Pennsylvania: ''Pottsville Republican'', April 11, 1987, p. 14 (subscription required).

References

External links

Columns
from the

Pennsylvania German Society The Pennsylvania German Society is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to studying the Pennsylvania German people and their 330-year history in the United States and Canada. The Society works to preserve and promote the history, cultu ...

Your PA Dutch Minute: Earl C. Haag
from Douglas Madenford {{DEFAULTSORT:Haag, Earl C. 1929 births Living people Poets from Pennsylvania German-American culture in Pennsylvania German-American history Pennsylvania Dutch people American writers in Pennsylvania Dutch Pennsylvania Dutch culture Pennsylvania culture German language in the United States Linguists from the United States