Isabelle Anna Bronk (December 4, 1858 – January 10, 1943) was an American college professor and head of the Romance Languages department at

Swarthmore College Swarthmore College ( , ) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1864, with its first classes held in 1869, Swarthmore is one of the e ...

from 1901 to 1927.

Early life and education

Isabelle Bronk was born in

Duanesburg, New York Duanesburg is a town in Schenectady County, New York, United States. The population was 5,863 at the 2020 census. Duanesburg is named for James Duane, who held most of it as an original land grant. The town is in the western part of the county. ...

, the daughter of Abram Bronk and Cynthia Brewster Bronk. She trained as a teacher at the state normal school in Brockport, earned a bachelor's degree from

Illinois Wesleyan University Illinois Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Bloomington, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1850, the central portion of the present campus was acquired in 1854 with the first building erected in 1856. History The in ...

in 1893, and a PhD from the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, or UChi) is a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its main campus is in the Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, Chic ...

in 1900. She pursued further studies at

Wellesley College Wellesley College is a Private university, private Women's colleges in the United States, historically women's Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1870 by Henr ...

and in Europe, at universities in Paris, Leipzig, Madrid, and Grenoble.

Career

Bronk taught French at a private boarding school in New York City for three years, and at the University of Chicago from 1900 to 1901. She was head of the Romance Languages department at Swarthmore College from 1901 to 1927. She was an active member of the

Women's International League for Peace and Freedom The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) is a non-profit non-governmental organization working "to bring together women of different political views and philosophical and religious backgrounds determined to study and make kno ...

(WILPF), the

American Association of University Women The American Association of University Women (AAUW), officially founded in 1881, is a non-profit organization that advances Justice, equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. The organization has a nationwide Social net ...

(AAUW), the

Modern Language Association The Modern Language Association of America, often referred to as the Modern Language Association (MLA), is widely considered the principal professional association in the United States for scholars of language and literature. The MLA aims to "str ...

, and the Colonial Dames of America, among many other organizations. She attended the second conference of the International Federation of Women, held in Paris in 1922. Her memoir ''Paris Memories'' (1927), presented "a telling picture of that side of Paris which is not gay and heedless but concerned with the graver aspects of living, and with tranquillity", according to one reviewer.

Publications

* ''Poésies Diverses of

Antoine Furetière Antoine Furetière (28 December 161914 May 1688) was a French scholar, writer, and lexicographer, known best for his satirical novel ''Scarron's City Romance'', and also his famous Dictionnaire universel . He was expelled from the Académie F ...

'' (1908, edited and introduced by Bronk) * ''"''Notes on Méré" (1915) * "Attainable Aims in Modern Language Teaching in Colleges, or, What May We Safely Hope to Accomplish in Modern Language Courses in College" (1921) * ''Paris Memories'' (1927)

Personal life

Bronk died in 1943, at a convalescent home in

Media, Pennsylvania Media is a borough (Pennsylvania), borough in and the county seat of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located about west of Philadelphia. It is part of the Delaware Valley, also known as the Philadelphia metropolitan area. ...

, at the age of 84. Scientist and college president

Detlev Bronk Detlev Wulf Bronk (August 13, 1897 – November 17, 1975) was a prominent American scientist, educator, and administrator. He is credited with establishing biophysics as a recognized discipline. Bronk served as president of Johns Hopkins Universi ...

was her nephew. Her niece was a university librarian, also named Isabelle Bronk (1903–1955).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bronk, Isabelle 1858 births 1943 deaths People from Duanesburg, New York University of Chicago alumni Swarthmore College faculty Illinois Wesleyan University alumni American women memoirists Educators from New York (state) Writers from New York (state) American women academics