from Medieval Academy News (Winter 2004)

Ars moriendi: Reflections on a generation of medievalists
by Richard K. Emmerson

The recent deaths of four prominent medievalists—Norman Cantor, Otto Gründler, Robert L. Kindrick, and Charles T. Wood—has led to reflection on the many ways in which individuals can contribute to the profession, musings that began at my father’s funeral earlier this year and that were encouraged this summer when I read Inventing Norman Cantor: Confessions of a Medievalist (Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, 2002).

The memoir of Norman Cantor is recommended to those wishing to understand this long-time member of what he calls “the establishmentarian, intellectually conservative Medieval Academy” (43). From his critique of anti-Semitism in higher education to his admission that his “Latin barely passed muster” (32), he is unusually frank. The confessions also sadly reveal his unhappiness, despite the commercial success of his books and the accolades of his students: “I am just old Norm the professor slinking off to die on my inadequate pension” (214).

Yet he was decidedly successful in bringing the Middle Ages to the general reader, his books selling almost a million copies. Many credit him for their first interest in the Middle Ages, and although his scholarship received mixed reviews, it directed crucial attention to our discipline (see his New York Times obituary, 21 September). More of us should engage the public through our scholarship; it is not necessary to sacrifice careful research to be accessible to readers. A memorial service recognizing his accomplishments will be held at New York University in early December. For the date and location, contact Robert Hanning (rwh2@columbia.edu).

Cantor’s book does not mention the International Medieval Congress or its long-time director, Otto Gründler, whose career followed a remarkably different path. A Fellow of the Medieval Academy, Gründler also focused on enlarging the community of medievalists, but he did so by a generosity of spirit that put others first, welcoming all on their annual pilgrimage to Kalamazoo. I first attended in 1979 and still remember Otto’s engaging smile as he held court in a dorm room.

His warm personality and collegiality had much to do with the great success of the Congress, the Medieval Institute, and its press. On 24 September, I participated in a memorial at Western Michigan University during which colleagues and friends delivered moving testimonials about this genuinely good man, who did so much to bring medievalists together from around the world. He treated all with graciousness, no matter their institutional affiliation or rank. His career is testimony to the contrary of Cantor’s statement that “The Medieval Academy Fellows address each other. I address the educated world at large” (223). The Otto Gründler Prize, awarded at the Congress annually to an outstanding book of medieval scholarship, will continue to honor him for years to come.

Charles T. Wood was an all-around medievalist, a tireless worker for our discipline and a great teacher-scholar. A few days before he died on 11 February, I told him he was being honored with the CARA Award for Excellence in Teaching Medieval Studies. Although very ill, he chatted with his characteristic good cheer, expressing both humility and happiness. The award citation (Speculum 79 [2004]: 881–82) stresses his engaging teaching, enduring effect on students, and the many other ways he made a huge difference beyond the walls of academia. This is also noted in his Fellow’s memoir: “he skillfully navigated Dartmouth toward coeducation, chaired the local school board, composed a string quartet in E first performed in 1986, and wrote an award-winning guide to war memorials on Dartmouth’s campus” (Speculum 79 [2004]: 888).

In the late eighties and early nineties, I served with both Wood and Gründler on the Board of TEAMS (The Consortium for Teaching the Middle Ages) and saw at first hand their joint commitment to teaching and their desire to assist high school and college teachers. Charlie was also fundamentally important to the Academy, serving as its Treasurer from 1990 to 2001 and supporting our fundraising campaign under the tireless leadership of John F.Leyerle. The campaign’s success put the endowment on a firm footing that allowed expansion of our publications and new programs to support independent scholars, untenured teachers, and graduate students. It is fitting that he will continue to be honored by the Charles W. Wood Dissertation Grant.

Cantor notes that an administrator once described him as “the Ted Williams of administrators, great in my way but impossible as a team player” (162). We all immediately recognize the value of a great slugger, yet a joint enterprise like ours definitely also needs committed team players.

Robert L. Kindrick was such an effective team player for medieval studies. A tireless promoter of teaching, as seen in his extensive work on behalf of TEAMS and SMART (Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Teaching), he was an outstanding administrator at several universities. Although burdened with the demands of high offices, he always found time to support medieval studies both at the regional level—principally through the Medieval Association of the Midwest—and at the national level.

His practical insights were particularly valuable to CARA, the Academy’s Committee on Centers and Regional Associations. He attended its annual conferences for twenty-five years and served as its Secretary until he died on 13 May. As a result, he received the CARA Award for Outstanding Service to Medieval Studies this year (Speculum 79 [2004]: 880–81), and CARA voted at its recent meeting in Santa Clara to raise funds in order to endow the award in his name.

His friends and colleagues—and all others who wish to recognize his life of service—are invited to contribute to the Kindrick fund by contacting me at RKE@MedievalAcademy.org. This is an effective way to show how selfless service is essential to the success of medieval studies and crucial to its long-term future. It is also a way to honor a passing generation while renewing our commitment to the next.