Charity Cannon Willard (August 9, 1914 – June 5, 2005) was an American scholar best known for drawing attention to the 15th-century poet and author Christine de Pizan in the English-speaking world.[1] Willard translated and wrote critical editions of Pizan's work, and "is widely regarded as the world's preeminent scholar"[1] on Christine de Pizan.[2] Honoured with several academic awards,[1] she is regarded by scholars as a trailblazer in the study of Pizan.[2][3][4][5][6]
Willard graduated from Hiram College in 1934 with a Bachelor of Arts, going on to receive her Masters of Arts in French from Smith College in 1936, and attained a PhD in Romance Philology at Radcliffe College in 1940.[1][7] Willard's first published work on Pizan was from her PhD dissertation, and was published in 1958.[4] Her husband, Sumner Willard, was an officer and professor of foreign languages at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY; officer's wives were not allowed to work full-time outside of the home.[1] As a result, she declined a position as a professor at Brown University,[8] instead filling in for professor's leaves of absences and travelling Europe in search of manuscripts of Christine de Pizan.[1] She eventually accepted a full-time position as a French and Spanish professor at LadyCliff College (1961–1979), becoming the first West Point colonel wife to have a full-time professional career.[1] After her retirement in 1979,[1] Willard began to focus on her studies of Pizan, and was the author and editor of many works concerning Pizan.
Pizan was a significant historic feminist figure as France's first "woman of letters".[9] However, before Dr. Willard's contributions, studies on Pizan were limited in the English-speaking world.[6][2] By translating many of Pizan's works and compiling her bibliographical information, Willard drew attention to the now-iconic feminist.[5][2] A review by feminist Ms. magazine acknowledged the significance of Willard's contribution to women's history.[9] Scholars are grateful for Willard's pioneering studies on Pizan, as her works spearheaded further studies on the poet-author.[3][4][6][5][2]
Below is a list of Charity Cannon Willard's major published works:
Willard also published a substantial number of book articles and reviews, journal articles, and replies to articles that are not listed here.
Willard was awarded the title of a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques in the early 1980's (date is disputed),[8][1] an award from the French government which acknowledged her contributions to the studies of Christine de Pizan. In 1988, she was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from Hiram College,[1] and was recognized with an L.H.D. from Saint Mary College in 1993.[8] In 1998, Willard received a Smith College medal as a distinguished alumna.[1]
Charity's husband, Sumner Willard (1916–1995), was a 7th great-grandson (10th generation descendant) of the Massachusetts colonist, Simon Willard (1605–1676).
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