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Difference between revisions of "Frederick Santee"
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In April 1938, Santee was hired as a Latin professor at Kenyon College in Ohio. He was highly regarded by his colleagues, who considered him the greatest living Latin author and on par with classical Roman authors. He published numerous poems in Latin in the ''HIKA'' literary magazine. In 1941, the students at the college performed his play, ''The Woman From Detroit'', which was an adaptation of Meander's ''The Andrian Woman''. | In April 1938, Santee was hired as a Latin professor at Kenyon College in Ohio. He was highly regarded by his colleagues, who considered him the greatest living Latin author and on par with classical Roman authors. He published numerous poems in Latin in the ''HIKA'' literary magazine. In 1941, the students at the college performed his play, ''The Woman From Detroit'', which was an adaptation of Meander's ''The Andrian Woman''. | ||
Although he became popular with Kenyon students and ended up teaching numerous classes, his first class, a critical examination of Dante's ''Divine Comedy'', only had two students. | Although he became popular with Kenyon students and ended up teaching numerous classes, his first class, a critical examination of [[Dante Alighieri]]'s ''Divine Comedy'', only had two students. | ||
During his time teaching at Kenyon, Santee was a professor to novelist Robie Macauley and poet Robert Lowell. The men became close friends, partially owing to their mutual association with Boston. | During his time teaching at Kenyon, Santee was a professor to novelist Robie Macauley and poet Robert Lowell. The men became close friends, partially owing to their mutual association with Boston. | ||
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==Naval service== | ==Naval service== | ||
On 18 April 1943, Santee was commissioned as a lieutenant in the United States Navy. Initially, Santee wanted to enter the Intelligence field, but with his medical training, the Navy insisted he work as a physician. He served as a doctor in the Pacific theater and picked up a working knowledge of the Japanese language. Part of his time was spent on Guadalcanal where he tended to wounded soldiers, without seeing any combat action himself. | On 18 April 1943, Santee was commissioned as a lieutenant in the United States Navy. Initially, Santee wanted to enter the Intelligence field, but with his medical training, the Navy insisted he work as a physician. He served as a doctor in the Pacific theater and picked up a working knowledge of the Japanese language. Part of his time was spent on Guadalcanal where he tended to wounded soldiers, without seeing any combat action himself. | ||
In 1944, Santee was stationed as the medical officer at Arkansas Agricultural and Mechanical College (now the University of Arkansas at Monticello) as part of the U.S. military's V-12 Navy College Training Program. This program was intended to supplement the force of commissioned officers in the U.S. Navy during World War II. While in Arkansas, he and his wife Betty were highly active in the college's poetry club. They each contributed numerous poems to the club's 1944 book ''Sawdust and Tomatoes''. | |||
==Medical career== | ==Medical career== | ||
[[File:Santeehouse.jpg|400px|thumb|Frederick Santee's mansion in Wapwallopen]] | |||
After his discharge, Santee was invited to join the staff of the Rockefeller Research Foundation, but he ultimately decided to become a tutor at St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland. He stayed there only briefly, finding the culture too "aesthetic and communistic" before accepting a position at Johns Hopkins as an assistant resident. | After his discharge, Santee was invited to join the staff of the Rockefeller Research Foundation, but he ultimately decided to become a tutor at St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland. He stayed there only briefly, finding the culture too "aesthetic and communistic" before accepting a position at Johns Hopkins as an assistant resident. | ||
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==Involvement with the occult== | ==Involvement with the occult== | ||
[[File:Bookhouse Temple Altar.jpg|300px|thumb|Wiccan altar in Frederick Santee's book-house]] | [[File:Bookhouse Temple Altar.jpg|300px|thumb|Wiccan altar in Frederick Santee's book-house]] | ||
Santee was introduced to the [[occult]] by his english professor at Harvard, George. L. Kittredge, author of the book ''Witchcraft in Old New England''. During his time at Oxford, Santee became acquainted with [[W.B. Yeats]], who was a member of Alpha et Omega, while the "modern [[witchcraft]]" movement was enjoying immense popularity throughout England. | Santee was introduced to the [[occult]] by his english professor at Harvard, George. L. Kittredge, author of the book ''Witchcraft in Old and New England''. During his time at Oxford, Santee became acquainted with [[W.B. Yeats]], who was a member of Alpha et Omega, while the "modern [[witchcraft]]" movement was enjoying immense popularity throughout England. | ||
It has been speculated that during his time in England, Santee was inducted into the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]], however this could not have been possible as the organization had already been disestablished by that time. Members of the [[Coven of the Catta]] believe Santee met [[Aleister Crowley]] and [[Israel Regardie]], although there is no evidence to support these claims. | It has been speculated that during his time in England, Santee was inducted into the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]], however this could not have been possible as the organization had already been disestablished by that time. Members of the [[Coven of the Catta]] believe Santee met [[Aleister Crowley]] and [[Israel Regardie]], although there is no evidence to support these claims. | ||
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==Death== | ==Death== | ||
Santee died peacefully in his home after a five-year struggle against bladder cancer in early April 1980. He left over $1,000 to various cat shelters. The bulk of his $200,000 estate was left to Edna Williams. | Santee died peacefully in his home after a five-year struggle against bladder cancer in early April 1980. He left over $1,000 to various cat shelters. The bulk of his $200,000 estate was left to Edna Williams. | ||
His graveside service was carried out at Old River Church Cemetery in Wapwallopen. There were two service: the first was a typical [[Christianity|Christian]]-style service. Later, when the general public had left, members of the [[Coven of the Catta]] performed a second service in the [[Wicca]]n tradition. | |||
He is buried beside his second wife, who preceded him in death. The epitaph on his tombstone, "I shall return when Spring's first shadow trails," is a line from one of his poems. | |||
==Personal life== | ==Personal life== | ||
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They divorced in 1941 and Edith moved to the Philippines to teach at a government school. She never remarried and she never spoke about her ex-husband again, even though he continued to send her payments of $100 per month until her death on 31 October 1971. | They divorced in 1941 and Edith moved to the Philippines to teach at a government school. She never remarried and she never spoke about her ex-husband again, even though he continued to send her payments of $100 per month until her death on 31 October 1971. | ||
Immediately following his divorce from Edith, Santee married Betty Addis of Philadelphia in 1942. They remained married for 21 years until her death from a heart attack at the age of 57 in 1962. | Immediately following his divorce from Edith, Santee married Elizabeth ("Betty") Addis of Philadelphia in 1942. They remained married for 21 years until her death from a heart attack at the age of 57 in 1962. | ||
===Daughter=== | ===Daughter=== | ||
Santee's only child, Ruth, was adopted in the early 1930s by Frederick and Edith while they were living in Nashville, Tennessee. Anecdotal evidence suggests Ruth was brought over from Europe at the behest of Charles Santee and he forced his son Frederick, who did not want children, to adopt her. | Santee's only child, Ruth, was adopted in the early 1930s by Frederick and Edith while they were living in Nashville, Tennessee. Anecdotal evidence suggests Ruth was brought over from Europe at the behest of Charles Santee and he forced his son Frederick, who did not want children, to adopt her. | ||
Ruth married William Joseph McKnight in a private ceremony one month before her 18th birthday in 1948. They had met while in Neosho | Ruth married William Joseph McKnight in a private ceremony one month before her 18th birthday in 1948. They had met while in Neosho High School and were freshmen at the University of Missouri in Columbia together. William served in the coast guard as a radio operator after their wedding and was stationed in San Francisco on active duty. The had one daughter, Sheila Kathlyn in 1953, before divorcing because William had made it clear that he did not want children. | ||
Ruth then married Juan V. Zaragoza in 1957. She was 27 and he was 31. They had one daughter together, named Rebecca Zaragoza. Her marriage to Juan was extremely difficult due to his violent outbursts which were so extreme that the police became involved numerous times. Throughout this time, she drank heavily and had difficulty providing a stable environment for her children. They ultimately divorced in 1962. | |||
Ruth then married her third and final husband, Alfred Jenanyan, in 1963. He was completely devoted to her and raised Sheila and Rebecca as though they were his own daughters. | |||
Ruth died of a brain aneurysm in 1965 at the age of 35 or 36, although her obituary erroneously printed her age as 33. She had worked as a dance instructor and model. She is buried in Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery (Section N, site 770). A poem written by her stepmother, Betty, in 1944 titled "Fourteen," would seem to confirm her year of birth as 1930. | |||
==''Sawdust and Tomatoes'' poetry== | |||
In 1944, members of the poetry club at Arkansas A & M College, where Frederick Santee was serving as a Naval medical officer as part of the V-12 training program, published a book of their collective poems titled ''Sawdust and Tomatoes''. | |||
Frederick contributed [[13 (number)|13]] poems and his wife Betty contributed 36. | |||
The 97-page book's publication was financed by New York stock broker and Naval Reserve ensign Robert F. Shelare, who did so knowing the book's sales would never turn a profit. It was printed by the Times Printing Company in Arkansas. Due to the cost-effective methods utilized in printing the book, the few remaining copies are extremely fragile. Even copies kept in archival conditions by university libraries have started to disintegrate and are no longer considered viable books. | |||
As of 2024, less than 12 copies of ''Sawdust and Tomatoes'' are believed to exist. | |||
==''The Devil's Wager'' author== | ==''The Devil's Wager'' author== | ||
[[File:Frederick Book Cover.jpg|350px|thumb|Dr. Frederick Santee in 1979]] | [[File:Frederick Book Cover.jpg|350px|thumb|Dr. Frederick Santee in 1979]] | ||
Despite being a prolific writer throughout his lifetime, a play titled ''The Devil's Wager'' was the only one of Santee's books was ever published. It was 246 pages long and less than 100 copies were printed. The book was released in a hardcover edition printed by notorious New York vanity publisher Exposition Press. | Despite being a prolific writer throughout his lifetime, a play titled ''The Devil's Wager'' was the only one of Santee's books which was ever published. It was 246 pages long and less than 100 copies were printed. The book was released in a hardcover edition printed by notorious New York vanity publisher Exposition Press. | ||
Santee financed the printing and marketing of the book out of his own pocket and was unlikely to have recovered the costs associated with publishing prior to his death the following year. | Santee financed the printing and marketing of the book out of his own pocket and was unlikely to have recovered the costs associated with publishing prior to his death the following year. | ||
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His life was an inspiration for the 2022 book ''[[Magicians, Martyrs, and Madmen]]'' by [[Travis McHenry]]. The book includes his complete biography, along with pictures provided by one of his former nurses. He was also featured in the [[Magicians, Martyrs, and Madmen Tarot]] as the [[Page of Cups]]. | His life was an inspiration for the 2022 book ''[[Magicians, Martyrs, and Madmen]]'' by [[Travis McHenry]]. The book includes his complete biography, along with pictures provided by one of his former nurses. He was also featured in the [[Magicians, Martyrs, and Madmen Tarot]] as the [[Page of Cups]]. | ||
Paranormal author Maxim Furek included a chapter about Santee in his book ''Coal Region Hoodoo'' (2023). His perspective is unique because Furek interviewed Santee in the late 1970s and also attended his memorial service in 1980. | |||
==Bibliography== | ==Bibliography== | ||
[[File:Santee Natal Chart.jpg|400px|thumb|[[Horoscope|Natal chart]] of Frederick Santee]] | |||
===Academic papers=== | ===Academic papers=== | ||
* "The Soul in Homer and Vergil" - ''TAPA, 61'' (1930) | * "The Soul in Homer and Vergil" - ''TAPA, 61'' (1930) | ||
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[[Category:Authors]] | [[Category:Authors]] | ||
[[Category:Featured Articles]] | [[Category:Featured Articles]] | ||
[[Category:Awesome Articles]] | |||