John Latimer papers

John Francis Latimer (1903-1991) was a Professor of Classics and University Marshal at The George Washington University. He was born in Clinton, Mississippi in 1903. He graduated from Clinton High School in 1918 and from Mississippi College with an A.B. degree in 1922. Dr. Latimer earned an A.M. degree from the University of Chicago in 1926 and a Ph.D. in Classics from Yale University in 1929. In 1964 Mississippi College awarded him the honorary Doctor of Literature.

John Latimer was a teacher, coach, and principal at Clinton High School in Clinton, Mississippi from 1922-24, and instructor in Classics at Vanderbilt University from 1926-27. He went on to teach Greek at the Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut from 1929-31, was assistant professor of Classic, Knox College in Galesburgh, Illinois from 1931-33, and professor of Classics at Drury College, Springfield, Missouri from 1933-36. He came to GW in 1936 and, except for five years during World War II, when he won four Battle Stars for Distinguished Service with the U.S. Navy, spent the rest of his career there.

Dr. Latimer became a Full Professor in 1954, and Professor Emeritus of Classics in 1973. During Dr. Latimer tenure at the University he served as chair of the Classics Department from 1936-71, continuing to teach until 1973. He was Assistant Dean, College of General Studies from 1951-56. He also served as Assistant, then Associate Dean of Faculties from 1956-64. Dr. Latimer became the Director, Foreign Student Affairs in 1964, a position he held until 1966. In addition to these various duties, he also served as University Marshal from 1953-69.

After Dr. Latimer's retirement he continued to serve the University as President of the Friends of the Libraries (1977-78) and as a founder and President of the Society of the Emeriti (1978-91). In a career distinguished by offices of great service to The George Washington University as well as to numerous professional organizations, he gained a national reputation for his devotion to the cause of Classical League (where he served as President from 1960-66).

Dr. Latimer published over 125 articles on classical subjects and What's Happened to our High Schools, a book on the history of the high school curriculum. He prepared a new, special Bicentennial edition of Glass's A Life of George Washington in Latin Prose. Continuing his military service he attained the rank of Captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Dr. Latimer possessed great personal charm and generosity and was a friend and counselor to countless students and friends.

The John Francis Latimer Prize in Classics was established in 1973 and is awarded to a graduating senior who has made the most outstanding record as a major in the Department of Classics. Dr. Latimer died in 1991.

N.B. This history note was written in 2005