William Eben Schultz , Works from 1936-1964

Biographical Note:

The following was taken from Acacia Fraternity’s The Triad, volumes 12-14, October 1916: https://books.google.com/books?id=oC3OAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA337&lpg=PA337&dq

“William Eben Schultz “was born in Canton, Missouri, on the Mississippi, on March 23, 1887. He graduated from Canton High School in 1903, and from Christian University, in Canton, A.B., 1906, A.M., 1907. He entered Yale for the first time in 1908, receiving the degree of M.A. in 1909; and again in 1911, to remain for four more years, studying for the doctor’s degree. At college Brother Schultz was interested in dramatics, literary societies and debating, and represented his class as poet. After taking the M.A. at Yale, he taught for two years at the University of Kansas, as instructor in English. Brother Schultz was made a Mason in the summer of 1911, and on his return to New Haven was elected to Yale Chapter of the Acacia Fraternity, being initiated in January, 1912. He has since that time served his chapter as Venerable Dean, Editor of the Yale Triangle (three years), delegate to the Grand Conclave at Chicago, in 1912, Treasurer4 and Chairman of th4e House Committee. He is the author of two sheet music songs published by the national fraternity, and in 1913 was appointed chairman of the Song Book Committee. In university activities Brother Schultz was interested especially in music and publications. He wrote and published two football songs for Yale and was for three years on the staff of the Yale Daily News, the oldest periodical of its kind in America, as editor from the Graduate School. While finishing his work for the Ph. D., which he secured in June, 1915, he was, for the last three years, assistant in English, with the Freshmen Class. Brother Schultz accepted a position at the University of Illinois, as instructor in English, in the summer of 1915, and took up his work there in September, 1915.

After a year at Illinois Brother Schultz accepted a professorship in Christian University, now Culliiver [sic] Stockton College, Canton, Missouri, and is now head of the department of English. He still maintains his interest in college activities, according to the Yale Alumni Weekly, filling and emptying the Waste Basket, a column of original and miscellaneous prose and verse. Brother Schultz is part owner and also contributing editor of the Cantonian. His present address is Canton, Missouri.”

Professional Work: During his time at Yale, Dr. Schultz authored several musical compositions including “Culver Stockton’s Day (The Wildcat Victory Song” (1906); “The Long Cheer for Yale” (1911); and, “The Team Triumphant” (1912), which was one of three winning songs to be used during the football season, selected by a committee headed by world-renowned composer and songwriter Cole Porter, then the official cheer and song leader of Yale. He also served as editor for Songs of Acacia in 1915 as a member of the Acacia fraternity in 1915.

Dr. Schultz He also wrote many articles published for a variety of publications including Culver-Stockton College Bulletin, Modern Language Notes, The Book News Monthly, The Phi Kappa Phi Journal, The Church School Journal, and The Missouri Historical Review. As a Shakespearean scholar, critic, and avid playgoer, he is probably best known for two scholarly works, Gay’s Beggar’s Opera: Its Content, History & Influence (1923) and The Music of the Beggar’s Opera in Print, 1728-1923 (1924). Since its initial publishing with Yale University Press in 1923, 27 editions of Gay's Beggar's Opera would be published between 1923 and 1967. Dr. Schultz maintained a lifelong interest in John Gay, author of the Beggar’s Opera, assembling virtually every printing of the Beggar’s Opera into a private collection. Dr. Schultz's The Relation of Poetry to Life was published in 1925; and, he later went on to write Cantonia: A Historical Pageant in Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Town of Canton, Missouri, in 1930. He also served as a member of the Society of Midland Authors in 1930.

Dr. Schultz worked as a Professor of English and Head of the department at Illinois Wesleyan from 1934 to 1958. During that time, he wrote the musical composition, Alma Wesleyan in 1935, as well as, numerous historical sketches for the university archives pertaining to Illinois Wesleyan University and prominent figures throughout the history of McLean County, Illinois. Upon his retirement, Dr. Schultz continued to teach some classes and was the University’s historian until he died at his desk in 1964.

William Schultz married his wife, Edith Floy Welch in 1920. The two are buried with their daughter Caroline Emily Schultz Ferme in Funks Grove Cemetery in Funks Grove, IL. Dr. Schultz and his wife had one other daughter, June, who graduated from IWU in 1944.