Herbert Wing, Jr. was born on December 8, 1889 in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, but was reared in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He graduated from
Harvard University in 1901 and furthered his education at the University
of Wisconsin where he received his Ph. D., in 1915. He began teaching at
the Wilmington High School in Wilmington, Massachusetts in 1909 as an Assistant
Principal. Wing taught at the University of Wisconsin from 1910-1912 and
from 1914-1915 as a Student Assistant in European History. He was an Associate
Professor of European History at the University of Michigan's 1917 summer
session.
Wing came to Dickinson College in 1915 as an Associate
Professor of Greek Language and Literature. In 1920 he became full Professor
of Greek Language and Literature. While at Dickinson College, Wing taught
many courses in German, Greek, Latin and all types of History courses.
Every freshman from 1916-1946 was required to take Wing's Ancient History
course. He was the Chairman of the Greek Department and the Chairman of
the History Department since 1937. In 1948, Wing was the first incumbent
of the Robert Coleman Chair of History.Wing retired in 1960 with Professor
Emeritus rank.
In addition to teaching, Wing was a successful debate
coach. The students gave him honorary membership into Omicron
Delta Kappa, Tau Kappa Alpha and Pi Gamma Mu, all honor societies.
Wing also was the faculty member in charge of the bookstore at Dickinson
College. He ran the bookstore for over twenty-seven years. Wing held the
position of secretary of the faculty from 1940-1946. Many referred to Wing
as "Mr. 3 by 5," because of his insistence for students to take notes on
assigned readings on three by five inch index cards.
Wing married Helen Leonard Gilman in1916 and had
one son who graduated from Dickinson College. A letter from President Corson
shows the college's appreciation for Wing's involvement at Dickinson1.
Herbert Wing, Jr., died on September 13, 1972.
Footnotes
1.Letter from F.P Corson to Herbert Wing, Jr., February
25, 1941.
Bibliography
Account Book of College Bookstore to John S. Bursk,
Treasurer of the College, 1923-1924, Dickinson College Archives.
Letter from F.P Corson to Herbert Wing, Jr., February
25, 1941, Dickinson College Archives.
Dickinson College, Microcosm, 1934, p.32,
Dickinson College Archives.
"Wing, Jr., Herbert" Dropfile, Dickinson College
Archives.
Herbert Wing, Jr.
