Hermann Hagedorn

Hermann Hagedorn (1882-1964) worked as a poet, playwright, historian and biographer across a literary career lasting more than five decades. Born in New York City, he completed his Harvard degree in 1907 and later taught English there. The Silver Blade, published in 1907, is a one-act drama. A Troop of the Guard and Other Poems appeared through Houghton Mifflin in 1909, while Hymn of Free Peoples Triumphant belongs to his later poetry. Hagedorn's friendship with Theodore Roosevelt redirected much of his work toward biography and historical preservation. From 1919 to 1957, he served in trustee, secretary and director roles for the Theodore Roosevelt Association. He also led the Theodore Roosevelt Centennial Commission during its final years. The Library of Congress describes a body of work that included children's books, edited letters and nearly three dozen novels, plays and biographies. Subjects beyond Roosevelt included Edwin Arlington Robinson, Robert Brookings, Leonard Wood, William Boyce Thompson and Albert Schweitzer.