| Notes |
- South Carolina Encyclopedia
Robert Duncan Bass
September 25, 1904 ? May 11, 1983
Bass gained his greatest professional fame as one of the nation?s leading scholars of the American Revolution in South Carolina.
Historian, professor of English literature. Bass was born on September 25, 1904, in Scranton, South Carolina (Florence County), to Fletcher Graves Bass, a farmer, and Bertha (Matthews) Bass. He graduated from Britton?s Neck High School in Marion County in 1922 and attended Columbia Presbyterian Theological Seminary from 1925 to 1927. He received a total of three degrees from the University of South Carolina at Columbia: a bachelor?s degree (1926), a master?s degree (1927), and a doctorate (1933) in English literature. On May 25, 1929, he married writer Virginia Wauchope, with whom he would have two children: Robert Wauchope and George Fletcher.
Bass began his professional career as an assistant professor of English literature at the University of South Carolina in 1927 and remained at the university until 1940. From 1934 to 1940 he also served in the United States Naval Reserve, eventually attaining the rank of commander. When the reserves were mobilized in 1940, Bass began his active duty service with the United States Navy. During World War II he was a professor of English literature at the United States Naval Academy (Annapolis, Maryland), and he continued teaching there until 1957. While at the Naval Academy, he conducted postdoctoral studies at the University of London and Cambridge University (1951?52), and Johns Hopkins University (1952).
In 1957 Bass returned to South Carolina, where he was a professor of English literature at Furman University (1957?63), Limestone College (1963?65), and Erskine College (1966?70). At Erskine he served as head of the Department of English until his retirement in 1970. His hobbies included amateur radio, and he owned and operated WCQG radio station.
Bass gained his greatest professional fame as one of the nation?s leading scholars of the American Revolution in South Carolina. He authored several books on the subject, including Swamp Fox: The Life and Campaigns of General Francis Marion; Gamecock: The Life and Campaigns of General Thomas Sumter; The Green Dragoon: The Lives of Banastre Tarleton and Mary Robinson; and Ninety Six: The Struggle for the South Carolina Backcountry.
Bass received a number of accolades for his books. The American Revolution Roundtable named Swamp Fox the best book of the American Revolution in 1959. In addition Bass received a certificate of commendation from the American Association of State and Local History. The Marion Museum honored both Bass and his wife by naming the Robert and Virginia Bass Library and Research Center in their honor. Bass died on May 11, 1983, in Marion, S.C.
The State, Columbia, South Carolina, Friday, May 13, 1983
Former Author, Professor Robert D. Bass Dies at 78.
Dr, Robert Duncan Bass, 78, retired educator, lecturer and author, died Wednesday.
Born in Scranton, he was a son of the late Fletcher Graves and Bertha Elizabeth Matthews Bass. He was a member of the Marion Presbyterian Church.
Dr. Bass received his bachelor?s, master?s and Ph.D. degrees at the Unviersity of South Carolina. He also attended Columbia Presbyterian Theological Siminary, St. John?s College at Annapolis, Md., the University of London, the University of Cambridge and Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Bass taught in the English department at USC from 1927 to 1940. He also taught at the United States Naval Academy, Durman University, Limestone College, Wingate College and Erskine College.
He was the author of many books and other publications, among them Swamp Fox; The Life and Campaigns of General Francis Marion, Gamecock: The Life and Campaigns of General Thomas Sumter, The Green Dragoon: the Lives of Banastre Tarleton and Mary Robinson and Ninety Six: The Struggle for the South Carolina Backcountry.
He received a plaque in 1959 from the American Revolution Roundtable for Swamp Fox?s being the best book on the Revolution and a certificate of commendation from the American Association of State and Local History. Dr. Bass was inducted n the S.C. Hall of Fame in 1980.
He received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Francis Marion College in 1974.
Dr. Bass was a Navy commander during World War II.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Virginia Wachope Bass; sons, Robert Wauchope Bass of Simi Valley, Calif., and George Fletcher Bass of College Station, Texas; sisters, Mrs. Jula Mae Woodberry, Mrs. Lottie Davis and Mrs. Virginia Boatwright of Gresham and Mrs. Evelyn Atkinson and Miss Mary Bass of Marion; a brother, Thomas Howard Bass of Effingham; and grandchildren.
Services will be held at 5 p.m. Friday in Old Neck Cemetery, Brittons Neck.
Memorials may be made to charities.
Smith-Collins Funeral Home is in charge.
|
Bassett Family Association Database
1904 - 1983 (78 years)