Gertrude Schoepperle

Dr. Gertrude Schoepperle was an instructor for the English Department at the University of Illinois from 1911-1919 mostly offering courses in medieval Irish literature and old Irish language. Her academic enthusiasm for her field, extended beyond the classroom setting. With her background in medieval Irish studies, she worked passionately to increase Celtic studies. Gertrude was constantly collecting new items for the university acquiring both Irish manuscripts for the library and replica Irish metalwork, now at the Spurlock Museum.

Some of her greatest contributions to the university include the publication of translated medieval Irish stories, like the massive two volume collection of romances, Tristan and Isolde, in 1913 and the equally impressive two volume collection Life of Columcille in 1918.

Dr. Schoepperle was also able to successfully secure a stipend of $1,200 from the Irish Foundation of Chicago to be put toward training scholars in the Irish language and allowing those already trained to devote time to editing more collections like the ones she published.

Schoepperle’s love of Irish studies was not limited to only her professional scholarship; she also involved her students as much as possible. She founded the Celtic club which promoted the performance of traditional Irish dances and plays and she often hosted the meetings in her own apartment. She envisioned a future in which the university had a strong Irish Foundation of its own to support the furthering of Celtic studies.

Schoepperle had great ambitions for her work. However, even though the President of the University, Edmund Janes James, had a high opinion of Schoepperle, her time at the school came to an end when she was denied the promotion to Assistant Professor by the Department Chair, Stuart Pratt Sherman.

She seems to have suspected this rejection was due to her gender and this, connected to her desire to marry a fellow colleague, Roger Sherman Loomis, led to her leaving the university all together. (At the time, nepotism laws prevented husbands and wives from teaching at the same university).

Despite the level of work and expertise Dr. Schoepperle put forth, her social position restricted her mobility here at the university, and she moved to Vassar College where she held the position of Associate Professor. In the end, she never was able to establish  an Irish Foundation before she left. While it was unfortunate that her time on campus was limited, no one can deny the great strides made by Gertrude Schoepperle in establishing a Celtic studies program at the university.