Tulane University - Jambalaya Yearbook (New Orleans, LA)

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TCAT ti APPRECIATion OF SERVICES REMPEREP THE UniVERSITY PURinGAh ASSoCIATiOpI EXTEHPIMG OVER PIAhY YEARS, Anc? in REcoGniTion op A IS ' FTV PURPOSE ALWAYS riAPE EVIOEHT AMP SChOBRLY ATrASnnEnTS in UTERARY FIEIES, THE ninETEEn Ei vEn jahbai ya IS FiTTiMGLY PEPICATEP TO PR.ALCEE FORTiER,D.D:, HE VP Of THE PEPARTHEnT op ROMAhCE lAHGUAGES fij t rrxAjiMX. cS ,W i,«— [Cic.a.Ai ' rrvic-] CcT- -t- — j.- .

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Professor Fortier. The following sketch of Professor Fortier was written by Professor R. H. Plaisance and is taken from the Library of Southern Literature, ' in which the works of Professor Fortier are represented by two selections, one in French and the other in English. Alcee Fortier, author and educator, was born in St. James Parish. Louis- iana, June 5, 1856, son of Florent Fortier and Edwige (Aime) Fortier. The Fortier family is an old one and has a distinguished record in the annals of Louisiana. In this country it dates back to the beginning of the eighteenth century, and we find one of Professor Fortier ' s ancestors among the signers of the petition of the colonists who protested against the transfer of the colony to Spain. The son of this signer, Michel Fortier, was a member of the first City Council of New Orleans, and earlier served in Galvez ' s army during the latter ' s campaigns against the British from 1779 to 1781. Professor Fortier ' s father, Florent Fortier, like a great number of the aristocratic young Louisi- anians of his time, received his education in France. On his return to America he engaged in sugar-planting, not losing, however, the literary tastes cultivated in Europe, for he was the author of a number of graceful poems in French. Professor Fortier ' s mother, a niece of Governor Roman, was the dauo ' hter of Valcour Aime, one of the richest sugar planters of Louisiana, and noted for his philanthropy, among his many benefactions being the gift to the Alarist Fathers of Jefferson College, at Convent, Louisiana. From this too brief out- line it mav be seen that Professor Fortier is descended from the best blood in Louisiana, a fact which goes far to explain the charm of his old-world courtli- ness, so pleasingly blended with his twentieth century simple and democratic manner. Professor Fortier, having completed the course in one of the best schools in New Orleans, entered the University of Virginia, but was prevented by serious illness from being graduated at that institution. About this time, his father having lost his large fortune, he was forced to earn hi s living, and for some time worked in a banking house, continuing his studies, however, under private instruction. Later he taught French in the Boys ' High School of New ' Or- leans, and next was a teacher and then principal of the preparatory department of the University of Louisiana. In 1880 he became professor of French in the University of Louisiana, and was re-elected when that institution became the Tulane University of Louisiana. This position he still holds, notwithstand- ing flattering invitations from other universities in the United States. Pro- fessor Fortier ' s whole career has been characterized by an untiri ' ig energy and lO