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Page 16 text:
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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
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Page 17 text:
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devotion to the work he has in hand, says one of his confreres. He has un- swervingly labored to encourage and promote the cultivation and study of the French language and literature in his State. His purpose and his achievement have been the improvement of methods and the elevation of the standard in the study of French to that oi true scholarship, and we find him active in every enterprise leading to that end. His own scholarship is at the same time broad and thorough, including research in English, Spanish, Italian, German, and the classical languages and literature. His studies in Romance philology have been extensive, and he has practically opened a new field for Hnguistic study through his researches in the Acadian and other dialects of French in Louisiana. His accurate and successful work along this line has earned him a national reputation, and has made his name well known to every European philologist. The French Government has recognized his labors by decorating him as Ofificier de rinstruction Publique, and as Chevalier de la Legion d ' Honneur. Pro- fessor Fortier has delivered courses of lectures both in French and English before Tulane University, Southern Art Union, I ' Athenee Louisianais, the Monteagle Assembly, Catholic Summer School, Harvard University, Yale, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, University of Virginia, University of Cincinnati, and University of Tennessee, and has taught and lectured in summer sessions of the LTniversity of Tennessee, University of Wisconsin, University of Cali- fornia, University of Kansas, University of Colorado, and the University of Chicago. Professor Fortier is a prominent member of I ' Athenee Louisianais ; the Louisiana Historical Society ; the Public School Alliance ; the American Dialect Society ; the Modern Language Association of America, which he has served as president ) American ' Folk-Lore Society ; and honorary president of the Fed- eration de FAlliance Frangaise aux Etats-LTnis et au Canada. From 1888 to 1896 he was a member of the State Board of Education, and his interest in the public schools has never abated. One of the most commendable facts about Professor Fortier is that notwithstanding the multitudinous calls on his time. he is ready in any town in Louisiana, however small and unimportant, to make an address to the teachers, the pupils, or the patrons of the schools. Professor Fortier writes both in French and English, probably writing the former with more ease, assuredly with more eloquence, than the latter. His contributions to literature have been numerous and varied. He is an indefatig- able contributor to philological and historical publication ' s. He received the degree of Doctor of Letters from Washington and Lee University and from Laval LTniversity at Quebec.
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