Dr MacDonald and Jurgen fight

Jürgen Vsych and Dr. Edgar E. MacDonald "discuss" James Branch Cabell's book JURGEN, Ms. Vsych's namesake. Dr. MacDonald is a Cabell's biographer, and the two sinners attended the same church in their hometown of Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Mac dislikes the addition of illustrations to Cabell's work - even if they are by the brilliant English artist, Frank C. Papé - and Jürgen Vsych argues they're almost as good as the novel!


He was 94 years old, and had served at the VCU Libraries as Senior Cabell Scholar since 1984.

Dr. MacDonald's passing is an immense loss to the Richmond community. He was renown as a veritable encyclopedia of Virginia family and cultural histories, and was the world's foremost expert on the Cabell and Branch families, whose influence and contributions extend far and wide throughout Virginia and beyond. He also published widely on the life and works of Richmonder Ellen Glasgow. Cabell Library owes its very name to Dr. MacDonald and his colleague Dr. Maurice Duke: they worked closely with James Branch Cabell's widow, the late Margaret Freeman Cabell, his son Ballard, and VCU officials in the early 1970s to name VCU's new library after James Branch Cabell Library, and to acquire Cabell's personal collection of some 3000 books and other papers for the library. Dr. MacDonald worked with students and scholars throughout his life, and he was especially generous with his time and expertise in working with younger scholars. He took particular interest in the many VCU undergraduate and graduate students with whom he build relationships as Senior Cabell Scholar in Cabell Library's Special Collections and Archives, where he maintained his office.

For all of us on staff, Dr. MacDonald was an affable, witty, and sophisticated presence, possessed of a sharp intellect that he delighted to use in the service of entertainment as much as scholarship. He drew our admiration and our respect, and he was always and foremost an inspiration. For our good colleagues in Cabell Special Collections and Archives, who worked with him and enjoyed his company nearly every day, Dr. MacDonald was a constant companion and a good friend. They cared for him deeply and often supported him in his personal life as well as in his professional and scholarly endeavors.

A short biography of Dr. MacDonald. It is notable that among the many accomplishments of his long life, Dr. MacDonald was a distinguished veteran of World War II, and earned the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Belgian Fouragere for his service on the field of battle. He was named VCU Senior Cabell Scholar upon his retirement from Randolph-Macon College in 1984, and his official biography of James Branch Cabell was published in 1993. He was a founder of the Virginia Genealogical Society, which last year recognized him with its Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Friends of the Virginia State Archives, and he continued to work closely with both organizations over the years. He remained passionately interested always in the people and events of his community and his work family always.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• jurgen
• vsych
• james
• branch
• cabell
• literature
• fantasy
• novel
• frank
• c.
• papé

[thewomandirector]

RIP Dr. MacDonald. He was 94 years old, and had served at the VCU Libraries as Senior Cabell Scholar since 1984.

[sparrow111260]

Interesting, not sure about the context of the debate though.