Fr. Joseph Plumpe was born on April 12, 1901 in Cloverdale, Ohio. He came from a large German-American family. His parents, August and Mary Plumpe, were average Ohio farmers and had a family of eight. Plumpe would come to enjoy nature because of his years on his family farm. From an early age Joseph was passionate about learning and attended St. Barbara's Parish parochial school from 1908-1916 before being admitted to the Josephinum Seminary by Monsignor Joseph Soentgerath. During his time at the Josephinum, he exceled in his studies and became an avid Latin and Greek scholar. He would earn his B.A. and M.A. in 1922 and 1924, respectively, before being ordained in Toledo on June 2, 1928. Plumpe went to the University of Berlin in the fall of 1928, after being accepted to the faculty of the Josephnium, to earn his doctorate in Latin and Greek language and literature. He would earn his degree in classical philology in 1932, and would teach Greek and Latin at the Josephinum from 1932 to 1941.
In 1941 Plumpe joined the staff of The Catholic University of America (CUA) as a Research Associate in Latin from 1941-42 before becoming a Professor in Latin and Greek. Plumpe received tenure in 1949 and due to ill health left The Catholic University of America in 1953. In 1954, he rejoined the staff of the Josephinum as a seminary professor until the day before his death. Plumpe was also a brilliant scholar who was known for his abilities in translating and analyzing early Christian literature, Greek and Latin. Plumpe was devoted to bringing these texts to the English speaking world, which led to the creation of the Ancient Christian Writers series. This series began publication in 1946 in Westminster, Maryland, and London, England, with twenty-six volumes published at the time of his death in 1957.
This series would consume most of Plumbe's scholarly efforts from 1946-1957. His devotion to this series is seen through his personal letters and to his close attention to detail in his writer's translations, as well as the publication of these translations. Also, he worked closely with other English speaking scholars within the Catholic Church in order to get the scholars to translate these texts. An example of this was his 1950 recruitment of Anglican translators who were experts in Greek and Latin. Despite the hard work Plumpe's health was failing by the early 1950s; in 1953 he experienced a complete physical collapse that kept him hospitalized until the fall of 1954. Despite his ill health he remained active in editing the Ancient Christian Writers series. His recovery in 1954 however would be short lived, Rev. Joseph Plumpe died after a failed operation in 1957.
The Rev. Joseph C. Plumpe papers are divided into two series. The first series is correspondence with different translators for the Ancient Christian Writers Series, as well as editors of book reviews, and correspondence with numerous book publishers. The second series contains book reviews of volumes 5-9, 11, and 21-25 of the Ancient Christian Writers Series. These reviews are mainly newspaper clippings as well reviews from scholarly journals. This series also includes a Latin translation of Theodocius, and three homilies from the book of Matthew. The correspondence files shows how Plumpe was dedicated to getting the best translation possible but also how he formed close relationships with different translators.
The Plumpe papers are extensive of his years as ACW editor but are missing his papers from his career as a professor at The Catholic University of America as well as his years at the Josephinum. Another important note is the good relationships he had with the translators because many of them were fellow scholars as well as members of the clergy. Several from the ACW were priests, with the exception of some lay professors and a few nuns. The reviews are evidence to the accuracy of the translations in the ACW series as well as Plump's dedication to this extensive project. Overall, despite the fact that these papers are missing Plumpe's years as a student and professor his work as an editor for the Ancient Christian Writers Series gives a rich understanding of his scholarship.
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Donor unknown, paper received about 1957-1958.
Processing completed in 2011 by Raymond Moore. EAD markup completed in 2011 by Raymond Moore.
This series contains book reviews newspaper clippings and articles from the Ancient Christian Writers Series, edited by Rev. Joseph Plumpe. These files are organized by the Volume and date and some reviews are in Latin or German.
The following two boxes contain Rev. Joseph Plumpe's correspondence during his years as editor of the Ancient Christian Writers series. The correspondence is with translators for the series as well as with book editors, critics, and publishers for the series. This series is organized alphabetically by the name of the author or organization.
These three homilies were delivered at the Basillica of St. Felicitas, St. Stephen, and St. Andrew on their respective feast days.
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
Assisted Fr. Plumpe in attaining original Latin texts to translate for Ancient Christian Writers Series.
From Christ Church at Oxford and corresponded with Plumpe on the First and Second International Conference on Patristic Studies, at Oxford. Plumpe was asked to discuss his translations with the Ancient Christian Writers Series.
Notes made by Plumpe as well as four essays on St. Cyprian written by William N. Lenert, "Life of Caecilian Cyprian, and Russell Williams, "On the Dress of Virgins. The other essay, "To Donatus", has no author.
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, Pope Gregory the Great
1954 Discusses about Plumpe's return to editing the Ancient Christian Writers series after an interlude due to his poor health.
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, "Sheppard of Hermas"
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, "Confessions of St. Augustine
Representative with Newman Bookshop, publisher of the Ancient Christian Writers series.
Correspondence discussing the Ancient Christian Writers Series with different Archdioceses.
Correspondence concerning book reviews of the Ancient Christian Writers series written by Dr. Fires.
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, referral to Rev. Johannes Quasten
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
corrections for Victor J. Furst, publisher for The Newman Press
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
correspondence on Ancient Christian Writers book reviews
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, discusses Plumpe's trip to Europe
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
collaborator for Ancient Christian Writers
British translator for Ancient Christian Writers
Correspondence granting permission to publish Ancient Christian Writers volumes by the Bishop of the Diocese where the books are sold.
Correspondence discussing Plumpe's health and how it has impacted his work as editor for the Ancient Christian Writers series.
Writer for the Josephinum Review, commenting on the Ancient Christian Writers Series.
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, "Cyril's Catecheses
translator for Ancient Christian Writers and a very close friend to Plumpe
translator for Ancient Christian Writers and correspondence on other academic matters
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, from India
Editor for Classical Weekly, correspondence on his reviews of the Ancient Christian Writers series
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
correspondence with London publisher
Correspondence on Catholic University news on the Ancient Christian Writers series. A copy the November 1949 Catholic University Bulletin is included.
Inquiring about working for Newman Books to assist with the publication of the Ancient Christian Writers series.
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, from Oxford University
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, and an expert on Arabic texts
Correspondence on his work of Gregory the Great's translation and his work on Roman History
Correspondence with a former student of Plumpe's who is now a translator for a publishing firm.
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, St. Augustine "De Musica"
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, "Gregory of Nazianzus
Correspondence with an Irish publisher for the Ancient Christian Writers series.
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, and personal friend
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
Catholic University professor's correspondence concerning the Ancient Christian Writers Series.
Rev. Francis Morrissey and Miss Wilhelmina Morrissey, translators for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
A translation editor and colleague for the Ancient Christian Writers series.
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, St. Augustine and the Donatist Controversy
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
Irish scholar who worked on Volume 19 as a Latin translator at the University College, Dublin.
Recommendation for translator Justin Maytyr
Correspondence discussing why after four years Pearson's translation of St. Gregory the Great's "Homiliae in Evang" has not been completed.
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
Various correspondence with publishers on instructions given by Plumpe for the Ancient Christian Writers Series
Translated St. Augustine of Hippo and was completed by Fr. McLaren following Fr. Pope's death in 1947
Correspondence concerning the Ancient Christian Writers series, letters in English and German.
Correspondence about reprints and reviews by the publisher for the Ancient Christian Writers series.
Correspondence concerning failure to complete translation due to ill health and eventual death in 1951.
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, St. John Damascene translation
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, rough drafts included
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, "Hilary's De Trinitate"
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, Contra Celsum
Cancelling translation of Athenagoras
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, Lactantius Divine Institutes
Resigning from translating for Ancient Christian Writers to become president of University College, Dublin
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, Irenaus
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, Dialogi de Trinitate
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, Justin's Apologies, reason for nine year hiatus to finish translation
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, St. Gregory's De Virginitate
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers
translator for Ancient Christian Writers, correspondence on his dissertation
Correspondence with representative from the Lineotype Composition Co.
Correspondence with composition company for the Ancient Christian Writers series.
These are letters of correspondence with Plumpe but are one or two letters from one person
These are letters of correspondence with Plumpe but are one or two letters from one person