Biographical Text
Associate Professor Emerita of English Loris Shipman (September 16,1896 -), retired college professor, was born near Eastman, Georgia, to Cora Lancaster and William Archer Shipman. Her father was from Columbus County, North Carolina; her mother, from Pulaski County, Georgia. She and her family lived for a few years in north-em Florida before moving to Mississippi, near the coast, where her father operated a sawmill (1903-1907). Three years later while living in Lumberton, Mississippi, he was admitted to the bar. The last thirty-seven years of his life were devoted to the practice of law and to the performance of his duties in various state and federal government positions-to all of which he was appointed. These were in Jackson, Mississippi, Washington, D.C., and Dallas, Texas. Loris Shipman was one of four children. When she was six years old, and her sister Margaret was seven, their mother taught them to read, since there was no school within walking distance. During the next four years their schooling was irregular (and rather haphazard) at a one-teacher private school-with a new teacher every year. The first graded school they attended was in Mobile, Alabama, where the family lived for a time before moving to Lumberton, Mississippi. There Margaret and Loris entered the seventh grade and in due time completed grammar school. In 1913 when they graduated from high school (only eleven grades), Loris was valedictorian of the class. After one year at Meridian College, Miss Shipman "rusticated" at home for a year, then taught primary grades in a rural school (Gipson) in Pearl River County for one six-months' term. In 1916 she returned to Meridian College, and three years later she graduated from that institution with a B.A. degree and a certificate in Expression. Armed with a college degree, Miss Shipman then began a long and distinguished teaching career interspersed with periods of formal study. She first accepted a position at Kemper County Agricultural School in Scooba, Mississippi, teaching English and Expression (1919-1921). In the summer of 1921 she attended Tulane University, where she took courses in English and history. From 1921-1923 she taught at Lewisville High School (in Lewisville, Arkansas). There, besides English, she taught plane geometry and one class in history. Because of her mother's illness, Miss Shipman came home in the summer of 1923 without seeking employment for the following year. After her mother's death in late October an opening occurred in the local grammar school, and for the remainder of that school year she taught an overflow section of third and fifth graders. The next year (while still staying at home) she gave private lessons in Expression at the Poplarville Grammar School and at Pearl River A.H.S. (both in Poplarville, Mississippi). In the summer of 1924 Loris Shipman enrolled at George Peabody College for Teachers (now affiliated with Vanderbilt University) Nashville, Tennessee, where she began residence work toward another bachelor's degree. This she received in August 1925. The following year (1925-26) she again taught high school English-this time at Jones County Agricultural High School in Ellisville, Mississippi. For three years Miss Shipman taught English and history at Richton High School in Richton, Mississippi (1926-1928 and 1929-1930). The intervening year (1928-1929) was spent in teaching English at Newton High School in Newton, Mississippi. By attending George Peabody College for Teachers for four summer quarters (1927-1930) Miss Shipman earned her M. A. degree in English. She continued to take courses during the fall, winter and half of the spring quarters of 1930-1931 at Peabody College. As a graduate student there she taught one freshman and one sophomore class in the fall quarter and again in the spring. During the summer quarter of 1931 Miss Shipman taught at Middle Tennessee State Teachers College in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. At Burritt College in Spencer, Tennessee, her work was in both English and history (1932-1933). Then for three years (1933-1936) she taught English at Union High School in Union, Mississippi. Her next position was at East Mississippi Junior College in Scooba, Mississippi, where for ten years she taught English and sponsored dramatics. In the summer of 1940, at Peabody College, Miss Shipman attended a six-weeks' course (or conference) for Mississippi junior college faculty members. Again, in 1942, she spent a six-weeks' summer term at Peabody College taking postgraduate courses. Loris Shipman's appointment to Appalachian State Teachers College (now Appalachian State University) came in 1946, when she was requested to serve as an English teacher at the freshman and sophomore level. She also taught speech and contemporary literature at times during her eighteen years at Appalachian (1946-1964). Known as one of the most challenging and inspiring teachers at the institution, she motivated literally thousands of students, including this writer, to improve not only their understanding and knowledge of English but their appreciation of it as well. She was known as a caring teacher who took a sincere professional interest in her students and also took great pride in them in their own subsequent careers. Upon retiring at Appalachian in 1964, Loris Shipman accepted an appointment at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, where she taught freshman and sophomore English for one year (1964-1965). Her last teaching position came in 1965 at Brevard College, where she taught English until 1968. Miss Loris Shipman now resides in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she keeps up an active correspondence with former colleagues and students. She has fond memories of Appalachian and continues to visit Boone upon occasion to see her many friends. This 1987 edition of The Appalachian Faculty Emeriti book is dedicated to Miss Shipman (please see the Dedication page). Sources: Long association and personal correspondence. - Dr. Richard D. Howe
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