Edwin Whitfield Fay

Edwin Whitfield Fay
Born	(1865-01-01)January 1, 1865 Minden, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	February 17, 1920(1920-02-17) (aged 55) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Spouse	Lucy Belle Hemphill ​ (m. 1904)​
Children	2
Academic background
Alma mater	Johns Hopkins University
Thesis	The Treatment of Rig-Veda Mantras in the Grhya Sūtras (1890)
Academic work
Discipline	Classical philology
Sub-discipline	Latin Sanskrit
Institutions	University of Michigan University of Texas Washington and Lee College

Edwin Whitfield Fay (January 1, 1865 – February 17, 1920) was an American philologist, best known for his contributions to the study of Latin and Sanskrit.

Biography

He graduated from Southwestern Presbyterian University in 1883, received the degree of Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University in 1890, and studied at the University of Leipzig in 1891–92. In 1890-91 he was instructor in Sanskrit and classics at the University of Michigan, in 1892-93 he was acting associate professor of Latin at the University of Texas, in 1893-99 professor of Latin at Washington and Lee College, and beginning 1899 professor of Latin at the University of Texas until his death in Pittsburgh while visiting his sister.

Works

• A History of Education in Louisiana (1898)
• The Treatment of Rig-Veda Mantras in the Yrhya Sutras (1899)
• T. Macci Planti Mostellaria (1902)

He also published works in journals, mostly academic, but some popular.

References

• Rines, George Edwin, ed. (1920). "Fay, Edwin Whitefield" . Encyclopedia Americana.
• William James Battle. "Fay, Edwin Whitfield". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved April 16, 2013.

Further reading

• "A Gifted Linguist: Dr. Edwin Whitfield Fay – Institutional History Museum & Galleries". Institutional History Museum & Galleries. 13 October 2025. Retrieved 30 December 2025.

External links

• Edwin Whitfield Fay at the Database of Classical Scholars