David Cornel De Jong papers (MS.92.8)

Biographical note

De Jong was the author of 13 novels, 5 children’s books, several books of poetry and numerous short stories. His poems and articles were published in publications such as Nation, Poetry, Southern Review, and Atlantic Monthly.

He was born in 1905 in Blija, Friesland Province, The Netherlands. Soon after, his family moved to Groningen, and then to Wierum in the Netherlands. His family came to the United States in 1918 when he was thirteen. They settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He finished grammar school at Baldwin Street Christian School, went to business school for a time, worked in offices and banks for the next three years, including G. R. Savings and Home State banks. He received his undergraduate degree from Calvin College (A. B. 1929). He taught at the high school in Edmore, Michigan for one year and then went on a fellowship to Duke University (M. A. 1932). De Jong began his doctorate at Brown University in 1932 but shifted to writing full time before completing his Ph.D. He remained in Providence the remainder of his life. He died September, 1967.