Elsie W. Helmrich

Elsie W. Helmrich
Helmrich, from the 1908 yearbook of Barnard College
Born(1886-06-16)June 16, 1886
New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
DiedNovember 10, 1979(1979-11-10) (aged 93)
New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
OccupationsTheatre scholar, professor of German

Elsie Winifred Helmrich (June 16, 1886 – November 10, 1979) was an American professor and scholar of German literature. She was head of the German department at Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Virginia. She wrote, or adapted, and directed the annual German Christmas play on campus from 1924 into the 1950s.

Early life and education

Helmrich was born in New Rochelle, New York, the daughter of George Hubert Helmrich and Anna Maria White Helmrich.[1] She graduated from Barnard College in 1908, earned a master's degree in 1909 and completed doctoral studies at Columbia University in 1912.[2]

Career

Helmrich taught at St. Agnes School in Albany, New York, before earning her doctorate.[3] Also in Albany, she was treasurer of the local chapter of the Consumers' League.[4] She also taught German at Springfield Junior College in Springfield, Massachusetts.[5][6]

Beginning in 1924, Helmrich was a professor of German language and literature at Randolph-Macon Woman's College.[7][8] She was chair of the German department[9] and founded and advised the German Club.[10][11] She led student trips to Germany.[12] She wrote,[13] or adapted, and directed the annual German Christmas play on campus for over thirty years.[6][14] She retired from Randolph-Macon in 1955.[15]

Helmrich took long study trips to Germany in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.[6][16][17] In 1934 she attended the 300th anniversary of the Passion Play at Oberammergau.[18][19] She attended national conferences of the Modern Language Association.[20] In 1949 she went to Colorado for the International Goethe Convocation, marking the 200th anniversary of Goethe's birth.[21] In 1953, she was guest of honor on a holiday program of the Woman's Press Club of New York City.[22]

Publications

  • The History of the Chorus in the German Drama (1912)[23][24]

Personal life

Helmrich moved back to New Rochelle in retirement, and lived with her sister Esther there.[25] She died in New Rochelle in 1979, at the age of 93.[26]

References

  1. ↑ "George Helmrich Dies in Far West; Retired Engineer, Native of This City, About 50, Briefly Ill". The Standard-Star. 1937-02-25. p. 2. Retrieved 2026-06-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ Helmrich, Elsie Winifred (1912). The history of the chorus in the German drama. Chorus in the German drama. New York: Columbia University Press.
  3. ↑ "Alumnae Items" (PDF). The Bulletin of the Associate Alumnae of Barnard College (2): 14–15. April 1913.
  4. ↑ Consumers' League of New York City (1913). Report. p. 49.
  5. ↑ Columbia University (1916). Officers and Graduates ... p. 281.
  6. 1 2 3 "Dr. Helmrich Responsible for Yule Play Tradition; Nativity Drama at RMWC Since 1924". The News and Advance. 1953-12-13. p. 52. Retrieved 2026-06-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Personal Notes AboutTown". The Standard-Star. 1948-02-06. p. 18. Retrieved 2026-06-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "German Department Winners Announced". The News and Advance. 1939-04-30. p. 8. Retrieved 2026-06-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Cornelius, Roberta D. (2012-01-01). The History of Randolph-Macon Woman's College: From the Founding in 1891 Through the Year of 1949-1950. Univ of North Carolina Press. ISBN 978-0-8078-6968-0.
  10. ↑ "Miss Helmrich Stresses Need of Peace Effort". The Sun Dial. October 12, 1950. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Miss Helmrich Talks on Art at German Club". The Sun Dial. April 11, 1946. p. 3 – via Virginia Chronicle.
  12. ↑ "German Club Visits Hamburg and Berlin". The Sun Dial. November 6, 1931. p. 4 – via Virginia Chronicle.
  13. ↑ "Annual German Christmas Play Given Dec. 13". The Sun Dial. December 4, 1941. p. 1 – via Virginia Chronicle.
  14. ↑ "News of Randolph-Macon". The News and Advance. 1930-12-21. p. 10. Retrieved 2026-06-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Four Outstanding R-M Faculty Members Announce Retirement Effective Next Year". The Sun Dial. March 18, 1954. p. 3 – via Virginia Chronicle.
  16. ↑ "Faculty of Randolph-Macon Woman's College Spending Vacations Abroad; Others Summer in U.S., Canada". The News and Advance. 1934-08-05. p. 8. Retrieved 2026-06-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "Miss E. Helmrich Exhibits Slides of Summer Trip". The Sun Dial. October 26, 1950. p. 6 – via Virginia Chronicle.
  18. ↑ "Relates Stories of her Travels". The Sun Dial. March 1, 1945. p. 5 – via Virginia Chronicle.
  19. ↑ "German Students Have First Regular Meeting". The Sun Dial. October 25, 1934. p. 1 – via Virginia Chronicle.
  20. ↑ "Faculty Members Planning to Attend Science Meets". The News and Advance. 1940-12-22. p. 15. Retrieved 2026-06-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ Lawyer, Janis (October 6, 1949). "Miss Helmrich Praises Meeting Held in U.S. to Honor Goethe". The Sun Dial. p. 3 – via Virginia Chronicle.
  22. ↑ "RMWC Faculty to Spend Yule in Varied Ways". The News and Advance. 1953-12-20. p. 25. Retrieved 2026-06-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ Gillet, Jos. E. (1915). "Review of The History of the Chorus in the German Drama". Modern Language Notes. 30 (1): 16–18. doi:10.2307/2916229. hdl:2027/hvd.32044086164639. ISSN 0149-6611.
  24. ↑ Matthews, Brander (1913-03-02). "The Chorus in the German Drama (review)". The New York Times. p. 61. Retrieved 2026-06-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ "Obituary for Esther Helmrich". The Standard-Star. 1974-03-21. p. 22. Retrieved 2026-06-04.
  26. ↑ "Elsie W. Helmrich (death notice)". The Reporter Dispatch. 1979-11-12. p. 11. Retrieved 2026-06-04 – via Newspapers.com.
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