Background
Wichelns grew up in New York attending Boys’ High School, in Brooklyn.
Wichelns grew up in New York attending Boys’ High School, in Brooklyn.
He attended college at Cornell University.
Wichelns was awarded an Bachelor of Arts degree in 1916 and a Doctor of Philosophy in 1922. He was a second lieutenant in the United States Army during the World War 1. He taught at Dartmouth College from 1920-1921 and New York University in 1922.
After that he became an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh in 1923-1924.
After that he returned to Cornell as an assistant professor until 1931, when he became a full professor Cornell and retired in 1962. Herbert Wichelns addressed Neo-Aristotelianism in his work “The Literary Criticism of Oratory.” Wichelns focused on discovering criticism through rhetoric.
He developed the study of the single speaker. Wichelns judged a rhetorician in terms of preparation, main ideas, credibility, personality, audience and other factors.
His piece, “Historical Studies of and ian is considered the most influential study in the field of speech.
Wichelns turned students into scholars and teachers in modern rhetorical theory and criticism. He shared an award with James A. Winans, also a Cornell professor for scholarship published by NCA members.