Education
University of Illinois system. University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. Cornell University.
University of Illinois system. University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. Cornell University.
In 1958 he edited with Dero A. Saunders a noted edition of Theodor Mommsen"s History of Rome. In 1971, he received an Illinois mandatory retirement notice. Not ready to retire, he sought the aid of a former student, and protégé West.R.S., who was in a position to discuss the matter with then Illinois Governor Richard Ogilvie.
Mr.
South. explained to the Governor that such an eminent Professor as Collins was too highly respected in both American and European intellectual circles to fall victim to the state"s arbitrary mandatory retirement system. Moreover, such an arbitrary decision pursuant to these select intellectual circles would bode ill for the State of Illinois" university system. Subsequently, the decision was made to retain Doctor Collins on a different contract.
Upon Collins" retirement in 1978, a Northern Illinois University lecture hall was dedicated in his honor.
He remained active in scholarly pursuits until his death in 1981.