educator literature and language professor author
Norma Therese Falby was born on May 10, 1917, in Huntington, Vermont. She began teaching in Vermont high schools before pursuing graduate study and an academic career. After World War II she lived in Normandy, France, where she owned and directed the American Villa School. She later adopted the professional name Norma Lorre Goodrich, under which she published her major works on medieval literature, mythology, and Arthurian tradition.
Goodrich graduated from the University of Vermont in 1938 with a Bachelor of Science degree in French and was recognized as a valedictorian scholarship recipient and class poet. She pursued postgraduate study as a Vermont fellow at the University of Grenoble in 1939 and later completed doctoral work at Columbia University, receiving a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1965. Columbia also awarded her a George W. Ellis Fellowship for outstanding academic achievement in 1963–1964. In 1993 the University of Vermont awarded her a Doctor of Letters.
Goodrich began her professional life teaching in Vermont high schools from 1939 to 1943. From 1943 to 1947 she continued teaching at high schools, and immediately after World War II she became owner and director of the American Villa School in Trouville-sur-Mer, Normandy, directing the institution from 1947 to 1953. She returned to the United States and taught French, Latin, and history at Fieldston School in New York from 1954 to 1963. In the mid-1960s she joined the University of Southern California as an assistant professor and subsequently became an associate professor. She later taught French and comparative literature at the Claremont Colleges, including Scripps College and the Claremont Graduate School. In 1971–1972 she served as dean of the faculty at Scripps College. She eventually became professor emerita of French and comparative literature. Her scholarly and literary career extended for more than 45 years and produced books on mythology, medieval French literature, Arthurian history, women in legend, and the work of Jean Giono.
Built a more than 45-year career as a teacher, professor, scholar, lecturer, and author in French, comparative literature, mythology, and medieval studies.
Developed an influential popular interpretation of Arthurian tradition that presented King Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot as figures rooted in Scottish historical and linguistic contexts.
Published more than 20 books and major studies spanning ancient mythology, medieval French literature, Arthurian legend, religious traditions, women in legend, and modern French fiction.
Owned and directed the American Villa School in Trouville-sur-Mer, Normandy, during the postwar period.
(A literary biography of the French poet and prince Charle...)
1963Medieval Myths
(A study of medieval myths; a revised and expanded edition...)
1961The Ways of Love: Eleven Romances of Medieval France
(A collection and study of eleven medieval French romances.)
1965The Ancient Myths
(A study of ancient mythology.)
1960Myths of the Hero
(A study of heroic myth.)
1960(A study of female heroic figures ranging from mythologica...)
1993(A historical and literary interpretation of the Arthurian...)
1992(An interpretation arguing that Arthur was a historical ru...)
1986Priestesses
(A study of priestesses and female religious figures acros...)
1989(A study tracing the religious, literary, and historical t...)
1992Merlin
(A study of the Merlin tradition and its historical and li...)
1987(A study of Jean Giono's use of apocalyptic, surrealist, s...)
1973Goodrich approached mythology and medieval legend as traditions that could contain recoverable historical evidence rather than existing solely as imaginative fiction. In her Arthurian studies she argued that linguistic analysis, place-name interpretation, and historical investigation could reveal events and figures beneath later literary elaboration.
Goodrich belonged to a broad network of scholarly, literary, historical, genealogical, and cultural organizations. Her affiliations included the Society of Antiquarians, the National Institute of Social Sciences, the Association for the Study of Dada and Surrealism, the Philological Association of the Pacific Coast, the Modern Language Association, the Prehistoric Society, the American Association of Teachers of French, the Medieval Association of the Pacific, the Medieval Academy of America, the Dante Society, the Columbia University Alumni Association, the Morgan Library, Phi Kappa Phi, and the Metropolitan Opera Guild. She also maintained documented affiliations with Clan MacArthur, Clan MacKay, the 78th Fraser's Highlanders, the Tordarroch Trust, and the Order of the Crown of Charlemagne. She served as secretary of the Association for the Study of Dada and Surrealism in 1970–1972, participated on the Philological Association of the Pacific Coast's nominating committee in 1971–1972, served on the Modern Language Association's Delaware Assembly election committee, and was vice-regent of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution in 1996–1997.
Fellow.
Society of Antiquarians
National Institute of Social Sciences , United States
1970 - 1972
Secretary, 1970–1972.
Association for the Study of Dada and Surrealism , United States
1970 - 1972
Member of the nominating committee, 1971–1972.
Philological Association of the Pacific Coast , United States
1971 - 1972
Served on the Delaware Assembly election committee.
Modern Language Association , United States
The Prehistoric Society , United Kingdom
American Association of Teachers of French , United States
Medieval Association of the Pacific , United States
Medieval Academy of America , United States
Vice-regent, 1996–1997.
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution , United States
1996 - 1997
Columbia University Alumni Association , United States
Dante Society , United States
Morgan Library , United States
Clan MacArthur , United Kingdom
Honorary member.
Clan MacKay , United Kingdom
Lieutenant.
78th Fraser's Highlanders, 2nd Battalion of Foot American , United States
Affiliated with the Scotland and United States trust.
Tordarroch Trust , United Kingdom
Metropolitan Opera Guild , United States
Life member.
Order of the Crown of Charlemagne in the United States of America , United States
Phi Kappa Phi , United States
Goodrich was described as adventurous, daring, intellectually independent, and willing to challenge established interpretations of Arthurian history. Her public statements and work reflected confidence in her linguistic and historical readings and a determination to pursue conclusions that differed from prevailing scholarly opinion.
Quotes from others about the person
The Los Angeles Times described Goodrich as a scholar who sought to separate historical evidence from the accumulated heroic legends surrounding King Arthur. Her obituary characterized her as a widely published author, scholar, educator, and lecturer whose career was deeply valued by students, colleagues, family, and friends.
Goodrich was married to John Hereford Howard, a highly decorated World War II pilot who assisted her with the practical and historical development of her work on King Arthur. Her parents were Edyth and Charles. Howard died in 1995. Goodrich died at her home in Claremont, California, on September 19, 2006.
