Merrill M. May papers

Merrill M. May was born July 25, 1913 in Newton, IL, the only child of E.O. and Mabel May. He lived in Newton until moving to study in Chicago where he received a B.A. in English in 1935 and a M.A. in English in 1936, both from the University of Chicago. He served in the United States Army during WWII.

On completion of his service May resumed his studies, earning a Ph.D. in English, also from the University of Chicago, in 1954. May taught English at the University of Illinois, the University of Nebraska, and Northwestern University before joining the English faculty at Purdue University in 1953. He retired from Purdue as a Professor Emeritus of English in 1979.

May began spending summers in New Mexico in the 1960s, and became an expert on Southwestern literature and art. He moved to Albuquerque after retirement, where he continued to pursue his interests in Southwestern literature, art, and culture. He also became very active as a patron of theater in Albuquerque, including serving on the board of the Vortex Theatre. May had a great depth and breadth of knowledge of literature, history, art, and politics. He was also an accomplished poet.

Merrill M. May passed February 5, 2006.