The Kevin Herbert Memorial Fund in Classics was endowed to support internships and other special study opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of Classics, carrying on Professor Herbert’s legacy of mentorship in perpetuity. The department extends its warmest thanks to the many donors who made this possible, especially to Professor Herbert’s family.
Remembering Kevin Herbert
Kevin Herbert (1921-2015) was a cherished teacher, scholar, and leader at Washington University and contributed a remarkable range of publications to the field of Classics, from material collection catalogues to biographies of modern classicists. Highlights of his forty-six years teaching at Washington University included long tenures as Chair of Classics and Curator of the John Max Wulfing coin collection; kind mentorship of countless students who went on to pursue careers in and outside of Classics; enthusiasm for research, teaching, and utilizing new technology well into his retirement; and generous donations of books and photographs to the university library. Among his publications were a series of books and articles that brought international attention to Washington University’s Wulfing Collection. Professor Herbert had a gift for storytelling and conversation, a keen interest in everyone he met, and an extraordinary dedication to service. He was an avid traveler and photographer. He served with distinction as a tail gunner in the US Army Air Force during World War II, an experience he recounted – with frequent reflection on insights gained from his classical studies – in the memoir Maximum Effort: The B29s against Japan.
