Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Tobin, Agnes |
Notes |
A distinguished poetess from our area was Agnes Tobin. Although she was highly respected in her day and she associated with all the great authors of the era, you've probably never heard of her. For one thing, she spent her productive years abroad, gaining more fame in London than here. Also, her work was done for friends and not likely to have much mass appeal. A few were published in British periodicals. Her most enduring work was in translating poetry from foreign languages into English, while still preserving them as poetry. Irish author William Butler Yeats called her, "the greatest poet that America has produced since Walt Whitman." Joseph Conrad dedicated his book "Under Western Eyes" to Agnes, "who brought to our door her genius for friendship from the uttermost shores of the West." Agnes was said to be shy and retiring, and she lived for a while with authors William and Alice Meynell in their London home. They conducted a salon that was frequented by all the literary giants of the day. Another local author, Gertrude Atherton, ran into her at the Maynell's place one Sunday afternoon. Agnes was described as the "beautiful and aloof" American who drifted in and out of the literary scene as she crossed and recrossed the Atlantic. While in Europe, Agnes often visited an atelier in Paris to oversee the creation of a statue of the Holy Family for Mrs. Corbett as a gift for the Sisters of the Holy Family in San Francisco. Mr. and Mrs. Tobin raised Sister Dolores of that order, and Agnes considered her as her own sister. The statue was completed in 1895, and after standing in the main hall of the convent until 1979, it was moved to Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, where it stands at the entrance to the rotunda of bishops. Agnes Tobin was born in San Francisco in 1864 to the Richard Tobins. She was the third of twelve children. Her father had little formal education, but was a self made man. He had been born in Ireland, but was brought to Chile by his parents while a child. During the six years he spent there, be became proficient in Spanish as well as French. In San Francisco, he was secretary to Archbishop Alemany before studying law. He became president of Hibernia Bank. Agnes' father believed in educating women, an unusual view at the time. She attended a private school in San Francisco, excelling in history, math and several foreign languages. She continued to the new university established by Leland Stanford, where she added Greek and Latin to her studies. While in her 20s, she studied in Europe and traveled extensively. The family home on Nob Hill at California Street near Taylor Street was destroyed in the 1906 Earthquake. She never married. Most of Agnes Tobin's recognition came from her work as a translator. She translated the 14th Century poems of Francesco Petrarch from Italian into English. She also translated Dante, and the classical Greeks - Euripides and Sophocles. It was suggested that she translate Racine's play "Phedre" into English. It took her two years to prepare and six months to write it. It was done in blank verse and was received with great acclaim. Agnes dedicated the adaptation to her sister, Celia Tobin Clark of Hillsborough. Her brother Edward J. Tobin also made his home in Hillsborough. Agnes returned to the Bay Area in 1924. She lived a quiet life until her death 15 years later. (Joan Levy/2007) |
Born |
1864 |
Birthplace |
San Francisco |
Deceased |
1939 |
Occupation |
Poet, Translator |
Titles & honors |
Women's Hall of Fame, 1984 |
Education |
Stanford University |
Places of residence |
San Francisco London Paris |
Spouse |
none |
Children |
none |
Related Records
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Portraits of Dedication: The San Mateo County Women's Hall of Fame, 1984-1994 - Burgett, Shirley; Svanevik, Michael
Inspirational life stories and photographs of 117 women and teens. Each woman had a cause and tenacity; and many battled social pressures, serious handicaps, and self-doubts to pursue a wide range of community and professional successes and breakthroughs. They are honored, in this book, for their lives of courage and excellence on behalf of their community and world.
Record Type: Library
