Louisiana author once was considered the foremost expert on the state's culture, traditions and history, especially when it came to New Orleans.
In fact, he was nicknamed "Mr. New Orleans" and for good reason. Saxon for the French Quarter in the early 20th century after the city declared it a slum and considered demolishing it. He also headed the Federal Writers Project's documentation of everything Louisiana in the WPA-funded "Louisiana: A Guide to the State."
Still, there's one accomplishment Saxon didn't achieve, as pointed out by Alexandria author and historian Michael Wynne.
"He didn't graduate from LSU," Wynne said. "But he came so close."
Usually, Wynne is one of many sources in providing answers to Curious Louisiana questions, but this time around, he steps into the role of the reader asking the question.
WPA-era Florida artist Edith Fairfax Davenport's portrait of Louisiana author Lyle Saxon is part of the State Library of Louisiana's collection in its Louisiana Room.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER
Why no honorary degree?
"I started looking into it, and I found that he was only three hour-credits away from graduating," Wynne said. "So my question is: Why hasn't he been awarded an honorary degree?"
Though Saxon is best known for his New Orleans affiliation, he was born in Baton Rouge in 1891, though some historians dispute the location. Still, it's certain that he grew up in the capital city, which was where he was buried after his death at age 54 in 1946.
His gravesite is found in the city's historic Magnolia Cemetery on North 19th St.
Saxon attended LSU from 1907 to 1912, and though his photo appears with his graduating class in the 1912 Gumbo, he didn't actually graduate.
What kept Saxon from earning those last three credits?
"His mother became seriously ill," Wynne said. "His mother was dying, so he dropped out to take care of her. He also wasn't a rich person and ran into some financial difficulties and didn't return to school."
Instead, Saxon went on a job search.
From left, Robert Glenk, curator of the Louisiana State Museum; Natalie Scott, journalist; Marguerite Clark, movie star; Miss W.B. Gillican, artist; Mrs. E.M. Gilmer, columnist known as Dorothy Dix; and author Lyle Saxon hold a map of the French Quarter they donated to the Cabildo. January 20, 1929.
FILE PHOTO
Wynne cites both author Chance Harvey’s 2003 biography, “The Life and Selected Letters of Lyle Saxon,” and Helen Gilkerson's 1930 dissertation, both of which documented the reason behind Saxon's LSU departure.
"Also, when he was in school, he wasn't majoring in journalism, because there was no such degree at the time," Wynne said.
Didn't stop his career
The lack of a college degree didn't stop Saxon from pursuing a career that eventually earned him the moniker, "Mr. New Orleans." He eventually went to work for The Times-Picayune, then turned to book writing.
"Lyle Saxon's early books are so important to the preservation of Louisiana culture and history, and his later books are still being used today as primary sources," Wynne said. "He basically was the savior of Louisiana history among the many great historians, because he didn't just write about it. He was actively pursuing it. He had access to people who would've been long forgotten, and he was able to take these interviews with the people of Louisiana — the common folk — and write their stories in such a way to preserve them in history."
Wynne decided to pursue an answer to his own question of why LSU has never awarded Saxon a posthumous honorary degree.
"I sent information to a couple of presidents of LSU and received a quick email from a staff person who said only a staff member at LSU can nominate Lyle Saxon for an honorary degree," he said. "I've since been unable to find somebody on LSU's staff who is willing to make the effort to nominate him."
The original cover for Louisiana author's 1945 best-seller 'Gumbo Ya-Ya.' The book is still in print today through Pelican Publishing in New Orleans.
PROVIDED PHOTO
LSU outlined the procedure policy for such nominations in "Guidelines in Awarding Honorary Degrees" in April 1999. The policy was revised in but still specifically states that "Nominations should originate from the faculty of a college or school or a campus wide committee and be forwarded, with appropriate administrative endorsement, through normal academic channels to the President. The President will submit the nomination to the Executive Vice President and Provost, the University Committee on Awarding of Honorary Degrees and the members of the Board of Supervisors for review. Recommended candidates will then be submitted to the full Board."
The policy also specifies that nominations "should be based on the individual's contribution to his/her field of endeavor or to society in general."
Wynne says Saxon deserves better. He notes that an honorary degree for the author would be a "nice tip of the hat."
"You cannot name another Louisiana author, who, 80 years after his death, has books still in print everywhere," Wynne said. "Sen. Huey Long left high school before earning his high school diploma but was awarded an honorary high school diploma in 1993 by the Louisiana State Board of Education. So why can’t Saxon be awarded an honorary bachelor's degree from LSU?"
Books still in print
Louisiana author Lyle Saxon's gravestone in Baton Rouge's historic Magnolia Cemetery on N. 19th Street.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER
Saxon's books include his best-seller "Gumbo Ya-Ya: A Collection of Louisiana Folk Tales." That book is still in circulation through Pelican Publishing, as are his books "Fabulous New Orleans," "Old Louisiana," "Lafitte the Pirate" and his novel "Children of Strangers."
His "Lafitte" book was adapted into Cecil B. DeMille's 1938 film "." Actor-director Anthony Quinn's remake of the adaptation was released in 1958 with stars Yul Brenner and Charleton Heston in the leading roles.
Meanwhile, Saxon's "Children of Strangers" tells the story of the post-Civil War plight of Louisiana's free people of color along the Cane River in Natchitoches Parish, where he spent time writing at Melrose Plantation.
Owner Cammie Henry opened up the plantation grounds as a colony for writers and artists. Saxon was probably her most frequent guest, and New Orleans painter Alberta Kinsey often rode along to create her own work there.
Louisiana author Lyle Saxon attended LSU but missed earning his bachelor's degree by only three credit hours. He had to drop out of school at the last minute to care for his mother, who had fell seriously ill.
PUBLIC DOMAIN
It was Kinsey who gave the plantation cook, Clementine Hunter, some leftover tubes of paint, which jumpstarted Hunter's art career.
In the end, Wynne has answered his own question.
"I keep thinking about how Lyle Saxon was so close to that degree," he said. "I shall persevere and attempt to attain this honorary degree for him."