Faculty Records (University of Maine). Professor Holmes (Edward M.) Records

Edward “Ted” M. Holmes was born September 27, 1910, in Montclair, N.J. He moved to Maine with his wife, Jane M. Holmes, in 1939. They lived for several years on Gotts Island, near Bass Harbor. They also lived in other coastal towns, including Winter Harbor, Boothbay Harbor and Bernard. Inland they lived in Princeton, Ellsworth Falls, Ellsworth, New Vineyard, Old Town and Winterport. Throughout the years Ted worked on a floating theatre in New York, in the shipyards in Maine during World War II, organizing lobster fisherman cooperatives in coastal towns and on the islands, digging clams, trucking lobsters and working as first mate on cruise schooners out of Camden. He taught high school in Princeton and Ellsworth. Many students recall him with affection. Ted graduated from Dartmouth College (1933) and received a master’s degrees from the University of Maine (1954), Orono, and Brown University (1956), where he later earned his doctorate as well with his thesis entitled “Faulkner’s Twice-Told Tales: His Reuse of Material” (1962).

Ted began college teaching in 1954 at Farmington State Teacher’s College, now the University of Maine at Farmington. He came to UMO in 1956, where he taught English (1956-1977) and then honors courses well into his 80s, eventually retiring in 1995. In 1977, Ted would be given emeritus status at the University of Maine. In the 1960s and 1970s Ted was active in supporting civil rights, and then protesting the war in Vietnam. He acted as the faculty advisor for the Students for a Democratic Society. Ted is remembered vividly by many students at the UMO for his teaching and for his omnipresent white standard poodle, Jolie. Ted was an excellent teacher. Into his 90s he still received letters and phone calls of appreciation from students who wanted to thank him and share what they were reading. Ted may be best known as a writer of short stories and essays about the Maine coast and its people. He was a careful listener and tried to write the truth, without adornment. He wanted to present life on the Maine coast without romanticism and sentimentality.

Ted was an influence on many younger writers, teaching such writers as Stephen King and Sandy Phippen. His books include “Mostly Maine,” “A Part of the Main” and “Driftwood.” He published one novel, “Two If By Sea.” He also wrote a column for Downeast Magazine for a number of years. He was published in various periodicals, including Yankee and Echoes. One of Ted’s stories, “Drums Again,” was chosen for publication in The Best American Short Stories of 1972. Some of Holmes’ works were published by the University of Maine Press, including “Mostly Maine: Short Stories and Other Writings” (1977).

In 1997, a University of Maine Edward M. Holmes Scholars Fund was established in honor of Holmes. The fund was supported by a gift from authors Stephen King and Tabitha King. Stephen King was one of Professor Holmes’ former students.

Ted loved to fly kites, sail, explore the Maine coast, read and read and read some more, quote poetry and prose, and write. He loved to tell stories about his life, though his writing more often focused on the lives of others.

Much of this biographical profile was provided by Holmes' daughter Virginia Holmes.