Gilbert, Katherine Everett (1886–1952)

American philosopher. Born on July 29, 1886; died on April 28, 1952, in Durham, North Carolina; Brown University, B.A., 1908, M.A., 1910; Cornell University, Ph.D., 1912; married Allan H. Gilbert, in 1913; children: two sons.

Was editorial assistant at the Philosophical Review (1915–19); was a research fellow, University of North Carolina (1922–29); served as acting professor of philosophy, University of North Carolina (1929–30); was a professor of philosophy, Duke University (1930–40); was chair of the Department of Aesthetics, Art and Music, Duke University (1942–51). Honorary D.Litt., Brown University (1942).

Selected works:

Maurice Blondel's Philosophy of Action (1924); Studies in Recent Aesthetics (1927); (with Helmut Kuhn) A History of Esthetics (1939); Aesthetic Studies (1952); many articles in philosophical journals.

In addition to her papers which appeared in many philosophical journals, including PhilosophicalReview and the Journal of Philosophy, Katherine Gilbert published several books of philosophy. Her interest in the philosophical treatment of art—aesthetics—was sparked by her undergraduate studies in philosophy at Brown University with Alexander Meikeljohn. After completing her Ph.D. at Cornell University in 1912, Gilbert went to work as an editorial assistant at the Philosophical Review. From 1922, she worked as a research fellow and eventually a lecturer at the University of North Carolina. Finally, in 1930, her career brought her to Duke University, where she became the school's first full female professor. When the departments of music and art were merged in 1940, Gilbert moved from the philosophy department to become chair of the new department of aesthetics, music, and art. She remained in that position until her retirement in 1951. Despite her move away from mainstream philosophy to a concentration in aesthetics—with a particular interest in art criticism, dance, literature and architecture—she claimed that her approach to art could never be anything but philosophical. Gilbert died in Durham, North Carolina, on April 28, 1952.

Catherine Hundleby , M.A. Philosophy, University of Guelph