Who was David Bartholomae? American scholar in composition studies dead at 75

David Bartholomae was an American composition scholar, a Professor of English and former head of the Department of English, the University of Pittsburgh.

David attended Ohio Wesleyan University and held a PhD from Rutgers University. He was also known for conducting research in composition, literacy, and pedagogy.

As an essayist, David had many of his write ups in publications such as PMLA, Critical Quarterly, and College Composition and Communication.

David functioned as co-editor of the University of Pittsburgh Press Series in Composition, Literacy, and Culture, and also served on the Executive Council of the Modern Language Association.

He was formerly president of the Conference on College Composition and Communication, as well as the Association of Departments of English.

Some of his published books include “Like What We Imagine: Writing and the University; Writing on the Margins: Essays on Composition and Teaching; The Teaching of Writing: The Eighty fifth Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education; Facts, Artifacts and Counterfacts: Reading and Writing in Theory and Practice.”

David passed away on April 4, 2023, after suffering from head and neck cancer.

He was aged 75.