Hollon A. Farr, Ph. D.

Hollon A. Farr,Ph. D., Eta, 1896, Phi Alpha 1939-1940

Hollon A. Farr, Eta, 1896, was born September 2, 1872 in Athol, Worcester, Massachusetts. He died on March 23, 1958 in New Haven, Connecticut.

Dr. Farr was faculty member and administrator at Yale for his entire professional career. Brother Farr was elected to Phi Beta Kappa as an undergraduate and had a philosophical oration at Commencement and received the Scott German Prize as a senior. In 1898, after studying in Germany, he began his career at Yale as a tutor, instructor and assistant professor of German. He received his Ph.D in 1904 and was named Chairman of the Freshman faculty in 1906. He continued in that role until 1920. From 1914-1919, he was Chairman of the committee on
Admissions. In 1920-1921, he was Chairman of the Sophomore Faculty. He was also
registrar of the college in 1921-1922, when someone was on sabbatical. From 1933-
1939, he was a fellow of Trumbull College and an associate fellow from 1939 to his
death in 1958. He was a curator of Yale Memorabilia at the University Library from
1940 to this death and a professor emeritus from 1929 on wards.

During World War I, Farr taught classes in the Yale R.O.T.C and S.A.T.C. He
collaborated with Professor Hewitt at Williams College in issuing a small manual called
“German for the American Soldiers.”

Brother Farr was a long-time supporter of the Eta chapter and its active members at
Yale. In fact, in The Story of Zeta Psi, it is noted that Brother Farr “who as “Toot,” has
been beloved by countless Zetes for his constant devotion and loyalty to the Eta and
Zeta Psi”. He was an active member of the Zeta Psi Club of New York. His papers are
maintained at the Yale Archives.

Shortly after his death, in September 1958, he was posthumously awarded one of the first Zeta Psi Distinguished Service Awards.