Dr. Jan Alan Nelson, UA Professor Emeritus, Dies

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Dr. Jan Alan Nelson, University of Alabama professor emeritus, died Feb. 11 at his home in Cottondale.

Nelson, who served in the UA department of romance Languages and classics for 27 years, began teaching at UA in 1967 as an associate professor and was named professor in 1973. He served as department chairman and directed a number of doctoral students, as well as serving on numerous University committees.

He retired from the University in 1994 and was named Professor Emeritus of Romance Languages and Classics. After retirement, he did continue to teach part time.

During his academic career, Nelson worked for some 38 years on a major academic work called the Old French Crusade Cycle Project, begun in 1965 with co-editor Emanuel J. Mickel of Indiana University.

Volume IV in the 11-volume set was “La Chanson d’Antioche,” edited by Nelson. This was the final volume to be published in the series (they were not published in numerical order) and represents the culmination of a monumental “philological adventure,” Nelson had written in his author’s acknowledgements page in the volume. The text, comprised of 11,407 verses, is in Old French, with accompanying critical matter in English.

The University of Alabama Press published all volumes in the series of medieval French epic texts. The project has been valuable to a wide range of academic areas, including the literatures of Old French, Old Spanish, Medieval German and Middle English, as well as folklore, history and linguistics.

Nelson received his bachelor’s degree from the University of the South in 1960, graduating with honors. He attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill to earn his master’s and doctoral degrees in 1962 and 1964. He taught at the University of Iowa from 1964-1967 before coming to UA.

Nelson was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in regular, enlisted active duty and also in active reserve. He was honorably discharged in 1961.

Nelson is survived by his wife and two sons. He was 68.