Traugott Lawler

Who is Traugott Lawler?

Traugott Lawler is a medievalist scholar, expert on William Langland, and an emeritus professor of English at Yale University, where he served as master of Ezra Stiles College and also as a lecturer in religion and literature.

Lawler was educated at the College of the Holy Cross, graduating with a B.A. in 1958, and at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He obtained his doctorate at Harvard University.

His interests include Chaucer, Langland, Dante, medieval Latin, Old English, the history of the English language, paleography and golf.

In 1983 he was a Guggenheim Fellow. From 1986 to 1995 and from 2002 to 2003 he served as Master of Ezra Stiles College. He retired from teaching in 2005, and is preparing, with other scholars, a commentary on the known versions of Piers Plowman.

Under Lawler's watch, Ezra Stiles College at Yale University has had remarkable intramural success. During his first tenure as Master, Stiles won the Tyng Cup in six out of eight years. During his second term of service as Master, Ezra Stiles again won the Tyng Cup and continued to win in two subsequent years under the guidance of Stuart Schwartz.

Traugott is the younger brother of environmental engineer John P. Lawler, founder of Lawler, Matusky, and Skelly Engineers.