Elizabeth Freeman has passed away suddenly. She was confirmed dead on Monday, June 3, 2024 following recently publications announcing her death. She died leaving many hearts scarred after learning of her sudden death. Since the news of her death surfaced, many have not hesitated to share their heartfelt condolences with the family of Elizabeth Freeman, also paying tribute to her. Professor Freeman taught English at the University of California, Davis. After earning her doctorate from the University of Chicago, she began her teaching career at Sarah Lawrence College.
- Elizabeth Freeman Center
Who was Elizabeth Freeman?
Freeman is the author of Time Binds (2010), The Wedding Complex (2002), Beside You in Time (2019), which was a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award, and Queer Kinship (2022), co-edited with Teagan Bradway. From 2011 to 2017, she co-edited our publication GLQ. Queer Temporalities (GLQ 13:2-3, 2007) and Crip Temporalities (SAQ 120:2, 2021) are two journal special issues that she co-edited. The greatest essay published in American literature in 2014 was awarded the Norman Foerster Prize to her paper, “Sacra/Mentality in Djuna Barnes’s Nightwood.” She was a friend of the Press and published in numerous other magazines. She also performed numerous peer reviews.
“Beth was brilliant and kind and funny, a perfect friend, author, and colleague in every way. We met when we were both starting out. I hadn’t been an editor for long and she was the graduate student on an MLA panel that included Lauren Berlant and other big name queer theorists of the time. Over the years we shared ideas, gossip, and friendship, working on her books. This is a truly devastating loss. My heart goes out to all her friends, her partner Candace Moore, and her son, Felix.” – Senior Executive Editor Ken Wissoker said
Cancer Journey
Freeman took the effort to ask her friends to get suggested colonoscopies and blood donations on Facebook while she battled cancer. Her friends, colleagues, and students—many of whom are also authors for Duke University Press—have been showering her with parting messages and accolades over the past few days. We are praying for her family and everyone who loved her.
