Helga Wilde Bessent

Helga Wilde Bessent

April 4, 1926 – May 1, 2026

Helga was born in Neustadt, Upper Silesia (today's Prudnik, Poland), but grew up in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. After attaining the Abitur in Mathematics and Biology from the Herder Lyceum in 1944, she studied at the Goethe University Frankfurt, taking the State Examination in Philology and Methodology, the equivalent of a Ph.D. Her growing interest in American Literature, and a full scholarship brought her to the United States, where she obtained her MA degree from Vanderbilt University.

During her studies at Vanderbilt, she transliterated the historical memoirs of Prof. Geoge Mayfield’s wife, which were published in the Tennessee Historical Review.

After receiving her MA degree in American Literature, she taught German Composition and Literature at Abilene Christian University in Texas. Four years later she left her position of Assistant Professor at Abilene to help establish Northeastern Christian College In Philadelphia, PA, teaching English Composition and German Language and Literature for 2 years, before accepting a position at Duke University in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literature in 1965.

Her academic life at Duke, in addition to teaching, encompassed many administrative endeavors: she was Director of Undergraduate Studies in the German Department for many years, coordinator of the Elementary and advanced German Language programs; and faculty advisor of Delta Phi Alpha, the National German Honor Society. She served as member of the distinguished Executive Committee of Duke University, and various other University Committees. She also worked with Prof. Herman Salinger in the translation of poetry by the Austrian poet Peter Henisch.

As the use of Computers in Universities became a necessity, Helga wrote the database for Duke's first language program, with Prof. Leland Phelps providing financial support from Duke and the Volkswagen Werke in Germany. Prof. Frank Borchart took over the program later, because Helga was involved in organizing the Summer Studies Program Abroad at the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen–Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. She also established a scholarship for students participating in this semester program. The Program continued for 25 years; today, the former scholarship is known as the Helga Wilde Bessent Endowment. In addition to supporting programs of the Department of German, the annual Helga Bessent Award, recognizes instructors who have distinguished themselves in first-year teaching.

After her retirement, Helga edited and computerized the writings of the internationally acclaimed poetess Clotilde Schlayer, for the State Library in Stuttgart, Germany. Involving 6 languages, this endeavor took an entire year.

Helga's interest and involvement with photography resulted in two exhibitions of Thomas Wolfe's Angels in the Asheville Art Museum and Duke University at Wolfe's Centennial. Her article about this project is published in the Fall 2000 issue of Duke University Libraries. Upon her move to The Forest at Duke retirement community in 2012, Helga donated the black and white photographs to their permanent collection, which are on display in the east wing building of their 47-acre campus.

Helga was a member of the N.B. Duke Society, the Heritage Society of Duke University, the Campus Club and Friends of Duke Gardens, Duke Library Patrons, and the Durham Historical Society. She was also a 59-year member of the P.E.O., chapter BD, Durham, North Carolina, founding this local chapter and holding leadership positions for 30 years.

Helga’s move to the retirement community did not hold back her writing or artistic pursuits. She found solace in writing her memoir years of World War II, excitement in capturing the essence and writing about many ‘exceptional women’ she befriended, and holding four campus exhibitions. Her exhibitions were as varied as her interests. For example, a showcase of elephants from a 250-item collection and a showcase of three dozen gift cards made from dried petals, plant materials and feathers, gifted to support a fundraiser. Ever energetic and creative, most recently she found daily inspiration and solitude in the art room with miniature watercolors in 3-by-3 inch format.

Immensely proud of her achievements, Helga leaves us with inspiration. The Lord gave us an exceptional woman. Helga rests with Him.

If her words could, but written by Morgan Harper Nichols:

“and perhaps what made her beautiful was not her appearance or what she achieved, but in her love and in her courage, and her audacity to believe: no matter the darkness around her, Light ran wild within her, and that was the way she came alive, and it showed up in everything.”

A Celebration of Life will be held in Durham, followed later by a Tribute in Frankfurt, Germany.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Duke University’s Sarah P. Duke Gardens, a beloved place of Helga’s. Respectfully, love, Beat Reinhart.