Wright, Celeste Turner

Celeste Turner Wright was born in New Brunswick, Canada on March 17, 1906 and moved with her family to Pasadena, California in 1918. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles and earned a master's degree and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. Wright, who came to the University Farm (now the University of California, Davis) in 1928, chaired the Division of English (1928-1934), the Division of Languages and Literature (1934-1952), and the Department of English, Dramatic Art and Speech (1952-1955). During that time she also taught English, Latin, German, and drama. She retired in 1979. Professor Wright achieved many firsts during her time at Davis: she was the first woman with a Ph.D. to become a faculty member, the first woman to be tenured, the first drama instructor, and the first humanities professor to be honored as Faculty Research Lecturer. In addition to publishing many individual poems in poetry journals, she also published three books of her own poetry, "Etruscan Princess and Other Poems" (1964), "A Sense of Place" (1973), and "Seasoned Timber" (1977). The UC Davis Dramatic Arts Building was named Celeste Turner Wright Hall on October 9, 1997. Wright passed away on September 16, 1999.

From the description of Celeste Turner Wright papers, 1921-1994. (University of California, Davis). WorldCat record id: 43596866

Biography

Celeste Turner Wright was born in New Brunswick, Canada on March 17, 1906 and moved with her family to Pasadena, California in 1918. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles and earned a master's degree and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.

Wright, who came to the University Farm (now the University of California, Davis) in 1928, chaired the Division of English (1928-1934), the Division of Languages and Literature (1934-1952), and the Department of English, Dramatic Art and Speech (1952-1955). During that time she also taught English, Latin, German, and drama. She retired in 1979.

Professor Wright achieved many firsts during her time at Davis: she was the first woman with a Ph.D. to become a faculty member, the first woman to be tenured, the first drama instructor, and the first humanities professor to be honored as Faculty Research Lecturer.

In addition to publishing many individual poems in poetry journals, she also published three books of her own poetry, Etruscan Princess and Other Poems (1964), A Sense of Place (1973), and Seasoned Timber (1977).

The UC Davis Dramatic Arts Building was named Celeste Turner Wright Hall on October 9, 1997. Wright passed away on September 16, 1999.

Source:

Morris, Linda, Hays, Peter, and Osborn, Marijane. "Celeste Turner Wright." In Memoriam. [Berkeley, Calif.: Academic Senate], 1999.

From the guide to the Celeste Turner Wright Papers, 1921-1994, (University of California, Davis. General Library. Dept. of Special Collections.)