Wrenn, C. Gilbert (Charles Gilbert), 1902-

C. Gilbert Wrenn was born in New Paris, Ohio on April 2, 1902. He received his bachelor of arts degree in 1926 from Willamette University and both his master's degree and doctoral degree in psychology from Stanford University in 1929 and 1932 respectively. He worked as a visiting professor during the summers of 1929 and 1931 at the University of Oregon and accepted a faculty position at Stanford in 1932 following graduation. Wrenn remained at Stanford until 1936 at which time he accepted a full-time faculty position at the University of Minnesota. During WWII Wrenn joined the Navy and served until 1945. He retired from the University of Minnesota in 1964 and accepted another teaching position at Arizona State University where he stayed until he retired permanently in 1970. Wrenn died December 28, 2001. Wrenn is best known for his work in counseling psychology. He was elected president of the American Psychological Association's Division of Counseling and Guidance (later the Division of Counseling Psychology) in 1950. He was one of three founders of the Journal of Counseling Psychology in 1954 and served as the journal's first editor for its initial ten years of publication. He authored or edited over 400 books, book chapters, and professional articles. Throughout his career and into retirement Wrenn served as a visiting professor and guest lecturer at numerous universities including Colorado State University, the University of Chicago, William and Mary College, the University of Southern California, the University of Hawaii, the University of Nevada, The University of Denver, and North Dakota State University. He was the recipient of an honorary doctorate from Willamette University in 1952 and was a Fulbright Distinguished Scholar in England from 1965-1966. In 1976 Wrenn and his wife Kathleen personally endowed the Gilbert and Kathleen Wrenn Award for "Counselor of the Year" with a $1,000 honorarium to accompany the award.

From the guide to the Charles Gilbert Wrenn papers, 1942-2002, (Center for the History of Psychology)