Wilbur Lewis Doctor, A Side-Ways View

Exhibit, second floor Library
 May until July, 2002

Journalism Professor Emeritus, Wilbur Lewis Doctor will receive an honorary degree from the University of Rhode Island on May 19, 2002.

To Commemorate this occasion Special Collections will exhibit books donated by Professor Doctor as well as pamphlets printed by Wayside Press.  One of which, "On the Pan"  is reproduced for online viewing.

He began his career with the Newport Daily News  then with the Providence Journal.  He taught a beginning writing and reporting course at the University of Rhode Island as a part time instructor  in 1960.  He returned to the University in 1965 and continued teaching and inspiring future journalists until his retirement in 1983.    During his tenure he edited the 9th edition of the University Manual (1969), served as Assistant Dean, College of Arts and Sciences (1970-1973), and was Chair of the Journalism Department (1977,acting, 1978-1983). 

During his teaching career he instilled the need for integrity and ethics in the profession and served as a confidence builder to many of his young aspiring journalists.

"When I didn't have a lot of self-confidence, Wilbur Doctor, my first--and best--journalism professor, encouraged me to become editor in chief of the student newspaper, The Beacon. He also helped me get a job as a reporter for The Providence Journal. The skills I learned as a journalism student and as a working news reporter made me want to write Rescuing Jeffrey and enabled me to do it well."-Richard Galli for the Spring 2001 Quadangles article by John Pantalone,  "A Life Worth Living"

In addition to teaching, Professor Doctor has a passion for fine letterpress printing. He has run his own private press, the Wayside Press out of his home since his retirement producing many fine letterpress publications including his booklet series, Side-Ways. 

In 2001 he sponsored two Graduate Library School students in an independent study in Fine Letterpress Printing culminating in the production of beautiful specimen pages.

 Professor Doctor is also a book collector.  His substantial collection of Merrymount Press books rivals that of the Providence Public Library.  He has also collected many books about printing many of which he has generously donated to the University of Rhode Island Special Collections.

Photograph courtesy of Nora Lewis, URI photographer
Exhibit curated by Sarina Wyant, Assistant Archivist

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