Dwight Hillis Wilson facts for kids
Dwight Hillis Wilson Sr. (born October 18, 1909 – died March 27, 1962) was an American expert who worked with old records, studied history, and taught students. He made history as the very first archivist at Fisk University. An archivist is like a detective for history, collecting and keeping important documents and records safe for future generations to learn from.
Early Life and Family
Dwight Hillis Wilson Sr. was born on October 18, 1909, in Raleigh, North Carolina. His father was a Methodist minister, which means he was a religious leader. His father was born in South Carolina, and his mother came from Pennsylvania.
Later in his life, on June 12, 1935, Dwight Wilson married Gheretein Ridgeley in Washington, D.C.. They had one son together, named Dwight Hillis Wilson Jr.
A Life of Learning
Mr. Wilson loved to learn! He earned degrees from several colleges: Kittrell College, Shaw University, and Howard College (which is now called Howard University). For his master's degree, he wrote a special paper about a poet named Shelley and how he was a "Revolutionist."
He also received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Allen University in 1939. This kind of degree is given to people who have achieved great things. On May 9, 1931, Dwight Wilson joined the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, which is a brotherhood organization, along with eight other new members.
His Amazing Career
After finishing his studies, Dwight Wilson started teaching. He taught at Morris Brown College from 1935 to 1936. After that, he became the very first archivist at Fisk University. This was a very important job, as he was in charge of organizing and preserving the university's historical documents.
After World War II, Mr. Wilson worked with the Allied Force Records Administration in Italy. His colleague, Ken Manden, remembered that Mr. Wilson was very brave and always stood up for himself. This was a big deal for an archivist, especially for an African American person at that time, facing difficult situations.
Mr. Wilson was also a very important member of the Society of American Archivists. This is a group for people who work with archives. He was the leader of the Committee on College and University Archives. He was the first African American person to lead a committee in this important organization. In 1949, he received an award from the National Urban League for his "outstanding achievement in archival work."
Dwight Wilson also wrote many articles for books and journals, especially for a magazine called The American Archivist. One of his most famous articles was "No Ivory Tower: The Administration of a College or University Archives," which was published in 1952. It talked about how college archives should be managed.
His Legacy
Dwight Hillis Wilson Sr. passed away on March 27, 1962, in Washington, D.C., due to an illness he had since he was a child. He was buried there three days later.
After he died, his wife, Gheretein, wrote a small book about him. She said that Mr. Wilson "opened up new dimensions of mind and spirit for many people." This means he helped many people think in new ways and grow as individuals. She also mentioned that he was just as proud of a strong letter he wrote to stop a dog pound from being built where a school was planned, as he was of any poem or article he wrote. This shows he cared deeply about his community and important causes.
