Dr. Leon A. Wilber Collection
Form of Material
Publications produced by Dr. Leon Wilber.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1939-1987
Conditions Governing Access
Noncirculating; available for research.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).
Biographical / Historical
Leon Austin Wilber was born in Weatherford, Oklahoma, in 1905 when the state was still a territory. His father was and educator, but the family moved often. Missouri, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Colorado and Michigan . These were all places that Leon lived and was educated. He graduated from high school in Boulder, Colorado, and took one year at the University of Colorado. His higher education was interruted by his father's move to Michigan and Leon went one year to the Michigan State Normal School and transferred to the University of Michigan. He received his Bachelor's degree as a high school teacher from the University of Michigan in 1927, and began his career as an educator in Mount Clemmens, Michigan. Subsquently he attained both a Master's degree and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.
In 1929, Leon Wilber accepted a position at the Universiy High School, in Oxford, Mississippi, which was a teacher's training high school. He taught there until he accepted a comission in the army in 1942 and served until 1946. He served in the European Theater of Operations and was in Belgium during the great Battle of the Bulge. He was stationed in England, Belgium, France, and Germany, attattained the rank of Captain when discharged.
After returning to civilian life, Dr. Wilber accepted a professoral position at the then Mississippi Southern College (now the University of Southern Mississippi). He taught at Southern from 1946 until retirement at the age of 70, in 1975. He moved up through the ranks to full professor. He also served as department chair, and for several years was chairman of the Department of Political Science. Dr. Leon A. Wilber was designated "Distinguised University Professor", a position of special honor, in 1970. Under university rules no more than five active professors can be so designated.
Upon retirement, Dr. Wilber became professor emeritus of Political Science.
Dr. Leon Austin Wilber died on May 8, 1982 in Hattiesburg and buried in Highland Cemetery.
He was married to former Dean of Women, Ivah Edith Ostrander wilber.
Extent
2 Cubic Feet (total) : 302A.B15.L6
Language of Materials
English
Provenance
Mrs. Pauline Stout and the Estate of Dr. Leon A. Wilber on January 5, 1983.
- Title
- Dr. Leon A. Wilber Collection
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Historical Manuscripts and Photographs Repository
118 College Drive - 5148
Hattiesburg MS 39406-0001
601.266.4345
