Finding Aid
Elizabeth Steele Papers, 1972 to 1990
UM-71
Size: .5 linear feet
Provenance: Elizabeth Steele, May 30th, 1991
Access:Open
Related Collections:
Processing Note:
Condition: Good
Copyright: The literary rights to this collection are assumed to rest with the person(s) responsible for the production of the particular items within the collection, or with their heirs or assigns. Researchers bear full legal responsibility for the acquisition to publish from any part of said collection per Title 17, United States Code. The Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections may reserve the right to intervene as intermediary at its own discretion.
Completed by: Karen D. Adinolfi, January 13th, 1992
Historical/Biographical Sketch
A native of Indianapolis, Elizabeth Steele began her long career in academia in 1944 when she received her B.A. magna cum laude in English and her Spanish from Butler University. She went on to receive her M.A. in InterAmerican Studies from the University of New Mexico in 1950 and a Ph.D. in English from Bowling Green State University in 1967.
Teaching was long a part of Dr. Steele’s career. She taught English and Spanish at Ottawa Hills High School from 1957 to 1962 and English at the Instituto Chileno-Norteamericano, Santiago in 1952. She joined the English Department at the University of Toledo in 1968. Her research specialty was Virginia Woolf and she also has done work about the transitional development of English fiction in the twentieth century.
Much research and scholarly writing came out of her career. She wrote plays (WAITING TABLES, VIRGINIA WOOLF AND COMPANIONS), articles (“A Change of Villains: Hugh Walpole, Henry James, and Arnold Bennett”), book reviews, scholarly papers, and books. Dr. Steele received numerous grants, including one in 1975 for a project entitles “Virginia Woolf as Literary Critic”.
Dr. Steele involved herself in numerous activities, both on campus and off. She served as editor of the English Department newsletter and as chairman of library acquisitions for the department. She served on the University Women’s Studies Committee, Toledo Museum of Art Committee, the University Beautification Committee (which led to the building of Centennial Mall), the English Association of Northwest Ohio (of which she served as president), the Modern Language Association, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Chi Omega, and Sigma Tau Delta (English honorary). Dr. Steele retired as professor in 1981 with emerita status but continued to be active in research.
Scope and Content Note
Collection contains papers documenting Steele’s activities on various university committees, including the University Beautification Committee, the Art Museum Committee, the Arts and Sciences Council’s Committee on Women’s Studies, and the UT Women’s Organization.
Folder List
Box |
Folder |
Item Description |
1 |
1 |
Women’s Caucus, 1972-1979 |
1 |
2 |
Women’s Studies, printed material |
1 |
3 |
Rare Books for English Department, 1973 |
1 |
4 |
University Women’s Commission- Harassment, 1987-1990 |
1 |
5 |
Student Handbook Committee 1988 |
1 |
6 |
Writing Committee for College of Education 1984 |
1 |
7 |
Art Museum Committee, 1979-1981 |
1 |
8 |
English Department Book Buying, 1974 |
1 |
9 |
University Beautification 1977-1981 |