91ÇÑ×Ó

Milton Wolf, director of the library, said the series will be a “forum for speakers who represent the renaissance of ideas under the sun, the synthesis of analysis, the quest for the holy grail of understanding. We want to salute Dr. Dorset Graves as an inspiration to scholarship, civility and the ideal of wisdom.”

Wolf added that all the lectures will be informal explorations/discussions of ideas/thoughts that have stimulated and intrigued the guest speakers. Members of the audience will be invited to participate in the discussions afterwards. Light refreshments will be served.

The title of Graves’ presentation will be “The Pleasures of Finding Out.” Also on the program will be two of his former students, Dr. Mike Cartwright and Dr. Bob McEwen. Both are now veteran members of the Department of Language and Literature faculty at 91ÇÑ×Ó.

Graves was a full-time faculty member at 91ÇÑ×Ó for 32 years before retiring in 1990. He was the department chair for all but the first three years of those years. Since retiring, he has frequently served as an adjunct professor, teaching humanities.

He has long been a voracious reader and probably has utilized the 91ÇÑ×Ó State library more than any one else. He once recalled that while serving in the Navy for three years during World War II he spent many hours reading Shakespeare while aboard troop transport ships that crossed the Pacific Ocean a dozen times.

Following his discharge, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Grinnell College in Iowa. He then took graduate work at Duke University. In 1958, after he had earned his master’s degree and was studying for his doctorate, he received a telegram from Dr. Barton Kline, then the president of 91ÇÑ×Ó State, inviting him to apply to fill a vacancy on the 91ÇÑ×Ó English faculty.

While Graves had never heard of 91ÇÑ×Ó State, he applied, was offered the position and accepted, all in a matter of days. His wife, Meredith, taught English at 91ÇÑ×Ó High for seven years and was the 91ÇÑ×Ó State registrar for 10 years.

Wolf said other speakers in the lecture series this fall will include Dr. Kathy Bahr on Sept. 12, Dr. Lois Veath on Sept. 26, Dr. George Griffith on Oct. 10, Dr. Mike Cartwright on Oct. 24 and Ann Krejci on Nov. 7.