About the Collection
Thornton Wilder was born in Madison, Wisconsin in 1897. His father, Amos Parker Wilder, was a newspaper editor and a diplomat. Amos' job as a diplomat led the family to such places as Hong Kong and Shanghai during Thorton's early years.
Wilder attended Oberlin College from 1915-1917, where he studied classics. When his family moved to New Haven, Connecticut in 1917, Wilder transferred to Yale, where his first play was published (but not performed). After serving in World War I, studying archaeology in Rome, and teaching French in New Jersey, he received his master's in French Literature at Princeton. In addition to his writing, he lectured and was a visiting professor at various universities. Wilder went on to serve in World War II as well, and earned the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star.
Wilder is best known for his play Our Town, and also for his breakthrough novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey. His other works include The Woman of Andros, The Ides of March, The Skin of Our Teeth, and The Matchmaker (on which the musical Hello, Dolly! was based). He won the Pulitzer Prize three times for Our Town, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, and The Skin of Our Teeth.
Written by Laura Daugherty
Thornton Wilder