Memorial service for former faculty member

A memorial service for Dr. Hilda A. Davis, the first African-American to hold a full-time faculty position at UD, who died Oct. 6, will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 20, in Christ Episcopal Church, Third and Clinton Streets in Delaware City.

Dr. Davis served on the faculty in the Department of English from 1965-70. In addition to UD, she taught in North Carolina, Alabama and New York.

A native of Washington, D.C., Davis received her bachelor’s degree from Howard University in 1925, a master’s degree from Radcliffe College in 1931 and was the first African-American woman to earn a doctorate at the University of Chicago in 1953.

While at UD, Dr. Davis was instrumental in establishing and directing the Writing Center and served on various faculty committees, ranging in focus from racial diversity to educational standards.

Dr. Davis also made a significant contribution in the field of mental health in Delaware as director of research at Governor Bacon Health Center and chief of the medical records division at Delaware State Hospital.

After her retirement from UD Dr. Davis taught at Wilmington College until 1977. In 1986, she was awarded was the University Medal of Distinction and was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Delaware Women.

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