Papers of Thomas J. Wilson

Thomas James Wilson (1902-1969) was Director of the Harvard University Press from 1947 to 1967. Under Wilson's leadership, the Harvard University Press expanded its staff and net income, more than doubled its production of new titles, and evolved into one of the most noted publishing enterprises in the United States.

Born and raised in North Carolina, Wilson attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, receiving an A.B. in 1921 and an A.M. in 1924. A Rhodes Scholar, Wilson recieved the D. Phil. from Oxford University in 1928. In 1930, Wilson began working in commercial publishing, serving as the foreign language editor and later vice-president of Henry Holt and Company before moving to Reynal and Hitchcock where he was head of the college department and vice-president.

After serving in the United States Navy during World War II, Wilson returned to North Carolina and became director of the University of North Carolina Press. In 1947, Wilson was named director of the Harvard University Press, a positiion which he held until his retirement in 1967. Beyond his tenure at the Harvard University Press, Wilson was a founding member and board chairman of Franklin Publications, now Franklin Book Programs, a nonprofit organization with governmental and foundational support,which made American books available through indigenous publication in Asia. Wilson also served two terms on the U.S. Government Advisory Commission on International Book Programs in the 1960s.

Wilson was marrried twice; his first wife was Dorothy Stearns. His second marriage was to Phoebe de Kay Rous Donald. Wilson died in 1969.