Schramm, Wilbur (1907–1987)

Wilbur Schramm founded communication study at the University of Iowa (1943), the University of Illinois (1947), and Stanford University (1955). He established communication research institutes at these universities and launched doctoral programs in communication studies. Unlike other forerunners in the field, Schramm did not return to his previous discipline once he had established and contributed to communication studies.

Schramm received a B.A. from Marietta College in 1928, an M.A. in American civilization from Harvard University in 1930, and a Ph.D. in American literature from the University of Iowa in 1932. He worked as a reporter, desk editor, correspondent, and associated press member in his early 20s. Throughout his professional and academic life, Schramm wrote fiction and poetry and worked as an administrator in many academic capacities. ...