Background
O’Connor, William Van was born on January 10, 1915 in Syracuse, New York, United States. Son of Sarsfield and Violet Belle (McKnight) O’C.
O’Connor, William Van was born on January 10, 1915 in Syracuse, New York, United States. Son of Sarsfield and Violet Belle (McKnight) O’C.
Bachelor of Arts, Syracuse University, 1936, Master of Arts, 1937. Doctor of Philosophy, Columbia, 1947.
Staff English department University of Minnesota, 1946-1955, professor, 1955-1962. Professor of English, University of California, Davis, since 1962. Berg. Professor of English and American literature New York University, 1958.
Executive editor American Quarterly, 1949-1951.
Visiting lecturer American literature U. Liege, 1953-1954. Summer visiting professor U. Prize ring (The), University of Southern California, others
Fulbright lecturer, England, 1964-1965.
Served as staff sergeant Army of the United States, 1943-1946. Fellow humanities Rockefeller Foundation, 1946-1947. Member Modern Language Association.
Married Mary Theresa Allen, January 23, 1942. Children: Willa Van, Ellen Lee, Jewett Marion.