The Richard D. T. Hollister papers, 1887-1960, document his career as a professor of speech and theater and the development of the Department of Speech and theatrical productions at the University of Michigan. Correspondents include: Thomas E. Black, Marion L. Burton, John R. Effinger, Edward H. Kraus, J. Raleigh Nelson, James M. O'Neill, Theodore Roosevelt, Alexander G. Ruthven, and Thomas C. Trueblood. The Hollister papers are divided into three series; Richard D. T. Hollister, Hollister family and Photographs.
Richard Dennis Teall Hollister, born October 26, 1878, in Green Oak Township, Michigan (near Brighton), graduated from Ann Arbor High School in 1898. He went on to receive an A.B. degree in chemistry and mathematics from the University of Michigan in 1902. In 1903 he received his A.M. degree in Oratory, English and Education, and in 1936 his Ph.D., both from the University of Michigan. While a student, he participated in track and baseball and was president of the Student Christian Association. He was also a member of the Toastmasters Club and the Michigan Schoolmasters Club and was elected to Michigamua.
Hollister was an assistant in oratory during the 1902/1903 school year at the University of Michigan, followed by one year as the head of the Department of Public Speaking at the Michigan Military Academy. He was in charge of oratory during the 1904 summer session at the University of Michigan and made instructor the same year. He was named assistant professor of public speaking in 1912 and associate professor of speech in 1920. Subjects taught over the years included elocution, extempore speaking, debating, study of great orators, forensic masterpieces, Shakespearean reading, interpretative reading, and advanced public speaking. Hollister taught the university's first course in play production in 1915 and directed its first public play ("The Servant in the House"). He remained within the department, later known as the Department of Speech, from 1904 through 1949. During this time he also taught summer session courses at other institutions including the University of California, University of Southern California, Louisiana State University, State University of Iowa, University of Kentucky, and Northwestern University.
In addition to teaching, Hollister organized the Lyceum Club, an organization of advanced students who gave lectures in different towns around the state. He also managed local oratory and debate contests and trained student orators for intercollegiate contests. The climax of this work was a trip with the varsity debate team to England in 1926, in which his protégés won four out of their five debates with representatives of English universities. Hollister also directed amateur plays. In 1905 he spent three months filling a mission pulpit. By 1908 he was back in charge of oratory at the University of Michigan. He also wrote numerous books and articles during his career.
Hollister married Jessie I. Holmes in 1906 (A.B. Michigan 1905). The Hollisters had three children: son Richard and daughters Ruth (A.B. 1931, A.M. 1932) and Marian (Arch. 1937). Professor Hollister died February 4, 1968, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
