Call Number:

Ms. Coll. 1081

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

0.83 linear feet (2 boxes + 1 oversized folder)

Language:

English

Date:

1900-1954 (inclusive)

Creator:

Blancké, Wilton W. (Wilton Wallace)

Form:

Lecture notes, Essays, and Correspondence

Abstract:

The papers of Wilton W. Blancké document his life as an educator and author. A strong, vocal proponent for a foreign language curriculum in public education, Blancké wrote several articles on the subject. He also penned numerous letters to editors of various publications espousing the view that the study of foreign language contributes to an international understanding.

Wilton Wallace Blancké (1884-1949) was born on September 16, 1884 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the only child of Charles, an accountant for the Pennsylvania Railroad, and Ella Rhoades Blancké. Blancké graduated from Central High School in 1901 and was the second prize winner in the school's oratorical contest. He entered the University of Pennsylvania that fall, where he majored in Latin with minors in Greek and Classical Archaeology. Throughout his undergraduate days, Blancké wrote, produced and starred in several plays. He graduated from Penn with an A.B. in 1905, a A.M. in 1906 and a Ph.D. in 1916.

Blancké joined the faculty at Central High School in 1906. He left Central High School in 1922 to become head of the foreign language department at South Philadelphia High School for Boys. In addition to heading the foreign language department, Blancké also taught Latin, French and German. He also taught college courses for teachers at the University of Pennsylvania and served as an advisor to foreign language students at Temple University. Blancké retired from teaching in 1946 but continued to write articles and plays as he had done throughout his adult years.

Blancké married artist Cecil Whittier Trout in August 1908. They had two children, Wilton Wendell Blancké, who later became an American diplomat and author, was born in 1908 and a daughter, Cecil, arrived in 1909. The couple later divorced and Blancké married Josephine Katzenstein in 1924. Blancké died from cancer on February 12, 1949.

This collection contains articles, clippings, typescripts, lecture notes and essays of educator and author, Wilton W. Blancké. A firm believer that foreign language study contributed toward international understanding, Blancké was a vocal proponent for its study to be included in public education and wrote several articles on the subject. Foreign language education was not Blancké's only interest. His other writings reflect those interests and include a hiking guide, plays, and musicals. All material is arranged alphabetically and chronologically thereunder.