Lorraine Sherley Papers, 1953-1979.

Lorraine Sherley was a professor of English at Texas Christian University from 1927 through 1971.  Originally from Anna, TX, she returned to her home town after receiving her B.A. from TCU in 1923 and worked as a high school teacher and principal.  Upon completing her M.A. at the University of Texas in 1927, Sherley joined the faculty of TCU's English Department. 

In addition to pursuing graduate studies at Harvard University and the University of California at Los Angeles, Sherley spent 1954 and 1955 researching abroad at the University of Birmingham in Stratford-upon-Avon, England.  Under the direction of Professor Allardyce Nicoll of the Shakespeare Institute, Sherley collected dozens of portraits of Queen Elizabeth I of England for her doctoral thesis.  On her return to Texas in late 1955, Sherley continued working on her thesis, though it appears she never published the manuscript.  In 1963, Roy Strong published a catalogue of portraits of Queen Elizabeth.  Strong's book and correspondence between Sherley and Strong are part of Sherley's papers.

Sherley continued teaching at TCU and made quite an impression on students.  She taught courses in over a dozen art history subjects and was active in campus life.  In 1965, she received the Minnie Stevens Piper Award, an honor extended to outstanding professors.  From 1966 until her retirement in 1971 she served as the Addie Levy Professor of Literature in TCU's English Department.  Upon her retirement in 1971, TCU conferred on her the honorary Doctor of Letters.  Sherley published numerous book reviews and adapted stories for dramatic performances.  She was active in Fort Worth's humanitarian, civic, and cultural life.  She died of a heart attack on 29 February, 1984.