Hilda Willett
1923-2013
Hilda Pope Willett was born in 1923 in Decatur, Georgia. She received an AB degree in 1944 from Georgia State College for Women and a Master of Arts degree in 1946 from Duke University. She also attained a PhD in 1949 from Duke in Microbiology and Biochemistry, studying tuberculosis with Dr. David T. Smith, founder of the Infectious Diseases program at Duke. She was one of the first females in the Department of Microbiology and the first person to receive a PhD from the Department.
Dr. Willett continued her career at Duke attaining the following appointments in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology:
- 1948 Instructor
- 1950 Associate
- 1964 Full Professor
- 1971 Chair of the Committee for Graduate Studies
- 1971 Director of Graduate Studies
She continued her career at Duke until her retirement.
Dr. Willett was the author or coauthor of numerous articles and chapters, and served as a contributor or co-editor of Zinsser Microbiology for decades. In 1961, she received the Alumnae Achievement Award from Georgia State College for Women for Distinguished Service in Microbiology.
Dr. Willett died Tuesday, November 12, 2013 in High Point, NC from Parkinson’s Disease.
Interview
This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. Hilda Willett on May 21, 2007 by Jessica Roseberry.