Courtesy of University Archives

Paul Witty

Paul A. Witty (dec. 1976) was an emeritus professor of education at Northwestern. In 1964 The International Reading Association acknowledged him as a "gifted and creative educator, clinician, researcher, lecturer, writer," with a Citation of Merit. The association has also established the Paul Witty short Story Awards. This year the award will be given for the first time to an author of an original short story published in a periodical for children.

In 1966 Mr. Witty was universally regarded as one of the leading child psychologists in the country. As a school psychologist, he spearheaded the study and understanding of gifted children, creativity and the effects of television on children. He worked with "Quiz Kids," gifted children who appeared on one of television’s earliest game shows of the same name.

Mr. Witty founded and directed the Psycho-Educational Clinics at the University of Kansas and at Northwestern. Among other books, he authored Helping Children Read Better and Helping the Gifted Child

His work also involved children and literacy. He established a trust fund that supports Witty Fellows, graduate students who work on literacy. This year’s recipient is Malayna Bernstein, a learning sciences Ph.D. student.

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