Author Madeline Doran (1905-1996) received her B.A. from Stanford University and a M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. She taught at Wellesley College and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she served as the Ruth C. Wallerstein Professor of English Literature. She received many awards throughout her lifetime and was active in numerous organizations which reflected both her professional and outside interests, which included libraries and environmental issues.