THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT
Toni Morrison
February 18, 1931 – August 5, 2019
“We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives.” – Nobel Prize acceptance speech, 1993
Chloe Anthony Wofford Morrison, recognized as one of the most influential writers in American literary history. Novelist, children’s writer, playwright, editor, professor. Taught English, Texas Southern University, Houston, 1955-1957, Howard University until 1966. First Black female editor in fiction, Random House, New York City, late 1960s, a position she held for 20 years. Author of 11 novels as well as children’s books and essay collections. Writings have contributed to the ideology of Black feminism. First African-American woman to win Nobel Prize in Literature, 1993. Joined faculty of Princeton, Robert F. Goheen Chair, taught courses in humanities and African-American studies, member of creative writing program, 1989. Emeritus status, 2006. Professor-at-Large at Cornell University, 1997 – 2003.


Photo 1. Toni Morrison, 1970. Photo 2. Toni Morrison receiving Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2012.

More About Toni:
- Obituary, The New York Times
- “How Black Feminist Scholars Remember Toni Morrison in the Classroom,” Ms. Magazine
- The Official Website of The Toni Morrison Society
- Toni Morrison appears on Postal Services latest Forever Stamp, March 2023
- Select Interviews/Videos
- “A Conversation with Toni Morrison,” National Endowment for the Arts
- The top five interviews with Toni Morrison, The Journalist
- In Depth with Toni Morrison, C-SPAN.org
- The Life of Toni Morrison documentary (2015)
- Toni Morrison: ‘I regret everything’, 2015 interview, NPR, Fresh Air
- Toni Morrison interview on her Life and Career, 1990
- Toni Morrison on writing Beloved, 1987 interview, NPR, Fresh Air
- The Papers of Toni Morrison, Princeton University Library Special Collections
- Toni Morrison, Wikipedia
- Cited in Barbara Love’s book, Feminists Who Changed America, 1963 – 1975, page 325