Ann duCille papers (Ms.2016.013)

Biographical / Historical

Ann duCille is Professor of English, Emerita at Wesleyan University who is a scholar of African-American literature, cultural studies, and Black feminist theory. Born in Brooklyn, NY, duCIlle earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bridgewater State College and then a Master's degree and PhD in English from Brown University.

duCille began her career at Hamilton College in 1974 where she and two others became the first three Black women faculty on staff (see folder #2.16 for more information about duCille's experience at Hamilton College). In 1990, duCille joined the faculty of Wesleyan University and later also worked at the University of California, San Diego. In 2016, duCille became the Inaugural Distinguished Professor in Residence for the Black Feminist Theory Project at the Pembroke Center, Brown University. duCille currently serves as an advisor to that project, which is a visiting scholar initiative that invites black feminist theorist to campus each year. She is also a curatorial advisor to the Pembroke Center's Feminist Theory Archive in regard to the papers of black feminist theorists.

duCille's scholarship pertains to African-American literary and cultural studies and investigates popular culture and brand marketing, specifically the ways by which they influence perceptions of and discriminatory practices against races, genders, and identities. She rigorously interrogates concepts of self, otherness, and the American academy. Her publications include The Coupling Convention: Sex,Text, and Tradition in Black Women's Fiction (1993) and Skin Trade (1996).