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E. Paul Torrance photographic archive [TEMP]
Collection Description
Historical Note
Ellis Paul 
Torrance 
was born on October 8, 1915 and died on July 12, 2003. He was a renown American psychologist and educator. World War II interrupted Torrance's teaching career, but he continud his work in a position with the U.S. Army as a counselor for disabled veterans. Torrance taught from 1957 to 1984 at the University of Minnesota and the University of Georgia. He became a professor at UGA in Eduational Psychology in 1966 and retired fully in 1984, the same year that UGA established the Torrance Center for Creativity and Talent Development. He had been the head of the Educational Psychology Dept. at the University of Georgia from 1966 to 1978. E. Paul Torrance was incredibly well-written and his work was widely published: he had a total of 1,871 publications, including 88 books, 408 journal articles, and 538 reports, manuals, and tests, making him one of the most published faculty members in UGA's history.
Notably, E. Paul Torrance developed the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking, which test creativity using simple trials based on fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration. These have often been used in admission into gifted programs, especially in Georgia. The tests are particularly well-regarded because they appear relatively free of racial or socioeconomic bias, and teachers often find them easy to administer and score.
Torrance also created the Future Problem Solving Program, which has now expanded internationally. According to their website, the organization "stimulates critical and creative thinking skills, encourages students to develop a vision for the future, and prepares students for leadership roles."
Scope and Content
This collection consists of 108 scrapbook photo albums ranging from the mid-1940s to mid-1990s. They revolve around the personal and professional life of E. Paul Torrance . His wife, Pansy Torrance , and many of his colleagues and students feature prominently in the collection. Similarly, the Torrance family pet cats are also well-represented through the years. However, a significant part of the collection focuses on E. Paul Torrance's work in academia, especially after his retirement from the University of Georgia. The albums contain images from Athens, Georgia; Minnesota; Taiwan; Japan; Germany; and India, among several others.
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
E. Paul Torrance photographic archive, ms 2606, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.
Finding Aid Publication
Finding aid prepared on: 2010 May 24.
Related Materials and Subjects
Subject Terms
Related Collections in this Repository
Related collections in this repository: E. Paul Torrance papers, ms2344; E. Paul Torrance creativity testing collection, m2372; E. Paul Torrance thesis and dissertations, ms2378; E. Paul Torrance artifacts and personal papers, ms3723.