Davida Teller papers, 1956-2005

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Teller, Davida
Title
Davida Teller papers
Dates
1956-2005 (inclusive)
Quantity
15.87 cubic feet (18 boxes, 1 oversize folder)
Collection Number
2410
Summary
Personal and professional papers of University of Washington Psychology Professor Davida Teller
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users, but access to portions of the papers restricted. Contact repository for details.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Professor of Psychology and affiliate professor of Physiology and Biophysics.

Davida Teller was born in Yonkers, New York in 1938. After graduating from Swarthmore College in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, she entered the University of California, Berkeley for the Psychology PhD. She completed her PhD in 1965 with a dissertation on the influence of borders on increment thresholds. Teller came to the University of Washington that same year.

Since 1983 Teller has been Professor of Psychology and Affiliate Professor of Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Washington. A pioneer in the study of infant vision, Teller is particularly well known for developing the Teller Acuity Cards, a standardized testing system used in pediatric optometry and opthalmology to assess an infant's vision. In addition to visual acuity, Teller extensively studied the development of color vision in infants. She also maintained an interest in the philosophy of perception throughout her career, particularly with regard to perception paradigms and linking propositions.

At the University of Washington, Teller served on the Faculty Senate Special Committee on Faculty Women and on the Task Force on Faculty Personnel Policies and Practice, and was involved in other affirmative action matters. She also took part in the Psychology department's Graduate Training Committee from 1989-1999. Teller headed this committee during its last half, and completely revised the graduate program and course offerings for a more systematic organization.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Correspondence, speeches and writings, research files, videotapes, course files, subject files. Personal papers concern Teller's education, community service, honors, and health. Professional papers include research files, which are predominantly unpublished manuscripts, analysis, and research proposals. Also included are conference files, and files related to her teaching at the University of Washington as well as symposiums and seminars. Teller's work for the Psychology department administration is represented, with a sizable portion concerned with the department's Graduate Training Committee. The papers also include reviews of the writings and research of others, as well as a numerous grant files for her own research.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged into three accessions:

  • Accession No. 2410-001, Davida Teller papers, 1970-1975
  • Accession No. 2410-002, Davida Teller papers, 1975-1989
  • Accession No. 2410-003, Davida Teller papers, 1956-2005

Future Additions

Processing Note

Processing levels vary.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Accession No. 2410-001: Davida Teller papers, 1970-1975Return to Top

2.21 cubic feet (3 boxes)

Scope and Content: Correspondence, speeches and writings, reports, case files, subject series.

Restrictions on Access: Access restricted: For terms of access contact repository.

Acquisition Info: Gift of Davida Teller in 1975.

Processing Info: Mininally processed.

Accession No. 2410-002: Davida Teller papers, circa 1975-1989Return to Top

2 cubic feet (2 boxes)

Scope and Content: Correspondence, reports, and other material.

Restrictions on Access: Access restricted: For terms of access contact repository

Acquisition Info: Source: Cheryl Wilson, 1993.

Processing Info: Minimally processed.

Accession No. 2410-003: Davida Teller papers, 1956-2005Return to Top

11.66 (13 boxes, 1 oversize folder)
Arrangement: Arranged as received

Scope and Content: Correspondence, speeches and writings, research files, videotapes, course files, subject files.

Personal papers concern Teller's education, community service, honors, and health. Professional papers include research files, which are predominantly unpublished manuscripts, analysis, and research proposals. Also included are conference files, and files related to her teaching at the University of Washington as well as symposiums and seminars. Teller's work for the Psychology department administration is represented, with a sizable portion concerned with the department's Graduate Training Committee. The papers also include reviews of the writings and research of others, as well as a numerous grant files for her own research.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users, but access to portions of the papers restricted. Contact repository for details.

Acquisition Info: Gift of Davida Teller in 2006.

Processing Info: Minimally processed.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Old correspondence
1987-1993
1
PhD thesis and transcript
1956-1965
1
Faculty related files
Scope and Content: Includes salary sheets, faculty activity analysis, and curriculum vita
1968-1995
1
Sabbaticals
1980-2000
1
Job offers
1985-1997
1
Local service
1983-1994
1
National and international service
1976-2001
2
Invitations and awards
1991-1999
2
Disability
2002-2003
2
Research files
Arrangement: Files are arranged chronologically
Box
2
Introspection
1959
2
Laws of binocular brightness
1966
2
Pressure blindness
1967
2
Optical development
1975
2
Calibrations
1978
2
Statistical properties of forced choice psychometric functions
1979-1983
2
Allen Gaston
1980
2
Preferential looking paradigms
2003
2
Bite bar design
undated
2
Sensitization
undated
13
Speeches and presentations
1970-2003
2-4
Conference files
Scope and Content: May include Teller presentations
1965-2003
4
Teaching files for seminars and symposiums
1976-2003
4-5
Course files and lecture notes
1966, 1983-1999
5
Teaching assessment files
1972-2001
5
Lab handbook
2002
5
Course lecture videos
Scope and Content: 32 VHS tapes
1994-1998
6
Psychology department and University of Washington administration files
1990-2002
6-7
Psychology deprartment graduate training committee files
Restrictions on Access: Box 7 restricted; contains student records
1995-2005
Grant files
Box
8
Infant color vision
1999-2005
8
Infant spectral sensitivity
1981-1999
8
Dimensionalization of color vision
1987-1993
8-9
Psychophysical studies of infant vision
1981-1995
9
Vision in human infants
1976-1985
9
Vision in infant monkeys
1975-1980
9
Visual increment thresholds
1975-1980
9
Clinical assessment
1984-1987
10
Miscellaneous
1973-2003
Box
11
Reviews
1997-2000
11
Reviews by Teller
1992
11
Reprints of Teller
1965-2005
12
Acuity cards files
1985-2003
12
Infant studies subject pool files
1995-1999
12
Human subjects and infant testing files
1979-2000
VF:oversize
84
Demonstration instrument for Craik-OBrien-Cornsweet effect
circa 1964

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • University Archives/Faculty Papers (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Teller, Davida--Archives

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • University of Washington. University Archives