{{Short description|American Educator and Speech Psychologist}}
{{Infobox scientist | name = Lee Edward Travis | image = | image_size = | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date|1896|6|23|mf=y}} | birth_place = Chase County, Nebraska, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1987|10|10|1896|6|23|mf=y}} | death_place = Encino, California, U.S. | fields = Psychology | workplaces = University of Iowa<br/>University of Southern California<br/>Fuller Seminary | alma_mater = University of Iowa | thesis_title = An Objective Measurement of Suggestibility & Negativism by Means of Subliminal Sensory Stimuli; A Study in Clinical Psychology - Masters' Thesis | thesis_url = https://iro.uiowa.edu/esploro/outputs/graduate/An-objective-measurement-of-suggestibility/9983777009302771?institution=01IOWA_INST | thesis_year = 1923 | doctoral_advisors = Carl Seashore | doctoral_students = George Kelly<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=George |date=1931 |title=Common Factors in Reading and Speech Disabilities - PhD Dissertation |url=https://iro.uiowa.edu/esploro/outputs/doctoral/9983776710102771 |access-date=3 Jan 2024 |publisher=University of Iowa}}</ref><br>Wendell Johnson<ref name = aw/><br>Donald B. Lindsley<ref name = dn/> | known_for = Speech pathology | awards = Fellow of the American Psychological Association<ref name = pi/> }} '''Lee Edward Travis''' (June 23, 1896, Nebraska – October 10, 1987)<ref name="obituary">{{cite news |title=Obituary for Lee Edward Travis |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/iowa-city-press-citizen-obituary-for-lee/133476615/ |access-date=15 October 2023 |work=Iowa City Press-Citizen |date=13 October 1987 |pages=12}} {{Open access}}</ref> was one of the founding fathers of speech pathology in America.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duchan |first=J F |date=2023 |title=Lee Edward Travis (1896-1987) |url=https://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~duchan/history_subpages/leeedwardtravis.html#:~:text=1896%2D1987,at%20the%20University%20of%20Iowa. |access-date=14 Oct 2023 |website=A History of Speech - Language Pathology}}</ref>
== Life == Travis was born June 23, 1896, on a farm in Chase County, Nebraska,<ref name="obituary" /> and raised near Champion, Nebraska.<ref name = dn/> He was the second of thirteen children born to Charles Edward Travis and Mary Eunice Speer Travis.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bennett-Kastor |first=Tina |title=My Grandpa Lee |url=https://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~duchan/history_subpages/kastor_on_travis.html |date=24 Jul 2002 |access-date=6 Jan 2024 |website=Judy Duchan, University of Buffalo}}</ref>
He attended Graceland College for three years<ref name = obituary/> before transferring to the University of Iowa and obtaining his BA in 1922 and his MA in 1923, both in psychology.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dr. Lee Edward Travis |url=https://ashaarchives.omeka.net/exhibits/show/founding/travis |access-date=14 Oct 2023 |website=ASHA Archives}}</ref> While a student, he became a member of Sigma Pi fraternity and Phi Beta Kappa honor society.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=July 1923|volume=10|number=2|magazine=The Emerald of Sigma Pi|title=Elected to Phi Beta Kappa|page=127|url=https://greek.historyit.com/sigma_pi/reader.php?id=105 | access-date = January 2, 2024}}</ref> He finished his PhD in 1924 and was one of the first people in the world to receive a doctorate based on the new field of speech pathology.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Communication Sciences and Disorders |url=https://csd.uiowa.edu/history |access-date=4 Jan 2024 |website=University of Iowa, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences}}</ref>
When his studies were completed, he taught at the University of Iowa where he became head of the defective speech clinic.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Weaver|first=Paul G.|date=November 1927|volume=14|number=3|magazine=The Emerald of Sigma Pi|title=Xi Makes a Good Start|page=273|url=https://greek.historyit.com/sigma_pi/reader.php?id=82 | access-date = January 2, 2024}}</ref> Travis was one of the original 25 charter members for what is now known as the American Speech–Language–Hearing Association.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Duchan |first1=J F |last2=Hewitt |first2=L E |date=2023 |title=ASHA charter members' responses to their times |url=https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.22213738.v1 |journal=ASHA Journals|doi=10.23641/asha.22213738.v1 }}</ref> The organization was founded in Travis' home after he held a dinner party for attendees of a University of Iowa sponsored conference on speech in 1925.<ref name = aw>{{Cite web |last=Heath |first=Mona |title=New ASHA Virtual Exhibit Features Early Pioneers |url=https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/new-asha-virtual-exhibit-features-early-pioneers/full/ |date=October 3, 2019 |access-date=4 Jan 2024 |website=ASHA Wire}}</ref> He would later serve as the organization's president.<ref name = pi/>
He was appointed as the head of the department of psychology in July 1937 but resigned without reason a few months later in January 1938.<ref>{{cite news |title=U. of Iowa Professor Quit Post |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-u-of-iowa-professor-qui/133476858/ |access-date=15 October 2023 |work=Quad-City Times |date=28 January 1938 |page=4 |location=Davenport, Iowa}} {{Open access}}</ref> He went on to teach at the University of Southern California (USC). He took a break from teaching during World War II to serve in the USAAF Medical Corp. As a lieutenant colonel, he was in charge of the psychological services of several hospitals in the European theater.<ref name = dn>{{cite news |title=Memorial Services Will Be Held Today for Lee Edward Travis |work=Daily News of Los Angeles |date=October 18, 1987 |location=Los Angeles, California}}</ref>
He retired from USC in 1965. That year he became the first dean of the Psychology Department at Fuller Seminary.<ref name = pi>{{cite news |title=Seminary to Inaugurate Psychology School Dean |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pasadena-independent-seminary-to-inaugur/133476888/ |access-date=15 October 2023 |work=Pasadena Independent |date=4 December 1965 |page=4 |location=Pasadena, California}} {{Open access}}</ref> He retired from that position in 1975. The Travis Research Institute at Fuller is named for him.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Travis Research Institute |url=https://www.fuller.edu/academics/school-of-psychology/travis-research-institute/history/ |access-date=5 Jan 2024 |website=Fuller Seminary}}</ref>
He had many prolific writings and editing, most notably his editorial work for ''Handbook of Speech Pathology'' in 1957, which is still referenced. He is most known for his work in the field of stuttering.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Travis |first=L E |title=Handbook of Speech Pathology |publisher=Appleton-Century-Crofts |year=1957 |location=NY}}</ref>
He died October 10, 1987, aged 91, at his home in Encino, Los Angeles. His funeral was held at the Bel Air Presbyterian Church, where he was an elder.<ref name="obituary" /><ref name =pi/>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Travis, Lee Edward}} Category:1896 births Category:1987 deaths Category:People from Chase County, Nebraska Category:Educators from Los Angeles Category:Health professionals from Los Angeles Category:University of Iowa people Category:American Presbyterians Category:20th-century American psychologists Category:Speech and language pathologists Category:Fuller Theological Seminary faculty Category:American military personnel of World War II Category:United States Army Air Forces colonels Category:Sigma Pi members