1925
Dr. Whitaker is born in Marquette, Michigan to Joe Russell and Sarah Genevieve Whitaker.
1944
Dr. Whitaker joins the U.S. Army.
1949
Dr. Whitaker graduates summa cum laude from Oberlin College, receiving a Bachelor of Arts.
1950
Dr. Whitaker receives a Master of Arts from Yale University.
1952
Dr. Whitaker becomes an English instructor at Oberlin College.
1953
Dr. Whitaker receives a Doctor of Philosophy from Yale University.
1955
Dr. Whitaker is promoted to assistant professor at Oberlin College.
1959
Dr. Whitaker is promoted to associate professor at Oberlin College.
1963
Dr. Whitaker is promoted to full professor at Oberlin College.
1964
Dr. Whitaker becomes a literature teacher ay Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont.
1966
Dr. Whitaker becomes a professor of English at the University of Iowa.
1969
Dr. Whitaker becomes a fellow of the American Council of Learned Societies.
1972
Dr. Whitaker receives the Harbison Award for Gifted Teaching from the Danforth Foundation.
1975
Dr. Whitaker becomes a professor of English at Yale University.
1979
Dr. Whitaker is appointed chairman of the English Department at Yale University.
1981
Dr. Whitaker becomes a fellow of NEH-Huntington.
1986
Dr. Whitaker becomes a professor of theater studies at Yale University.
1989
Dr. Whitaker becomes a Frederick W. Hilles Professor of English at Yale University.
1995
Dr. Whitaker becomes a Frederick W. Hilles Professor Emeritus of English at Yale University.
2017
Dr. Whitaker is honored with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award and is named a Distinguished Humanitarian by Marquis Who’s Who.