Dr. Ashleigh Brilliant was born December 9, 1933 in London, England. He came to the US in 1956 and became a naturalized citizen in 1969. Dr. Brilliant received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1964 and arrived at Central Oregon College in September, 1964 as an Assistant Professor of History. In October of 1964, he formed the Parnassus Society, an informal group that met to share an appreciation of art, music and history. Due to controversy generated by the Parnassus Society and, in particular, the playing of a recording of Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl,” Dr. Brilliant’s contract was not renewed at the end of the 1964-65 school year. From 1965-1967, he was a Professor of History at Chapman College, Floating Campus Division (later known as the Semester at Sea program). In 1967, Dr. Brilliant settled in San Francisco and started Brilliant Enterprises, the company through which he produces epigrammatic “Pot-Shots” postcards and related products, including the “Brilliant Thoughts” series of books.
From the guide to the Ashleigh Brilliant Papers, 1964-2002, (Barber Library)
