Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], John Edward Williams Papers, Ms1956-005, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The John Edward Williams Papers were donated to Newman Library in 1956.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement and description of the John Edward Williams Papers commenced and was completed in October 2007.

Biographical Note

John Edward Williams (1867-1943) was a Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) mathematics professor and Dean of the College. He was born in Charlotte County, Virginia on September 17, 1867, to Albert H. and Matilda Berkeley Williams. He graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in 1892, before serving as principal of Boydton High School for two years. From 1894 to 1895, Williams served as assistant principal of Roanoke's Commerce Street School, then returned to Boydton as a private instructor for Col. Thomas F. Goode.

Williams next entered a special course in pure mathematics at the University of Virginia in 1896, obtaining his master's degree in 1899 and doctoral degree in 1902. He served as a mathematics instructor at the university from 1899 until 1903, when he was appointed to the mathematics department at VPI.

In 1924, Williams was named VPI's Dean of the College, a position he held until his death. Williams also served on the State Board of Education and on the Hampden-Sydney Board of Trustees and was a member of several mathematics- and science-related societies. In 1925, Hampden-Sydney conferred upon him an honorary doctorate of laws.

Williams married Sallie Taylor Patton, daughter of Col. William M. Patton, in 1905. The couple had three children. Williams died in Blacksburg on April 19, 1943.

Scope and Content

This collection contains the papers of John Edward Williams, a professor of mathematics (1903-1924) and Dean of the College (1924-1943) at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. The collection contains notes kept by Williams while a graduate student in courses taught by James Morris Page, William H. Echols, and others at the University of Virginia. There are several notebooks devoted to various mathematical problems and solutions, together with texts of a number of Williams' speeches, as well as a small set of printed articles written by Williams, Page, Echols, and others. Williams' diplomas and membership certificates complete the collection.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by document type, then chronologically.

Related Material

See also the Records of the Dean of the College, John E. Williams, RG 11/2, at Virginia Tech Special Collections and University Archives.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Faculty and staff
• University History
• University of Virginia
• Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (1872-1896)
• Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute (1896-1944)

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the John Edward Williams Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ )