Edmund G. Williamson papers

This collection consists of the personal and professional papers of Edmund Griffith Williamson. The correspondence files (Boxes 1 and 2), were originally organized in both chronological and alphabetical order. Correspondence regarding Williamson's job situation is especially interesting because some insight can be gleaned as to the politics at the University during the 1930s and 1940s. These files also reflect Williamson's personal and professional dissatisfaction at the University during these years and his ultimate decision to remain here.

Williamson took many trips relating to his career (Box 3). Perhaps the most interesting was a three month trip to Germany in 1946. He describes his impressions of post World War II Germany in detail. Correspondence from his colleagues and family back home give insights into his family, personal life and the day to day routine of the Dean of Students Office. Also of note is his trip to Japan as a Fulbright Scholar in 1956. These folders contain considerable correspondence with Japanese acquaintances and colleagues that continued for years.

Williamson served on several committees, most notably the Advisory Committee on Counseling in Vocational Rehabilitation and Education of the Veterans Administration, from 1946-1969, when he retired. He also served with the American College Personnel Association from 1941-1954 and was president in 1944-1945 (Box 2).

Family and personal correspondence includes letters to and from various relatives. Folders regarding his children contain mostly childhood memorabilia and correspondence. (See also family correspondence in the Trips portion of the Collection.) Quite a bit of correspondence to and from Williamson's son Bud, can be found during his years in Japan with the Navy, while he was at Harvard Business School and after graduation. Some biographical information regarding Williamson's wife, Lorraine Fitch Williamson is contained in a scrapbook which she kept and also includes information regarding various University social activities (Box 4).

Williamson wrote several books, manuscripts of which are contained in the Collection (Boxes 7-9). He also was asked to speak at various institutions all over the world. The Papers contain both published and unpublished speeches as well as articles he wrote, which were also reprinted in various journals (Boxes 10-11). See also the bound volumes for speeches and reprints. The NAPSA Student Freedom Study by E.G. Williamson and John L. Cowan, (Boxes 12-20) was originally processed as a separate collection and was later added to the Williamson Papers.