William Wallace Carson papers

Dr. W. Wallace Carson, former head of both the political science and history departments, died Feb. 5, 1967 in Putnam County. Dr. Carson first joined the DePauw staff in 1916 as head of the political science department and a teacher of history. He also assumed headship of the History Department in 1927 and served in this dual capacity until relinquishing the political science post in 1938. During this time he also served as University Marshal for many years. He continued as head of the History Department until his retirement in 1953 and, at that time, was also John Clarke Ridpath Professor of History. The year after his retirement, undergraduates awarded him the Leather Medal, presented annually to "that person who has done most for the University." Dr. Carson had studied at Wofford College, Trinity College, and the U. of Wisconsin, receiving his Ph.D. from Wisconsin in 1914. Before coming to DePauw, he had taught at Central College in Missouri and Morningside College in Iowa. A native of Canton, NC he was the author of "Social and Economic History of Reconstruction in North Carolina", a member of Kappa Alpha social fraternity, Scabbard and Blade honorary, and was tapped for honorary Gold Key membership at DePauw.