William Linn Westermann: Difference between revisions

'''William Linn Westermann''' (September 15, 1873 – October 4, 1954) was an American historian and [[papyrologist]] who served as the president of the [[American Historical Association]] in 1944. He was regarded as an expert on the economy of the ancient world.<ref name="NYTwlwobit">{{cite news|title=W. L. Westermann, Educator, 81, Dies|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F02E3D61F3DE03ABC4D53DFB667838F649EDE|accessdateaccess-date=August 11, 2015|work=New York Times|url-access=subscription |date=October 5, 1954}}</ref>

Westermann was born in [[Belleville, Illinois]], and attended the [[University of Nebraska]] and [[University of Berlin]]. He taught at the [[University of Missouri]] from 1902 to 1906, then left for the [[University of Minnesota]]. In 1908, Westermann joined the faculty of the [[University of Wisconsin]]. He spent twelve years of his academic career in Wisconsin, moving to [[Cornell University]] in 1920.<ref name="NYTwlwobit" /> He was appointed professor of ancient history at [[Columbia University]] on March 5, 1923.<ref name="colubiahire">{{cite news|url-access=subscription |title=Columbia Names Scholars|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1923/03/05/archives/two-bombs-thrown-at-british-in-cairo-attempt-to-wreck-military.html|accessdateaccess-date=August 11, 2015|work=New York Times|date=March 5, 1923}}</ref> During his tenure at Columbia, Westermann acquired a large collection of Egyptian papyri for the institution.<ref name="columbiapapyri">{{cite news|title=Columbia acquires third century papyri|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D07E3D81131E633A25754C2A9679D946394D6CF|accessdateaccess-date=August 11, 2015|work=New York Times|url-access=subscription |date=November 27, 1932}}</ref> HeHis scholarly reputation rests on his book Slave Systems of Greek and Roman Antiquity, published posthumously in 1955. His most prominent pupil was Moses I. Finley, arguably the most influential ancient historian in the world from he 1960s to the 1980s and still an inspiration. Westermann retired in 1948 to become a visiting professor at the [[University of Alexandria]] in Egypt.<ref name="NYTwlwobit" /> For more on Westermann's scholarly life see above all the article devoted to him in the American National Biography XXIII (1999), by W. V. Harris.

Westermann was appointed to the [[American Commission to Negotiate Peace]] and advised President [[Woodrow Wilson]] on Greek and Turkish events at the [[Paris Peace Conference, 1919|Paris Peace Conference of 1919]]. He was a member of the [[American Academy in Rome]]'s Broad of Trustees from 1922 to 1933.<ref name="NYTwlwobit" /> He was elected to the [[American Philosophical Society]] in 1944.<ref>{{Cite web |title=APS Member History |url=https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=William+L.+Westermann&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=search.amphilsoc.org}}</ref>

==Personal life==

Westermann, a descendant of [[William Tyndale|William]] and [[Sharon Tyndale]], died at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York on October 4, 1954.<ref name="NYTwlwobit" /><ref name="WLWburial">{{cite news|title=Burial Rites for Eminent Historian In Oakwood Today|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/8179167/|accessdateaccess-date=October 8, 2015|work=Dixon Evening Telegraph|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 21, 1955|page=10}}</ref> His wife, Avrina Davies Westermann, whom he married on June 15, 1912,<ref name="WLWburial" /> died on December 21, 1960.<ref name="NYTwidobit">{{cite news|url-access=subscription |title=Mrs. W. L. Westermann|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1960/12/22/archives/mrs-w-l-westermann.html|accessdateaccess-date=August 11, 2015|work=New York Times|date=December 22, 1960}}</ref> They had one son, Evan Davies Westermann, (1914–1991) who attended the [[Scarsdale public schools]], [[Phillips Exeter Academy]], graduated from [[Harvard University]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Announce Marriage Of Mr. Westermann|url=http://news.hrvh.org/veridian/cgi-bin/senylrc?a=d&d=scarsdaleinquire19420814.2.73|accessdateaccess-date=January 31, 2016|work=Scarsdale Inquirer|date=August 14, 1942}}</ref> and worked for the New York Department of Commerce.<ref>{{cite news|title=Widely Known Professor of History Dies|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/7776612/|accessdateaccess-date=August 12, 2015|work=Dixon Evening Telegraph|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 8, 1954}}</ref> He married Virginia Woodworth on August 4, 1942,<ref>{{cite news|title=Son of Former Dixon Woman Weds in East|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/81907287/|accessdateaccess-date=August 12, 2015|work=Dixon Evening Telegraph|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 7, 1942}}</ref> and had two children.<ref name="NYTwidobit" />

*[httphttps://wwwfindingaids.library.columbia.edu/cuead/lweb/archival/collectionsnnc-rb/ldpd_4079458/ William Linn Westermann papers, ca. 1930-19541930–1954] at the Columbia University Library.

*[httphttps://unllibarchives.unlnebraska.edu/archonrepositories/?p=collections8/controlcard&id=1887resources/818 William Linn Westermann, Correspondence, 1918-19191918–1919] at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Library

{{AHAAmerican PresidentsHistorical Association presidents|state=uncollapsed}}