Archives West Finding Aid

Contains materials that document Williamson's career from the time of his doctoral studies at Columbia University through his retirement at Eastern Washington State College (EWSC) in 1966, as well as his private life until 1970. The collection includes class notes, materials on his dissertation, correspondence, photographs, publications and material related to the so-called "Reese Affair." The "Reese Affair" led to the resignation of President Freeman and some faculty members. Reese entered the Master's program at EWCE, and was listed in the Faculty listing in the catalog as possessing an MA which had not yet been granted when the 1953/54 catalog came out, causing a controversy among the faculty, and eventually a vote of "no confidence" in the administration by the students. The controversy resulted in the dismissal of some of the faculty members who had been particularly vocal in the matter, eventually most were rehired..--Contains text from EWU website.