Archives West Finding Aid

William Wade Haggard (1892-1977), a native of Tennessee, came to Bellingham in 1939 from Illinois, where he had been a school superintendent. Prior to this, he taught high school in Tennessee and Michigan. He held a bachelor’s degree from Maryville College, a master’s degree from the University of Michigan, and a PhD from the University of Chicago. Haggard served as president of the Western Washington College of Education (now Western Washington University) for twenty years, retiring in 1959, the longest tenure of any president. During that time, six new campus buildings were constructed, and much land was acquired for future growth. Haggard also saw the school through the Second World War and the rise in enrollment that followed. The school awarded its first master’s degrees in education during his time in office. Haggard Hall (originally called the Haggard Hall of Science) was named in his honor in 1960. In addition to his service to Western, Haggard served for a time as president of the National High School Principals Association and the American Association of Junior Colleges. He was also chairman of the accrediting committee for the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. One of Haggard’s personal interests was the study of Abraham Lincoln, about whom he delivered public lectures on many occasions.