Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Allen Library BOX 352900 Seattle, Washington 98195-2900 Business Number: 206-543-1929 speccoll@uw.edu http://www.lib.washington.edu/specialcollections/

Tapes for -002 accession are in: Drawer 8, Tapes 859, 860; wau-gerberding-4500-002-5f12a9e0-2ff5-43b2-9196-935f8c602f77

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-12-18. Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard). Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries William P. Gerberding papers Gerberding, William P., 1929-2014 4500 4.47 cubic feet 5 boxes and 1 vertical file, including 2 audio cassettes 1965-2008 1979-1995 Papers and oral history of a former President of the University of Washington, Seattle Collection materials are in English.

Open to all users.

Request at UW

Consult the restrictions governing reproduction and use for each of the accessions listed below.

William P. Gerberding served as the 27th president of the University of Washington from 1979 to 1995. His tenure began during a time of economic crisis for the State of Washington that saw the university's budget reduced and many jobs lost. In an effort to build financial stability for the university, Gerberding initiated large-scale fundraising campaigns among private donors. Gerberding's successful development of fundraising in the private sector was unmatched in the history of the university, and the UW rose as one of the top nationwide universities for private funding.

The UW also grew in academic prominence during Gerberding's presidency, with four Nobel prizes awarded to faculty and hundreds of millions in federal grant money awarded to researchers. To the state's budget makers, Gerberding emphasized the importance of faculty salaries as a strategy for attracting and retaining nationally-competitive faculty members. The UW's undergraduate population also increased during his tenure, and Gerberding saw more than 125,000 students graduate.

A native of North Dakota, Gerberding earned his bachelor's degree from Macalester College in 1951 and his master's and doctorate at the University of Chicago in 1956 and 1959. Before coming to UW, he served in the administrations of Occidental College, the University of California Los Angeles, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He and his wife Ruth had four children together: Steve, John, Liza, and David. To date, he is the longest-serving president in University of Washington history.

Organized into 3 accessions.

Accession No. 4500-001, William P. Gerberding papers, 1965 Accession No. 4500-002, William P. Gerberding oral history interview, 2007 Accession No. 4500-003, William P. Gerberding papers, 1979-2008

Correspondence, memoranda, clippings, photographs and ephemera from William P. Gerberding's time as president of the University of Washington; oral history recordings and transcript.

Photographs of William P. Gerberding (PH1369) and University of Washington Office of the President records (UW Resource No. 00095)

Blair, Karen J Gerberding, William P., 1929-2014--Interviews University of Washington. University Archives University of Washington. President University Archives/Faculty Papers (University of Washington) Oral Histories Colleges and Universities Accession No. 4500-001: William P. Gerberding papers, 1965 .33 cu. ft. (1 box)

Scope and Content: Biographical article in Life magazine; 1965.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Copyrighted publication.

Acquisition Info: Karen Zaugg, 1995-05-23

Life magazine with "A Teacher Sweats it Out" feature on William Gerberding 4500-003 Box 4 Accession No. 4500-002: William P. Gerberding oral history interview, 2007 2 audio cassettes (~120min.); transcript: 18 pages

Scope and Content: Tape recorded interview conducted by Karen Blair covering the years 1951 to 1997, taken on February 3, 2007; transcript.

Mr. Gerberding talks discusses his academic background and his work as a professor of political science. He talks about his experiences at the University of Washington, and his accomplishments as president of the university. He describes the ups and downs of administration, and his current interests and occupations.

Digital Content/Other Formats:Listen to the audio recording and view the transcript of this interview on the Libraries Digital Collections site.

Physical/Technical Access: Special Media: 2 cassette audio tapes

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users

Restrictions on Use: Creator's rights dedicated to the public. May be used for research, instruction, publication or similar purposes.

Acquisition Info: William P. Gerberding, 2007-08-26

William P. Gerberding oral history transcript 4500-002 VF2785 Accession No. 4500-003: William P. Gerberding papers Gerberding, William P., 1929-2014 4.47 cubic feet 5 boxes 1979-2008

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users. Access to portions of the collection is restricted. Contact University of Washington Libraries Special Collections for details.

Scope and Content: Correspondence, clippings, and photographs of William P. Gerberding during his tenure as University of Washington president (1980-1995).

Acquisition info: Gift of John Gerberding, 2025

Restrictions on use:Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Series 1: Correspondence Miscellaneous Correspondence 1979-2008 4500-003 Box 1 Series 2: University of Washington Office of the President UW Inauguration - Preparation 1979-1980 4500-003 Box 2 UW Inauguration - Ephemera 1980 4500-003 Box 2 Retirement Announcement 1994 2 folders 4500-003 Box 2 Retirement Year Correspondence 1995 4500-003 Box 2 Retirement Year - Spring Events 1995 4500-003 Box 2 Gerbfest 1995 4500-003 Box 2 UW President Search 1994-1995 4500-003 Box 2 UW President Search 1994-1995 4500-003 Box 3

Restricted

UW Commencement Speeches 1980-1989 4500-003 Box 2 College Sports re: paying student athletes 1990-2002 2 folders 4500-003 Box 2 UW Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Banquet Controversy - Statements of Apology 1990 4500-003 Box 2 UW Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Banquet Controversy - Letters of Support 1990 4500-003 Box 2 Board of Regents 1979-1998 17 folders 4500-003 Box 3

Includes memos and correspondence between Gerberding and Board of Regents

Series 3: Speeches Some Thoughts on the State of Higher Education 1978 4500-003 Box 2

Originally delivered at the University YMCA-YWCA Friday Forum

Seattle Rotary Talk 1979 4500-003 Box 2 Apocalypse Later - remarks prepared for the Western Association of Colleges 1980 4500-003 Box 2 Some Observations on Future Academic Programs and Decision Processes in American Research Universities 1981 4500-003 Box 2

Remarks prepared for the Academic Libraries Frontiers Conference

Whitman College Commencement 1982 4500-003 Box 2 Convocation honoring Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh 1983 4500-003 Box 2 Reflections on Statistics Concerning Higher Education Funding 1985 4500-003 Box 2 Seattle Rotary Talk 1986 4500-003 Box 2 Remarks at Eddie Carlson's Service 1990 4500-003 Box 2 Commencement Speech at Humboldt High School (St. Paul, MN) 1990 4500-003 Box 2 Remarks given at a banquet honoring Bill Richardson 1991 4500-003 Box 2 Seattle Rotary Talk 1993 4500-003 Box 2 Remarks prepared for symposium at Notre Dame 1995 4500-003 Box 2 Introduction of Ambassador Walter Mondale at the Japan-America Society Banquet 1995 4500-003 Box 2 Some Observations about American Politics 1996 4500-003 Box 2 Remarks to the Annual Meeting of the Pacific Northwest Ballet Board 1996 4500-003 Box 2 Remarks prepared for the Memorial Service for Prentice Bloedel 1996 4500-003 Box 2 Talk delivered at Claremont McKenna College 2001 4500-003 Box 2 Series 4: Post-University of Washington Presidency Hans and Thea Lehman 4500-003 Box 2 Henry M. Jackson Award for Distinguished Public Service Banquet 1996 4500-003 Box 2 Honors course "An Exploration of Quality Journalism" 1996 4500-003 Box 2 Honors course "An Exploration of Quality Journalism" 1996 4500-003 Box 3

Restricted

"A Standing Ovation": a Community Celebration in honor of Bill and Ruth Gerberding 1995 4500-003 Box 2 Charles Johnson 1996-1997 4500-003 Box 2 Jacob Lawrence Catalogue Raisonne 1996 4500-003 Box 2 Rheba de Tornyay Tribute (UW School of Nursing) 1996 4500-003 Box 2 Site Planning for UW School of Law 1996 4500-003 Box 2 Meade Emory (UW School of Law) 1996 4500-003 Box 2 Who's Who in America 1996-1997 4500-003 Box 2 Series 5: Photographs and Ephemera Headshots of William P. Gerberding 1980-1991 4500-003 Box 3 Photographs of William Gerberding at various UW events 1979-1995 7 folders 4500-003 Box 3 Seattle Pensioners Spring Luncheon honoring William Gerberding photo album 1995 4500-003 Box 4 Untitled photo album (sleeved) undated 4500-003 Box 4 Scrapbook 1979-1995 4500-003 Box 5 Clippings 1980-1997 4500-003 Box 4 Seattle Times Clippings on the Walker-Ames Fund Controversy 1992 4500-003 Box 4

Includes contemporaneous correspondence and memoranda

UW Retirement Announcement Clippings 1994-1995 4500-003 Box 4 Awards and Recognitions 4500-003 Box 4 Earl Layman sketch of UW President's House 1984 4500-003 Box 4 Oversize photographs the E.G. Ames house 4500-003 Box 5 Oversize aerial photographs of the UW campus undated 4500-003 Box 5 Seattle Times political cartoon 1983 4500-003 Box 5 Photograph of UW Architecture building 4500-003 Box 5 Photograph and article about Thomas G. Thompson research vessel 1990 4500-003 Box 5 Altered photograph of stone sculptures from the Health Sciences Deans 4500-003 Box 5 Ink and vellum Medieval-style drawing presented to William Gerberding on his first visit to the College of Architectuyre and Urban Planning 1980 4500-003 Box 5