William Frederick Book was born in Princeton, Indiana, on June 10, 1873, to Christian Henry and Mary Elizabeth (Bussdicker) Book. He received his bachelor's degree from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, in 1900. After he received his PhD from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1906, Book accepted a job as a psychology professor at the University of Montana. On Sept. 3, 1907, Book married Mary Roach Cougel from Sussex, New Brunswick.
Book returned to the East during the following summers to complete research at Clark University and at Columbia University in New York City. He taught summer session at Columbia during the summers of 1911 and 1912. In 1912, Book left Montana and returned to Indiana University, where he became a professor of educational psychology for the next two years. Between 1913 and 1917 he was the director of the university's vocational education department. From 1917 to 1934, Book was a professor of psychology and the director of the psychological lab. After his first wife passed away he married Clara D. King on June 3, 1926. Book went to the University of Hawaii and the University of Wisconsin in the summers of 1928 and 1929 to teach summer sessions. Book was a professor emeritus at Indiana University until his death in 1940.
This collection contains 31 letters written between Aug. 17, 1902, and July 12, 1912. Also included is a brief biographical outline of William F. Book. In the 25 letters he exchanged with Dr. W.L. Bryan, president of Indiana University, Book discussed his job opportunities and future plans. After taking a position at the University of Montana, Book wrote about trying to get comfortable at the school and in Missoula. He often talked about finding a position back East or in the Midwest. Book was still in contact with Dr. Bryan when he accepted a position at Indiana University in 1912.
There are also letters exchanged between Hannah Book, presumably William Book's sister, and Dr. W.L. Bryan. In the letters she writes about finding a teaching position in Montana. There are two letters addressed to professors at Indiana University and two others that are unidentified.
The collection is divided into two series:
Series I: Biographical, 1 item, undated
Series II: Correspondence, 31 items, 1902-1912
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana--Missoula.
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana.
[Name of document or photograph number], William Frederick Book Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.
Gift of Daniel Rubev, date unknown
The actions of the original processors are unknown. In 2002, the collection was re-described.
This series contains a one-page outline listing William Frederick Book's death and birth dates, education completed, marriages and other miscellaneous information.
This series contains thirty-one letters. Twenty-five of them were written by William Frederick Book to Dr. W.L. Bryan, president of Indiana University. They detail Book's career between Aug. 17, 1902 and July 12, 1912. He talks about coming to Missoula, Montana, and adjusting to the academics at the University of Montana. He also talks about his research at universities in the eastern United States and about moving away from Montana and back to the Midwest or the East.