William J. Bouwsma was an American scholar and historian of the European Renaissance. He was Sather Professor of History Emeritus at the University of California Berkeley and president of the American Historical Association

American Historical Association

The American Historical Association is the oldest and largest society of historians and professors of history in the United States. Founded in 1884, the association promotes historical studies, the teaching of history, and the preservation of and access to historical materials...

 (AHA) in 1978.

Early life and education

Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...

 of Dutch stock, he was raised in Lincoln, Nebraska

Lincoln, Nebraska

The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....

. He received his B.A. from Harvard University

Harvard University

Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...

 in 1943. Following three years in the Air Force he returned to Harvard, receiving his Ph.D. in 1950.

Academic career

Bouwsma taught at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana until 1957 when he accepted a position in the History Department at U.C. Berkeley. After teaching for two years at Harvard (1969–71), he returned to U.C. Berkeley as Chairman of the History Department, serving in this capacity from 1966–1967, and from 1981-1983. He was chancellor for academic affairs from 1967-1969.