William Mather Lewis
Encyclopedia
William Mather Lewis was an American teacher, university president, local politician, and a state and national government official. He was mayor of Lake Forest, Illinois
from 1915-17, President of George Washington University from 1923-7 and the President of Layfayette College from 1927-45.
in 1900, and an A.M. from Illinois College
in 1902. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta
.
for three years. In 1905 he became headmaster at the academy, resigning in 1913 to travel in Europe. He was mayor of Lake Forest, Illinois
from 1915-17.
in the Mid-West in 1915.
During World War I, he was executive secretary of the National Committee of Patriotic Societies. Lewis was director of the savings division of the United States Treasury Department and chief of educational service for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce from 1921-23.
He was director of the Pennsylvania Selective Service System
(organising "the draft") from September 1940 until he stepped down in November 1941 to focus on being the president of Lafayette.
from June 1923-27, and President of Lafayette College
from March 1927 until retiring in July 1945, shortly before his death. He was succeeded by Ralph Cooper Hutchison.
in 1878. His father was Rev. James Lewis, minister of the Howell church from 1875 to 1882, and his mother was Mary Farrand.
He married Ruth Durand in December 1906 and they had a daughter, Sarah aka Sally Lewis Betts Hale (1907-2006). They had a summer home in, and later lived in, Colebrook, Connecticut
.
They spent a year travelling in Europe, including England and Berlin, from June 1913 to July 1914.
He died from a heart attack while driving near his home in November 1945. His widow Ruth died in 1953.
Lake Forest, Illinois
Lake Forest is an affluent city located in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The city is south of Waukegan along the shore of Lake Michigan, and is a part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the North Shore. Lake Forest was founded around Lake Forest College and was laid out as a town in...
from 1915-17, President of George Washington University from 1923-7 and the President of Layfayette College from 1927-45.
Education
Lewis received an A.B. from Lake Forest CollegeLake Forest College
Lake Forest College, founded in 1857, is a private liberal arts college in Lake Forest, Illinois. The college has 1,500 students representing 47 states and 78 countries....
in 1900, and an A.M. from Illinois College
Illinois College
Illinois College is a private, liberal arts college, affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church , and located in Jacksonville, Illinois. It was the second college founded in Illinois, but the first to grant a degree . It was founded in 1829 by the Illinois Band,...
in 1902. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
.
Lake Forest
Lewis was briefly principal of Whipple Academy, Jacksonville (a preparatory school of Illinois College), before returning to Lake Forest to be head of the department of oratory and debate at Lake Forest AcademyLake Forest Academy
Lake Forest Academy is a college preparatory boarding and day school for grades 9 through 12 located on the North Shore in Lake Forest, Illinois, United States. As of the 2008-2009 school year, students at Lake Forest Academy come from 20 states and 28 countries. The current Head of School is Dr....
for three years. In 1905 he became headmaster at the academy, resigning in 1913 to travel in Europe. He was mayor of Lake Forest, Illinois
Lake Forest, Illinois
Lake Forest is an affluent city located in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The city is south of Waukegan along the shore of Lake Michigan, and is a part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the North Shore. Lake Forest was founded around Lake Forest College and was laid out as a town in...
from 1915-17.
State and national roles
Lewis was field secretary of the Navy League of the United StatesNavy League of the United States
The Navy League of the United States, commonly referred to as The Navy League, is a national association made up of former members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Merchant Marine, and civilians interested in supporting the...
in the Mid-West in 1915.
During World War I, he was executive secretary of the National Committee of Patriotic Societies. Lewis was director of the savings division of the United States Treasury Department and chief of educational service for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce from 1921-23.
He was director of the Pennsylvania Selective Service System
Selective Service System
The Selective Service System is a means by which the United States government maintains information on those potentially subject to military conscription. Most male U.S. citizens and male immigrant non-citizens between the ages of 18 and 25 are required by law to have registered within 30 days of...
(organising "the draft") from September 1940 until he stepped down in November 1941 to focus on being the president of Lafayette.
University career
Lewis was President of George Washington UniversityGeorge Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
from June 1923-27, and President of Lafayette College
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
from March 1927 until retiring in July 1945, shortly before his death. He was succeeded by Ralph Cooper Hutchison.
Other
Lewis was a contributor to the Encyclopaedia Britannica. He was awarded a patent for a milk bottle holder in 1918.Personal life
Lewis was born in Howell, MichiganHowell, Michigan
Howell is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 9,489. It is the county seat of Livingston County and is located mostly within Howell Township, but is politically independent from Howell Township...
in 1878. His father was Rev. James Lewis, minister of the Howell church from 1875 to 1882, and his mother was Mary Farrand.
He married Ruth Durand in December 1906 and they had a daughter, Sarah aka Sally Lewis Betts Hale (1907-2006). They had a summer home in, and later lived in, Colebrook, Connecticut
Colebrook, Connecticut
Colebrook is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,471 at the 2000 census. Colebrook was named after Colebrooke, in the English county of Devon.-Geography:...
.
They spent a year travelling in Europe, including England and Berlin, from June 1913 to July 1914.
He died from a heart attack while driving near his home in November 1945. His widow Ruth died in 1953.
Books
- Lewis, William Mather. The Voices of Our Leaders, Hinds, Hayden & Elderedge, inc., 1917
- Lewis, William Mather. Selected Readings from the Most Popular Novels. Hinds and Noble, 1903.
See also
- List of Lafayette College people
- List of George Washington University people
- List of people from Lake Forest, Illinois
External links
- Lewis, William Mather, The George Washington University and Foggy Bottom Historical Encyclopedia
- 1920s flyer advertising a talk by Lewis at the Lyceum, University of Iowa library
- Biography of Lewis by Editors National Press Syndicate, University of Iowa library
- Images of Lewis from Lafayette College