Edwin B. and Leonore R. Williams

The late Edwin B. and Leonore R. Williams established this chair through their estate in 1982. Edwin B. Williams served on the faculty of the Department of Romance Languages from 1919 to 1962. He served as Chair of the Department of Romance Languages (1931-1938), Dean of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (1938-1951), and Provost of the University (1951-1956). Leonore R. Williams was an active member of University life for more than 60 years. She was a founder of the Faculty Tea Club and was an honorary board member of the Penn Women’s Club. The Edwin B. and Leonore R. Williams Humanities and Languages Hall was named in their honor in 1972.