Collection inventory

---

---

William T. Melchior Papers

An inventory of his papers at the Syracuse University Archives

Sponsor: The processing of this collection was made possible through the generosity of Marion W. Meyer G'55.

Finding aid created by: Mary Skaden
Date: 2012

Revision history:

Biography

Dr. William T. Melchior was a professor of educational supervision and administration at Syracuse University from 1926 to 1951.

The son of a Lutheran pastor, William Tobias Melchior was born May 6, 1884 in Springfield, Pennsylvania. After attending the Pennsylvania State Teachers College and Perkiomen Seminary, he began teaching and supervising grade schools and high schools in the Philadelphia area. In 1906, he married Carrie Agnes Boyer, and together they raised two daughters and a son.

Melchior went on to receive a Bachelor of Science from Columbia University in 1920, a Masters from the Columbia University Teachers College in 1922, and a Ph. D. from the same place in 1923. During this time, he started working in institutes of higher education and was appointed to such positions as professor of education at the College of William and Mary and head of the department of education at St. Lawrence University. In 1926, Melchior took a position at Syracuse University as the director of the Teachers College Extension Division, which oversaw education classes for working professionals that were held in the afternoons, evenings, or Saturday mornings. He stayed in that position only four years, at which point he became a professor of education; with the reorganization of the School of Education in 1930, Dr. Melchior’s philosophy of teaching the pupil rather than the subject made him a perfect fit. Classes under his purview included Supervision of Instruction, Direction and Supervision of Study, Problems in Supervision of Instruction, and other courses aimed at teaching the fundamentals of organizing and managing the administrative aspects of a school.

Unfortunately, Melchior's wife Carrie passed away in 1935 after a long illness. However, two years later, he married Juanita McDougal, formerly a deputy in the state department of education from North Carolina.

During World War II, Melchior directed the Inter-American Demonstration Center by the United States Office of Education, which sought to join teachers from North and South America in an effort to collaborate, learn from each other, and improve relations between numerous countries. His expertise in the field of educational supervision also allotted him membership in the National Society for the Study of Education, the American Education Research Association, and representative positions on other education organizations. Additionally, he authored several books on topics such as instructional supervision, the Inter-American project, and school administration.

Throughout his life, Melchior took part in a variety of organizations apart from his role in academics. He was a founder and a two term president of the Syracuse Council of Churches, and, as a deeply religious man, often contributed to the efforts and services of the University Methodist Church. As a member and supporter of the Boy Scouts of America, Melchior served as Vice President of the organization’s Onondaga County Council and was awarded the Silver Beaver and the Silver Antelope for his distinguished service on the council and regional levels respectively. The professor was also an active member of the Syracuse Rotary Club, contributed to the Committee on International Service, and went on to receive the community service award in 1960.

By 1951, Melchior retired from teaching in the School of Education, but remained a presence at the University as a professor emeritus. He gave lectures and speeches on different occasions and also took on the position of Director of Industrial and Business Scholarship until 1959. Outside the University, he worked as a consultant for schools in New York and Pennsylvania, chaired the School Health Committee of Onondaga Health Association, and continued to travel internationally.

When visiting family in North Carolina in March 1967, Melchior became ill and passed away suddenly. Upon his death, he was remembered for his amiable character, devotion to community service, and immeasurable concern for the proper education of teachers and academic supervisors, all of which made him a great teacher of teachers.

Scope and Content Note

The William T. Melchior Papers include articles, datebooks, class materials, correspondence, notes, and other personal items. His correspondence comes from a variety of personal and professional sources, from 1911 to 1967; notifications and memorials commemorating his death are also included. There are programs and membership cards representing his participation in organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America and the Rotary, as well as mementos from his days in the education field. Class materials such as rosters and an example of one of his classroom activities are also included. This collection also contains photographs of various classes, as well as nine recorded audio reels of Melchior speaking about his life history.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

A portrait file and a clipping file are available for William T. Melchior in the Archives.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Melchior, William Tobias, b. 1884.
Boy Scouts of America.
Rotary International.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.
Syracuse University. -- School of Education.

Subjects

Educational administration and organization.
Teacher educators.
Teacher participation in administration.
Teaching--Methodology.
College teachers.
Higher education.
Teaching and learning in higher education.
Teaching.

Types of Material

Correspondence.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

William T. Melchior Papers,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

The William T. Melchior Papers were acquired by the University Archives in March 1969 and November 1974. Melchior's daughter, Annette Melchior Lembke, first donated the nine audio recordings of her father's life and later sent the correspondence, datebooks, and other papers to be added to the collection.

Processing Information

Damaging material, such as staples and paperclips, were removed. Acidic newspaper clippings were replaced with photocopies. Photographs were placed in protective Mylar sleeves. The collection was placed in acid free folders and archival boxes.

Arrangement

The folders are arranged alphabetically, with their contents in chronological order.

Table of Contents

Subject Files

Inventory