The Oregon State University Sesquicentennial Oral History Project

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A Remembrance of William Appleman Williams. March 27, 2012

A Remembrance of William Appleman Williams

An interview with Bill Robbins conducted by Chris Petersen.

March 27, 2012

Location:  Valley Library, Oregon State University.

William Appleman Williams (1921-1990), an influential American historian and writer, was a member of the History faculty at Oregon State University from 1968-1986. He is regarded to be a founder of the "revisionist school" of American diplomatic history. A prolific author, Williams' The Contours of American History (1961), was named by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best non-fiction books written in English in the twentieth century. Bill Robbins, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History, was a member of the OSU History faculty from 1971 to his retirement in 1999. Williams and Robbins were close friends and valued colleagues, and in this interview Robbins shares his recollections of Williams' work, personality and impact.