Julian Alvin Carroll Chandler (October 29, 1872 – May 31, 1934), usually cited as J. A. C. Chandler, was an American historian, author and

educator A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. whe ...

. He is best known as the 18th president of The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he served as the successor to retiring fellow educator and author

Lyon Gardiner Tyler Lyon Gardiner Tyler Sr. (August 24, 1853 – February 12, 1935) was an American educator, genealogist, and historian. He was a son of John Tyler, the tenth president of the United States. Tyler was the 17th president of the College of Will ...

. Dr. Chandler is credited with transforming the institution from a small, struggling liberal arts college for men into a modern coeducational institution of higher learning.

Early life, education, career

Julian Chandler was born in Caroline County, Virginia. He earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from the College of William and Mary in the early 1890s. He continued his education at Johns Hopkins University, earning a doctorate in history. With his degrees he worked for a school textbook company, taught at both Richmond’s Woman’s College and Richmond College, and served as superintendent of the Richmond City Public Schools. During his decade as head of schools, he expanded the school system and implemented a progressive model of primary education.

Accomplishments: modernization, Colonial Williamsburg

During most of the years of his tenure, Dr. Chandler achieved additional state funding from the Virginia General Assembly. A school of 300 students when he became president in 1919, the school enrolled thousands by the 1930s, although the

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

impacted his administration negatively in a manner similar to other institutions. Dr. Chandler's recruitment of Reverend Doctor W.A.R. Goodwin (1869–1939) to head the college's endowment fund-raising duties in 1923 was particularly noteworthy. Dr. Goodwin had served as rector of Williamsburg's Bruton Parish Church from until accepting a call to serve in Rochester, New York in 1909. The champion of the restoration of the historic colonial Virginia church for the 300th anniversary of the settlement at Jamestown in 1607, which also dates the establishment of the modern Episcopal Church in Virginia. Upon his return to Williamsburg, Dr. Goodwin, known later as "the Father of Colonial Williamsburg" undertook renewed restoration efforts for buildings on and adjacent to the historic college campus, including the Wren Building and its adjacent structures. While working under Dr. Chandler, Goodwin successfully attracted both the attention and support of philanthropist and heir to the

Standard Oil Standard Oil Company, Inc., was an American oil production, transportation, refining, and marketing company that operated from 1870 to 1911. At its height, Standard Oil was the largest petroleum company in the world, and its success made its co-f ...

fortune John D. Rockefeller Jr. and his wife Abby Aldrich Rockefeller beginning in 1926 with the building of the Phi Beta Kappa Hall on Jamestown Road. Those efforts resulted in the preservation and restoration of Colonial Williamsburg.

Death, legacy

After a short illness, Dr. Chandler died on May 31, 1934 in

Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Be ...

at the age of 61. During approximately 15 years under his leadership, the College of William and Mary expanded and diversified its programs into prominence in many disciplines. As a former school division superintendent of schools, Dr. Chandler knew of a strong need in Virginia for additional efforts to educate teachers and other professionals for the public schools, especially for more coeducational programs. His greatest legacy at William and Mary is considered by many to be the School of Education, which began a long continuing tradition of providing an education to many of Virginia's public school teachers. In modern times, the School of Education also sponsors summer sessions, as well as seminars and workshops during the school year to enhance opportunities for the continuing education of in-service public school instructional personnel. Shortly after his death, in Richmond's Northside area, a city where he had served as the Superintendent of Schools, Chandler Middle School was named in his honor. Also named for him is a residence hall at William and Mary.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Chandler, Julian Alvin Carroll 1872 births 1934 deaths College of William & Mary alumni Johns Hopkins University alumni 20th-century American historians 20th-century American male writers Presidents of the College of William & Mary College of William & Mary faculty People from Caroline County, Virginia American male non-fiction writers Historians from Virginia