Kenneth P. Williams papers, 1772-1963, bulk 1934-1945
A Guide to his Papers at the Indiana University Archives
Finding aid prepared by Kewanna Williams and Christopher
S. Eaton
Summary Information
Repository
Indiana University Archives
1320 East Tenth Street
Herman B Wells Library E460
Bloomington, IN 47405-7000
Phone: 812-855-1127
Email: archives@indiana.edu
http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives
Creator
Williams, Kenneth P. (Kenneth Powers),
1887-1958.
Extent
5.4 cubic feet
Language
Materials are in English unless otherwise indicated.
TitleKenneth P. Williams papers, 1772-1963,
bulk 1934-1945
Collection number
C193
Abstract
Williams taught mathematics at Indiana
University for nearly 50 years however, he was best know for his multi-volume work,
Lincoln Finds a General, 1949. Williams was also the first commander of the Student Army
Training Corps, later to be known as The Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) at
Indiana University.
Access Restrictions
The Academic garb, Uniforms, and Personal Memorabilia Series is restricted.
Advance notice required.
Biographical Note
Kenneth Powers Williams was born in Urbana, Ohio on August 25, 1887 to John H. and Eva
Augusta (Powers) Williams. He attended Clark College from 1905 to 1906 before enrolling
at Indiana University where he received his A.B. degree in 1908 and his A.M. degree in
1909. In 1909 he was employed as an instructor of mathematics in the Department of
Mathematics at I.U. Having been granted a leave from I.U. in 1911, he attended Princeton
University where he earned a PhD. in 1913. In 1914 he returned to I.U. and resumed his
teaching career in the Department of Mathematics.
During his academic career at I.U. he served as an assistant professor from 1914-19, an
associate professor from 1919-24, and as a full professor from 1924-37. He was awarded
the Chair of the Department of Mathematics in 1938 which he served as until 1944.
Throughout his academic career, he made many noteworthy achievements in the fields of
mathematics, astronomy, and history. One of his landmark achievements was the
publication of "Lincoln Finds a General: A Military Study of the Civil War" in 1949.
Originally published as a two volume set, he added volume three in 1952, volume four in
1956, and died while writing volume five. He retired in 1957 as a Distinguished Service
Professor Emeritus.
In addition to his career in education, Kenneth Powers Williams also had a successful
military career. He first served as a First Lieutenant with the Indiana National Guard
near the Mexican border in 1916 during the Mexican Border Expedition. On April 17, 1917
Indiana University established a military training program in Bloomington called the
Student Army Training Corps with Williams in command. In 1919 the Student Army Training
Corps was renamed the Reserve Officers Training Corps. From the years 1917 to 1919 he
served in the Rainbow Division as a U.S. Army Captain of Field Artillery with the
American Expeditionary Force, 1921 to 1931 he served as an officer in the Indiana
National Guard Field Artillery, 1931 to 1939 he served as a Colonel and the Chief of
Staff of the 38th division of the Indiana National Guard before commanding the 113th
Quartermaster Regiment, and eventually becoming Quartermaster of the 38th division in
national service. Among the many commendations he was awarded during his lifetime was
the Indiana distinguished service award for his military service.
After several months of illness, Kenneth Powers Williams, the man known as the "father
of ROTC" at Indiana University died on September 25, 1958. He left behind a wife, Ellen
Laughlin Scott and no children.
Scope and Content Note
This collection is divided into 4 series. The Research notes series is divided into two
groups: general research notes and oversized document research notes. In the case of the
oversized documents, these notes were recorded on the blank backs of some of Williams'
oversized manuscript sheets. This series is arranged alphabetically. Some of the dates
for these notes may not be exact.
The Publications series consists of articles, manuals, or other published items that
were either written by Williams or, otherwise, acquired by him. This series is arranged
alphabetically.
The Subject files series is made up of awards and certificates that Williams had
received throughout his career as well as itineraries for the U.S. Army ROTC
Commencement at Indiana University. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject.
The Academic garb, uniforms, & personal memorabilia is a restricted series due
to the delicate state of the cloth of the uniforms. The series is contained in two boxes
and 1 oversized document box. To see the academic garb and uniforms special arrangements
must be made with archives staff.
Arrangement
This collection is organized in four series: 1.) Research notes 2.) Publications 3.)
Subject files 4.) Academic garb, uniforms, & personal memorabilia.
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Indexing Terms
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The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
IUCAT, the IU Libraries' online
catalog. Materials about related topics, persons or places can be found by searching the
catalog using these terms.
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Separated Material
Photographs transferred to the University Archives Photographs Collection.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Accessions 0117, 9301, and 9302.
Usage RestrictionsThe donor(s) of this collection have not transferred their copyrights for the materials to the Trustees of Indiana University.
For more information, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.
The Indiana University Archives respects the intellectual property rights of others and does not claim any copyrights for
non-university records, materials in the public domain, or materials for which we do not hold a Deed of Gift. Responsibility
for the determination of the copyright status of these materials rests with those persons wishing to reuse the materials.
Researchers are responsible for securing permission from copyright owners and any other rights holders for any reuse of these
materials that extends beyond fair use or other statutory limitations.
Digital reproductions of archival materials from the Indiana University Archives are made available for noncommercial educational
and research purposes only. If you are the copyright holder for any of the digitized materials and have questions about its
inclusion on our site, please contact the Indiana University Archivist.
Preferred Citation
[Item], Kenneth P. Williams papers, Collection C193, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.
Processing informationProcessed by Kewanna Williams and Christopher S. Eaton
Completed in 2002
Series:
Research notes
Box 1
Asteroid 1063 1927-Spring 1934
Effects of Planets on Earth; Comparison of Newcomb's and Leverrier's
Sub Tables 1936-1937
Errors in Newcomb; Venus Perturbations in Newcomb's Tables of the Sun
1940-1942
Important Errata in Newcomb; Misc. Notes 1935-1939
Mercury Venus, Secular Perturbations Notebook and Misc. Calculations
undated
Observations Concerning Observations undated
Orbit Book
chpt. VII, Certain Original Calculations, Asteroid 1909
HC
undated
chpt. VIII, Original Calculations: Asteroid 1909 HC, Methods of
Gauss undated
exercises undated
chpt. VII, Method of Poincare for #13, Asteroid 1909 HC undated
Orbit Book Misc. undated
Orbit Notes undated
Orbit of Comet Schavmasse 1917 II undated
Orbit of Encke's Comet 1931a & Comet 1927 IV (Stearns)
1938
Orbit of Ryre's Comet 1931 ca. 18 Aug 1931
- ca. 11 Apr 1933
Orbit of 931, Whittemora Method of Laplace undated
Original Computations 1936-1944
Transits of Mercury Computations of Times of Contact
ca. 1723 - ca. 1861
ca. 1868 - ca. 1927
Transits of Mercury Misc. Original Computations, etc. 1935-1936
Transits of Mercury, the Normal Equations and the Solutions ca. 1937
Translations of Old Works undated
Series
Publications
Box 1
The Application of Quaternions to the Newtonian Potential Function
1909
Astronomical Journal 1901-1945
Astronomical Observatory 1926-1935
Bibliography, Kenneth Powers Williams undated
The Calculation of Planetary Motions 1935-1940
Celestial Mechanics
chpts. IV-VII (duplicate) undated
chpts. IX-X (duplicate) undated
chpts. IV-VII undated
chpts. IX-X undated
special chpts. undated
pre-1934, form of chapters revised in 1934 1934
revision of chpts. 1-3 1934
Long Period Terms ca. 1908
Misc. notes ca. 1929
Masses, Axes, etc. undated
Box 2
Dans La Theorie Des Mouvements Planetaires 1863
Determining Orbits 1914-1936
Deuxieme Partie ca. 1751
Iakttagelsen Och Undersokningar 1903
Methodes de Wronski 1881
Negativen und Ungraden Potenzen & Potenz des radius vectors
1853-1854
Radiative Equilibrium May 1928
Revue D'artillerie 1924
The Secular Variations of the Elements of the Orbits of the 4 Inner
Planets 1912
Solar Tables and Letters 1942-1945
Spherical Astronomy
undated
(duplicate) undated
The Tennessee River Campaign 1950
The Transits of Mercury & supplements (printed copy) 1939
Uber die Multiplizitat der Losungen der Theorie der Bahnbestimmung der
Kometen 1928
Subseries:
Box 2
Union Observatory ca. 1925
The United States Naval Observatory 1942
Wallace-Snedecor Correlation 1925-1945
Series
Subject files
Box 2
Awards, Certificates, Nominations, etc. 1950-1958
Contact List for K.P. Williams Information & Memorabilia
Nov.
1958
Copies Sent, Orders, Comments, Reviews, etc. 1934-1943
Correspondence 12 Sep 1907 -
22 Feb 1960
Inventory List of K.P. Williams' Uniform & Accessories
10 Feb
1966
Lunar Theory Hill 1914-1951
Kenneth Powers Williams Memorial Award Ceremony at the Spring
President's Day Review 1 Nov 1958 - 10
Feb 1966
Orbit Book ca.
1942
R.A. of E Ophiuchi undated
Series
Oversized document research notes
Box 3
College Algebra ca. 1928
Computations on "Delaporte" undated
Earth and Mercury I undated
Mercury-Jupiter II undated
Mercury-Mars II & III undated
Mercury-Saturn IV undated
The Secular Motion of the Ecliptic undated
Secular Perturbations
1. Effect of the Earth on Venus, E. L. Godfrey 1934
2. Effect of Jupiter on Venus, E. L. Godfrey 1934
3. Effect of Mars on Venus, E. L. Godfrey 1934
4. Effect of Saturn on Venus, E. L. Godfrey 1934
Boxes
4-6
Uniform, academic garb, & personal memorabilia