John Williams Memorial and Interviews

John G. Williams was a legendary Arkansas architect and the founding faculty member of the School of Architecture at the University of Arkansas. Williams was born on April 30, 1915, in Van Buren, Arkansas. He studied engineering at Arkansas Polytechnic College (now Arkansas Tech University) before completing his bachelor’s degree in architecture at Oklahoma A&M (Now Oklahoma State University) in 1940. He began teaching architecture at the University of Arkansas in 1946, establishing the school’s early curriculum and serving as a teacher and mentor to many, including his most famous student, Fay Jones, until his retirement in 1985. In addition to his academic appointment, Williams practiced as a professional architect for many years, mostly designing residences in and around Fayetteville.

When Williams passed away in May 2008, the Fay Jones School of Architecture hosted a memorial service for him, at which family, friends, and former colleagues spoke. Pryor Center staff recorded the memorial service as well as brief interviews with several attendees who shared their memories of Professor Williams and the School of Architecture he helped to build.

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