William Tidwell Papers, 1966-1992

Collection context

Summary

Abstract:
The papers of William Tidwell, a San José State University microbiology professor, consist of documents, correspondence, newsletters, publications, conference and meeting papers, legislation, and newspaper clippings. The bulk of this material is from his time as a consultant on State College Affairs to the CSEA, 1966-1968. Also included are papers from his time as Chair of SJSU's Academic Senate, 1983-1984.
Extent:
1 Box (0.6 linear ft.)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

William Tidwell Papers, MSS 2017-05-25, San José State University Library, Special Collections & Archives

Background

Scope and content:

William Tidwell was a professor of Microbiology at San Jose State University from 1955 to 1988. The bulk of this collection of papers, however, is from his time working as a consultant on State College Affairs to the California State Employees' Association in the 1960s. Also included are papers from his time as chair to the SJSU Academic Senate in the early 1980s. This collection consists of correspondence, newsletters, publications, papers from conferences and meetings, papers regarding legislation, and a few newspaper clippings.

Biographical / historical:

William Lee Tidwell was a Microbiology professor at San José State University from 1955 to 1988. Born on January 14, 1926 in Greenville, South Carolina, Tidwell graduated from Rock Hill High in 1942 at age 16. He then went on to attend University of South Carolina, graduating in 1945 with a B.S. in Biology. He then moved to Hawaii with his wife Louise to attend University of Hawaii, where he worked as a teaching assistant and graduated with an M.S. in Bacteriology in 1948. He finished his studies at UCLA in 1951, and worked as a teaching assistant while he studied for his Ph.D. in Microbiology. After teaching at Texas A & M from 1951-1955, he went on to San José State University where he taught until he retired in 1988. During his time at SJSU he was active in campus politics. He was a part of the Faculty Council, Chairman of the Academic Senate, California State Employees' Association (CSEA) Chapter President and Regional Director, Interim Biology Department Chair, and chaired on many other smaller committees, including the Committee on Committees. He also served on the Liaison Delegate Committee that established the California Faculty Association (CFA), and later served as State Vice President and Legislative Committee Chairman of CFA.

Tidwell enrolled in the Naval ROTC after high school, and served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946, on both the U.S.S. Colorado and U.S.S. Iowa. He continued in the Naval Reserve for over 30 years, retiring in 1986 as a Naval Captain. After retiring he moved to Visalia, California where he died November 5, 2017.

Processing information:

Collection was processed by Lauren DeCelle in 2019.

Arrangement:

Collection is arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Copyright has not been assigned to San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission to publish or quote from materials must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections & Archives as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader. Copyright restrictions also apply to digital reproductions of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.

Preferred citation:

William Tidwell Papers, MSS 2017-05-25, San José State University Library, Special Collections & Archives

Location of this collection:
One Washington Square
San Jose, CA 95192-0028, US
Contact:
408-808-2062