Whitaker, William Asbury, 1883-1960

William A. Whitaker was a chemist; business executive; and collector of art, autographs, literary and historical manuscripts, and rare books.

William Asbury Whitaker was born in Winston-Salem, N.C., in 1883. His parents were William A. Whitaker, Sr., and Anna Bitting Whitaker. Whitaker graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1904 and did postgraduate work at Columbia University (1905) and at the University of Chicago (1911-1912). He was a teacher of chemistry and metallurgy, first at the City College of New York and later at the University of Kansas (1911-1918). He moved to the import/export business, worked as a chemist, and was a partner in the firm of Francis I. DuPont. He retired in 1940.

Whitaker's passion was collecting books and manuscripts. Starting in 1946, he made a series of major donations to the University of North Carolina Library. In recognition of Whitaker's accomplishments in his profession and for his generosity, the University awarded him an honorary degree in 1956. William A. Whitaker died in New York City on 28 February 1960.