Coker, Francis W. (Francis William), 1878-

Born in Society Hill, South Carolina, on November 1, 1878, Francis William Coker received A.B. degrees from the University of North Carolina in 1899 and from Harvard University in 1902. He received the degree of Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1910. Between 1911 and 1929, he taught political science at Ohio State University, after which he became the Cowles Professor of government at Yale University. In 1947, Coker became professor emeritus at Yale, and became a visiting professor at various institutions for the next decade. He was married on July 6, 1916, to Helene Ruth Patton, with whom he had two children. He died on May 26, 1963.

From the guide to the Francis William Coker papers, 1930-1957, (Manuscripts and Archives)