The William George Dodd Papers were created by William George Dodd.

William George Dodd was born in Waynesville, Ohio, on April 9, 1874. He received his A.B. degree from Bethany College in 1893. Harvard University awarded him an A.M. degree in 1908 and a Ph.D. in English Literature in 1911. In 1910, he was appointed professor of English at Florida State College for Women (FSCW) in Tallahassee, Florida, teaching classes mainly in Chaucer and Shakespeare. In 1913, he was appointed Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. During World War I, when the faculty presented a special program devoted to helping students understand the war, Dr. Dodd spoke about the connection between German literature and the War.

Dr. Dodd was considered a great favorite of students, serving as their confidante as well as an inspiring teacher. He was an accomplished musician who played the piano for chapel and the local Rotary Club, an organist at the First Baptist Church in Tallahassee, and often participated in student theatricals.

By the mid 1930s, there was nationwide dissatisfaction with college and university curricula. During that time, FSCW was criticized for "not fitting students for life." As a result, Dr. Dodd modified the college's liberal arts agenda. Under his direction, the College of Arts and Sciences became one of the first colleges in the United States to offer majors in the fields of art and speech.

Described by his colleagues at FSCW as "Prime Minister of the Deans," Dr. Dodd played a leading role in maintaining the school's academic direction.

Dr. Dodd's efforts resulted in the creation of a program of "integrated courses," four general courses that taught the significance of a large field of knowledge rather than specific techniques. Beginning in the fall of 1936, all freshmen and sophomores (except those who passed exemption examinations) took a five-hour course in biological science, physical science, humanities, or social studies as part of their program each semester.

In addition to these academic accomplishments, Dr. Dodd composed the music and words for a new "College Song" which the Florida State College for Women adopted as its Alma Mater. He also wrote books on the history of education in Tallahassee, including Florida State College for Women: Notes of the formative years; West Florida Seminary, 1857-1901; and Florida State College, 1901-1905.

Citing ill health in 1938, at the age of 64, Dr. Dodd asked President Edward Conradi to relieve him of some of his numerous campus duties. President Conradi appointed Dr. Guy Diffenbaugh as Assistant Dean of Arts and Sciences, but Dr. Dodd continued to supervise the daily liberal arts life of the college until his retirement on July 1, 1944. Dr. Diffenbaugh replaced him as Arts and Sciences Dean.

In 1961, the building built in the 1920s as the Florida State College for Women Library was renamed Dodd Hall in recognition of his service to education. Dr. Dodd died February 25, 1963.

From the guide to the William George Dodd Papers, ca. 1939-1940, (Repository Unknown)