William F. Lye was born February 19, 1930 in Kimberley, British Columbia, Canada. After graduating from his local high school, Lye served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon his return, Lye married ‘Velda', a woman he had met while serving his LDS mission. Thereafter, Lye applied to Rick College (now B.Y.U. Idaho) and studied history. After two years at Ricks, the Utah State Agricultural College (now Utah State University) offered Lye a scholarship, which Lye accepted, and later graduated from the U.S.A.C. with a B.A. in history. Shortly after his graduation, Lye was awarded a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship and enrolled in the University of California, Berkeley. Two years later Lye graduated with a M.A. in British Imperial History.
Following his graduation from the University of California Lye was offered a teaching job at Ricks College. After teaching at Ricks College for four years, the College granted Lye a sabbatical leave to pursue a Ph.D.. Lye enrolled at U.C.L.A. and studied African history before colonial rule. After graduating from U.C.L.A. Lye returned to Ricks for one year, but then accepted a position to teach African history at U.S.A.C., where he taught until his retirement.
Source: ‘Biographical Sketch', by William F. Lye.
From the guide to the William F. Lye South African manuscripts, 1834-1972, (Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives)
