Born in 1889, Walter Clyburn Taylor attended the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (later North Carolina State University) and graduated in 1913 with a degree in textile engineering. While he was a student he was involved in a variety of clubs and activities and held positions of leadership in several of these organizations, including serving as president of the Tompkins Textile Society and business manager for Wau Gau Rac-a weekly publication dedicated to the events of the Athletic Association of the college.
Taylor served in the military during World War I and was stationed in Europe for more than a year during the hostilities. At some point after the war he returned to North Carolina and to the textile industry: the University's 1927 alumni directory lists him as residing in Charlotte, North Carolina, and working for the Duplan Silk Corporation.
From the guide to the Walter Clyburn Taylor Notebook, 1911 - 1912, (Special Collections Research Center)
