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©2003 Davidson College Archives | Davidson , NC 28035
| Phone: 704.894.2632 |
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William Joseph Martin, Jr.
(b. 1868 d. 1943) Dr. "Bill Joe" Martin, M.D, Ph.D, LL.D. was born in Columbia, Tennessee, but moved with his family to Davidson in 1870. His father, Colonel William Joseph Martin, was a professor of Natural Sciences at Davidson College and also served as acting president in 1887-1888 during President Luther McKinnon's illness. William Martin, Jr. graduated from Davidson in 1888 and earned an M.A. the following year. In 1890, he earned his M.D. degree from the University of Virginia and in 1894 he received a Ph.D. He returned to Davidson in 1896 as professor of Chemistry, a position he held until 1912, when he became president of the college.
During his tenure as president, Davidson experienced two major fires resulting in the loss of the Old Chambers Building and Watts Dormitory. The school mascot became the Wildcat. Student enrollment doubled from 300 to over 600 students, and the number of faculty positions expanded by fifteen. Additionally, Davidson became part of the Duke Endowment after its creation in 1924. In 1929, Martin retired from the presidency of Davidson and became the president of the Assembly Training School in Richmond, Virginia. Martin, also, served as moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., and was active in the Laymen's Missionary Movement.
Author: Molly P. Gillespie
Date: 1998
Cite as: Gillespie, Molly P. "William Joseph Martin, Jr. " Davidson Encyclopedia 1998 <http://library.davidson.edu/archives/ency/martinwjjr.asp>
Related Entries: Chambers Building, Dormitory Row, President's House, Presidents of Davidson College
Related Links: Martin's Presidential Portrait
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©2003 Davidson College Archives | Davidson , NC 28035
| Phone: 704.894.2632 |
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