Williams College Oral History Project Interview with Russell Bostert
March 27 & May 9, 1991
Interview Length: 48 pages
Russell Bostert (1921 Š 2000) taught in the History department at Williams from 1948 until his retirement in 1991. He was the first faculty member to hold the Theodore Stanfield Professorship in History.
In his interview with John Walsh, Bostert discusses his childhood and education in the Midwest and tells the story of how he came to Williams. He talks about BaxterÕs presidency and his feelings about Sawyer succeeding him in that post. Bostert admits that he and many others on the faculty (and President Baxter) favored Vince Barnett for the position. Bostert goes on to discuss SawyerÕs presidency in great detail, admitting how much he came to admire SawyerÕs personal and professional qualities.
Bostert discusses several important issues from the Sawyer presidency, but he avoids discussing the much-covered abolition of fraternities and move to coeducation. Instead, Bostert discusses the attempted curricular change to the 4-2-4 program, asserting that, had it been approved, he would have looked for employment elsewhere. Bostert says that SawyerÕs out-of-the-blue requirement that it pass by 60% was brilliant. He then discusses SawyerÕs early realization that the curriculumÕs emphasis on western civilizations had to change, asserting that Ōarea studiesÕ was SawyerÕs creation. Bostert also tells the story of how Sawyer managed to remove Giles Playfair as the head of the Adams Memorial Theatre, using this as an example of SawyerÕs attention to detail and his ability to do what is right for the College. Bostert also discusses the relationship between Sawyer and Ralph Renzi, editor of the Alumni Review.
Bostert admits his two main worries about Williams in the future: That it will become a small university, not a college; and that there will be more of an emphasis on lecturing, rather than discussion. He worries aloud that as the college grows in size, this shift is inevitable, and indeed, has already begun.
The transcript of this interview and the accompanying audio file (if available) may be accessed only in the Archives/Chapin Reading Room.