John W. Ward

A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Ward was born in 1922.  He later earned his A.B. from Harvard University and continued his education at the University of Minnesota, receiving both a M.A. and Ph.D.  Ward began his teaching career as a professor of English at Princeton University and then switched his intellectual interest to history.  From 1964-1971 he was a professor of history and American studies at Amherst College before taking over as the College's president.  During his time in charge of the school, Ward introduced coeducation and was arrested for civil disobedience at an antiwar protest in 1972.  Though perhaps more remembered for these actions, Ward was an author as well.  He penned a few books, including Andrew Jackson, Symbol for an Age.  Toward the end of his life he served as president of the American Council of Learned Societies from 1982 until his death on August 3, 1985.

CSS