Alvin Duke Chandler
Encyclopedia
Alvin Duke Chandler was the twenty-first president of the College of William & Mary, serving from 1951 to 1960. He also served as the chancellor of The Colleges of William & Mary
from 1960 to 1962; after that system was disbanded, he served as Chancellor of the College from 1962 to 1974. Prior to his career at the College of William & Mary, Chandler served in the United States Navy
, eventually reaching the rank of Vice-Admiral. His father, Julian Alvin Carroll Chandler, also served as president of the College of William & Mary. His personal papers as well as the papers from his time as president can be found in the Special Collections Research Center at the College of William & Mary.
Commander
Chandler was a student at the Naval War College
about 1936-1938.
During the Guadalcanal Campaign
Cdr Chandler commanded Destroyer Division 41 in the Battle of Rennell Island
. USS Chevalier (DD 451) , USS Edwards (DD 619), USS Meade (DD-602), and USS Taylor (DD-468)
made up his force.
He was director of logistics plans for the U.S. Navy when he retired to accept the presidency of the College of William & Mary (1951).
players on the college team. After taking office, he instituted uniform admission standards for all students. During his tenure, he oversaw the expansion of the faculty, curriculum changes, and the construction of five new buildings. He left office to become chancellor of the Colleges of William & Mary (1960-1962), until the General Assembly of Virginia made those five public colleges independent. Then he was chancellor of the college (1962-1974).
The faculty were unhappy with President Chandler when state law required that they subscribe to loyalty oaths. A star professor decamped for McGill University
, and faculty recruiting suffered.
Students chafed at censorship of their publications, restrictions on drinking, and requirements for chaperones.
The Colleges of William & Mary
The Colleges of William & Mary was the name of a short-lived educational system in Virginia. It included the College of William & Mary, the Richmond Professional Institute, the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary, Christopher Newport College, and Richard Bland College.-Creation:In...
from 1960 to 1962; after that system was disbanded, he served as Chancellor of the College from 1962 to 1974. Prior to his career at the College of William & Mary, Chandler served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, eventually reaching the rank of Vice-Admiral. His father, Julian Alvin Carroll Chandler, also served as president of the College of William & Mary. His personal papers as well as the papers from his time as president can be found in the Special Collections Research Center at the College of William & Mary.
Naval officer (1923–1951)
Chandler was graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1923.Commander
Commander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
Chandler was a student at the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
about 1936-1938.
During the Guadalcanal Campaign
Guadalcanal campaign
The Guadalcanal Campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by Allied forces, was a military campaign fought between August 7, 1942 and February 9, 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific theatre of World War II...
Cdr Chandler commanded Destroyer Division 41 in the Battle of Rennell Island
Battle of Rennell Island
The Battle of Rennell Island took place on 29–30 January 1943, and was the last major naval engagement between the United States Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy during the Guadalcanal campaign of World War II...
. USS Chevalier (DD 451) , USS Edwards (DD 619), USS Meade (DD-602), and USS Taylor (DD-468)
USS Taylor (DD-468)
USS Taylor was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Rear Admiral William Rogers Taylor . She was laid down on 28 August 1941 at Bath, Maine, by the Bath Iron Works Corp.; launched on 7 June 1942, sponsored by Mrs. H. A...
made up his force.
He was director of logistics plans for the U.S. Navy when he retired to accept the presidency of the College of William & Mary (1951).
Educator (1951–1974)
The Board of Visitors appointed Admiral Chandler president of the College of William & Mary in haste, and outraged the faculty by failing to consult them. His predecessor had been forced out of office following a scandal over changing grades for footballAmerican football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
players on the college team. After taking office, he instituted uniform admission standards for all students. During his tenure, he oversaw the expansion of the faculty, curriculum changes, and the construction of five new buildings. He left office to become chancellor of the Colleges of William & Mary (1960-1962), until the General Assembly of Virginia made those five public colleges independent. Then he was chancellor of the college (1962-1974).
The faculty were unhappy with President Chandler when state law required that they subscribe to loyalty oaths. A star professor decamped for McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, and faculty recruiting suffered.
Students chafed at censorship of their publications, restrictions on drinking, and requirements for chaperones.