Bequest Honors William Edward McElfresh (2002)

From the Williams Alumni Review, Summer 2002 issue:

Gift Honors Physics Prof.

William Edward McElfreshWilliams has received a $12.6 million bequest – one of the largest in the College’s history – in honor of longtime physics professor William Edward McElfresh. The bequest was made by McElfresh’s daughter Frances McElfresh Perry, who died last May. Her gift in part establishes the William Edward McElfresh Professorship in Physics. McElfresh joined the Department of Physics in 1902 and served as Thomas T. Read Professor of Physics until 1931. He was department chair from 1905 until his retirement and was professor emeritus until 1943.