William F. Gidley papers

William Francis Gidley was born on November 5, 1882, in Holly, Michigan. After working as a drugstore clerk in high school, William decided to pursue a career in pharmacy. He received his B.S. in Pharmacy and a Pharmaceutical Chemist (PhC.) degree from the University of Michigan in 1908. While at the University of Michigan, William worked as a tutor in the Medical School and as a special assistant in the food and drug laboratory.

From 1909-1912, William served as the Dean of the College of Pharmacy at Mercer University, in Macon, Georgia. During this time, he was also the bacteriologist and chemist for the Board of Health of the City of Macon.

William transferred to Purdue University in 1912, where he would remain for the next twelve years, save for one year in 1918 which he spent in New York as an assistant chief of the medical staff of E. R. Squibb and Sons. His title at Purdue was professor of materia medica from 1912-1919, and professor of pharmacy from 1920-1924. While at Purdue, William also took summer courses at the University of Chicago (Rush) Medical School.

In 1924, William became a professor of pharmacy and department head of the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Texas Medical School in Galveston. In 1926, when the Department of Pharmacy became the College of Pharmacy, William became the dean of the college. He was also involved in the college’s eventual move to the main campus in Austin.

William continued his role as dean at the University of Texas until 1947, when his failing health prompted him to relinquish the deanship in favor of teaching full time. He continued in this capacity until retiring in 1957, when he became an Emeritus Professor of Pharmacy.

William passed away on May 18, 1965.