Ethan Allen Hitchcock Shepley (May 3, 1896 – June 21, 1975) was the

chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...

of Washington University in St. Louis from 1953 until 1961.

Early years

Ethan Allen Hitchcock Shepley, a descendant of early American revolutionary

Ethan Allen Ethan Allen ( – February 12, 1789) was an American farmer, businessman, land speculator, philosopher, writer, lay theologian, American Revolutionary War patriot, and politician. He is best known as one of the founders of Vermont and for ...

, was born in St. Louis in 1896. His father and grandfather were both graduates of Washington University in St. Louis. Shepley earned his undergraduate degree at Yale and entered

Harvard Law School Harvard Law School (Harvard Law or HLS) is the law school of Harvard University, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest continuously operating law school in the United States. Each class ...

, but finished his law degree at Washington University in St. Louis in 1922. He practiced law in St. Louis and became active in state politics. After stepping down as chancellor, he was the Republican Party's candidate for governor in 1964.

Washington University

Shepley became chancellor in 1953, the first alumnus to hold the position. He oversaw the transition of the university from a "streetcar college" for local students to a national university with a majority of its students from outside the region. A major fund raising drive led to a new round of construction, including the John M. Olin Library, Urbauer Hall for engineering, Busch Laboratory for biology, and Steinberg Hall for the Gallery of Arts, as well as several new dormitories on the South 40.

External links

Washington University in St. Louis

at Washington University in St. Louis 1896 births 1975 deaths Yale University alumni Harvard Law School alumni Chancellors of Washington University in St. Louis Missouri Republicans Washington University in St. Louis alumni Washington University School of Law alumni Washington University in St. Louis faculty {{US-academic-administrator-stub