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 Lawrence Wikander
July 13, 2002
Lawrence E. Wikander, 86, of 21 Cluett Drive, former librarian at Williams College, died Saturday evening at home.
Born in Pittsburgh on Dec. 16, 1915, son of Oscar R. and Mary Gerdes Wikander, he attended schools there. He received his bachelor of arts degree from Williams College in 1937 and his bachelor of library science degree in 1939 from Columbia University. In 1949, he earned a master of arts degree in history from the University of Pennsylvania.
An Army veteran of World War II, he spent three years with military intelligence in the African, Italian and Austrian campaigns. He was discharged in 1946 with the rank of captain.
Mr. Wikander was appointed Williams librarian in 1968. He retired in 1982 and became curator of the Calvin Coolidge Room in the Forbes Library in Northampton. Previously, he held positions with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the District of Columbia Public Library and Temple University library, and was librarian at the Forbes from 1950 to 1968.
He was a member and officer of numerous library associations, including serving as president of the Massachusetts and New England library associations. He was president of the Northampton Community Chest from 1958 to 1960 and was a member of the board of directors of the South Mountain Association and trustee of the Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation.
Mr. Wikander was the author and editor of literary works relating to President Coolidge and his wife, Grace Coolidge.
He leaves his wife, the former Ethel Marie Whitlow, a retired assistant librarian at the Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown; two sons, Dr. Frederick W. Wikander of Chelmsford and Matthew H. Wikander of Toledo, Ohio; two grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.
Mr. Lawrence E. Wikander was a donor to the anatomical gift department of Tufts Medical School. His remains will be interred in the Williams College Cemetery, following the school of medicine's use. A memorial concert in his memory will be offered at a later date. MCBRIDE FUNERAL HOME in Adams is in charge of arrangements.
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