William A. Sumner

William “prof” Sumner (Deceased) joined the faculty of the Department of Agricultural Journalism (now LSC) as bulletin editor in 1915 and played an active role within the department until his death in 1959. He worked to expand the numerous departmental programs and developed a program of teaching and research in agricultural journalism.

Department histories describe Sumner as part of a generation of faculty who helped establish agricultural journalism and communication as an important academic and public service field at UW-Madison. Working alongside early department leaders including J. Clyde Marquis and Andrew Hopkins, he contributed to expanding the department’s publications, exhibits, outreach efforts, and statewide information services connected to the Wisconsin Idea.

Sumner also played an important role in the department’s early communication research efforts. Historical accounts note that he conducted pioneering studies on newspaper readership, bulletin use, and agricultural information dissemination beginning in the 1920s. His work helped lay foundations for later scholarship in agricultural and science communication.

The 16th-century Spanish psalter page displayed in the Sumner Student Lounge is believed to have been presented to Professor Sumner by fellow faculty members upon his retirement in 1947. The manuscript contains Latin passages referencing vineyards, harvest, and stewardship, themes reflecting the department’s historic ties to agriculture, communication, and public service.

The piece was later donated to the department by Margaret Sumner in honor of the department’s history and community. As part of the donation, she also wished to recognize and acknowledge the longstanding contributions of Larry Meiller, whose public communication work continues the department’s tradition of connecting knowledge and communities across Wisconsin.