Bookplates

The William Duncan Saunders Fund for American Poetry

July 1, 1925

This fund was established in 1925 by Dean and Mrs. Arthur Percy Saunders for the purchase of books in the field of contemporary American poetry. 

Author Percy Saunders was raised in Canada and attended the University of Toronto and Johns Hopkins University, from where he received a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1894. Following completion of his Ph.D. studies, Dr. Saunders instructed and attended various other institutions, including the University of Wisconsin, University of Göttingen in Germany, and the University of Berlin. He was a revered professor of chemistry at Hamilton and served as the College’s Dean from 1910 to 1926. Upon his retirement, he was named a professor emeritus and was later awarded an honorary of Doctor of Humane Letters degree by the College (1943). While a member of the faculty, he was involved with Sigma Phi, Phi Beta Kapa, and Pentagon. Aside from his commitments to Hamilton, Dr. Saunders was revered in his field for his expertise in peonies, serving as the President of the American Peony Society.