William Studwell

{{Short description|American librarian (1936–2010)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = William Emmett Studwell | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = 18 March 1936 | birth_place = Stamford, Connecticut | death_date = 2 August 2010 | death_place = Bloomington Hospital | death_cause = | other_names = | known_for = Library of Congress subject headings, Christmas Carols, and College Fight Songs | education = University of Connecticut, Catholic University of America | employer = | occupation = Librarian | title = | height = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | party = | boards = | spouse = Ann Marie Stroia Studwell | partner = | children = Laura Ann | parents = | relatives = | signature = | website = | footnotes = }} '''William Emmett Studwell''' (18 March 1936 – 2 August 2010) was an American librarian who became known for his knowledge of carols.<ref name="biocarol">{{cite web|title=William Emmett Studwell|url=http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/History/studwell.htm|publisher=hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com|accessdate=22 December 2010}}</ref>

==Biography== William Studwell was born in Stamford, Connecticut and he studied history at the University of Connecticut.

==Fight songs== The University of Notre Dame song is one of the most recognizable collegiate fight songs in the United States. Studwell ranked the song first, and said it was "more borrowed, more famous and, frankly, you just hear it more."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.michigandaily.com/content/irish-fight-song-deemed-better-ms-victors|title=Irish fight song deemed better than M's 'Victors'|publisher=The Michigan Daily News|date=September 11, 2003|accessdate=2010-12-22|archive-date=10 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010032703/http://www.michigandaily.com/content/irish-fight-song-deemed-better-ms-victors|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Christmas carols== Studwell had started to choose a carol for each year starting in 1986 when he chose the Ukrainian ''Carol of the Bells''.<ref name="carol25"/> Studwell took an academic interest in carols which he had spent over 6,000 hours in study. Before Christmas each year he would announce the new carol and he would be invited to interviews with the media where he was quizzed on his choice.

Studwell died in Bloomington Hospital in 2010. The day before he died he dictated a letter to his daughter which recorded his selection of a carol for 2010. Studwell fittingly chose ''We Wish You a Merry Christmas'' which is "frequently the final piece in carol performances sessions".<ref name="carol25">{{cite web|title=William Studwell's Christmas Carols of the Year series|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-christmas-carols-2010,0,7214872.htmlpage|publisher=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=22 December 2010}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist|30em}} {{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Studwell, William Emmett}} Category:1936 births Category:2010 deaths Category:People from Stamford, Connecticut Category:American librarians Category:University of Connecticut alumni Category:Catholic University of America alumni