On Mon, Feb 27, 2017 at 3:19 PM, Joan Benedetti <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

It has been great reading all the reminiscences about Bill.  That retirees session in Baltimore in 2003 was probably the last one he took part in and since I had retired just the year before, it was especially memorable for me.  But I think Bill did attend an ARLIS conference not that long ago—it was probably the last meeting in New York.  (I just looked up the last NYC conference, which was in 2004, so I think it may have been in Boston, which was 2010??  Does anyone know?)  He had signed up for the Membership Luncheon and Meeting.  I had gone into the room a little early and put my jacket down at a good table near the podium, then went out to see who else I could snag to join me.  I was surprised—and delighted—to see Bill come through the doors!  He didn’t have anyone with him and he greeted me warmly, so of course I asked if he would like to join me.  He seemed genuinely happy to do so and we had a lovely conversation.  I remember being somewhat self-conscious to be sitting with someone I still considered an ARLIS celebrity, but of course Bill immediately made me feel like an old friend, which I was, though still somewhat in awe.  I also remember realizing that there were many in the room who had no idea who he was. (It is terrific that ARLIS continues to attract new members, replenishing the energy that Bill and Judy and Wolfgang and the other founders brought to the birthing of this organization.)  Of course I introduced him to those nearby.  It is wonderful to know there are still many ARLISians who knew him “when” and will never forget the warmth that he brought to every ARLIS gathering, large or small.  

 

Joan

From: ARLIS/NA List [mailto:[log in to unmask]ORG] On Behalf Of Carol Terry
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2017 11:23 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ARLIS-L] Bill Walker

 

Thinking about proposing a session on retirement for the next ARLIS conference, I pulled out the 2003 Baltimore conference program. Bill was part of the panel for the session: As Time Goes by: Retirement! Or Life After Full-time. I remember his joy in being an artist as showed images of many of his paintings and talked about his process and inspiration. I expect that's the last time that many of us saw him.

 

I do have one other memory to share, although details are fuzzy. Through a fundraising raffle, I had won $100 off dinner at a restaurant, I believe it was in Washington. I needed someone to go with me, and asked Bill as we had dined together at some previous conferences. He graciously agreed, as long as I would let him pay for the wine. Ever the connoisseur, he chose well, and I remember the wine ending up costing more than the rest of the dinner.

 

Daniel, thank you for your message. Would you be sure that John gets a copy of all of our remembrances?

 

Carol

 

 

Carol Terry

Rhode Island School of Design 1987-2016

 

 

Carol Terry

[log in to unmask]

 

On Mon, Feb 27, 2017 at 12:20 PM, Chris Mees <[log in to unmask]com> wrote:

 

I’d just like to say how very sad I was to read about the death of Bill Walker.  I have very fond memories of the first time I met him.  

It was back in 1987 and I had recently left my job as an art librarian to launch Design and Applied Arts Index. In those days (pre WWW) 

it came out only in print format. In a push to acquire subscribers in there States, I flew to New York and over a period of two days trekked 

around all the major academic, public and museum libraries hawking my index like an encyclopaedia salesman. I didn’t make any appointments 

but just turned up unannounced and asked if I could show my product to the appropriate librarian.  The first place I visited was the Met Library.

Despite no doubt being extremely busy, Bill Watson not only agreed to see me, but invited me to tea.  He was so kind, courteous and generous 

with his time. Many a person in his position would no doubt have refused to see me and shown me the door, but instead he examined the index there 

and then, and asked what my plans were for the future. At the end of our meeting, which must have been at least half an hour, he told me that he 

was sufficiently impressed with the index and would be placing an order.  This was the first subscriber to DAAI in the States.

 

Someone later told me the he was a "true Southern gentleman” and he certainly was that. In fact I think he was one of the kindest people I have met.

It was his words of encouragement at that first meeting that persuaded me to continue with the enterprise, for which I will be forever grateful.  

 

Chris Mees

Editor – Arts: Search

 

 

 

From: ARLIS/NA List <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Daniel Starr <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Daniel Starr <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sunday, 26 February 2017 13:33
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [ARLIS-L] Bill Walker

 

I’m sad to report that William Bond Walker died on February 22 at the age of 86 after a long illness. He was a founding member of ARLIS/NA and our third President. He was also the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award for 1991.

 

Bill began his career as Librarian-Trainee at the  Donnell Branch of the New York Public Library in 1955. He was Reference Librarian/Cataloger at the Metropolitan Museum Art from 1957-1959, Chief Librarian of the Brooklyn Museum’s Art Reference Library, 1959-1964, Supervisory Librarian at the National Collection of Fine Arts and National Portrait Gallery Library, Smithsonian Institution,1964-1980, and the  Arthur K. Watson Chief Librarian of Thomas J. Watson Library at the Metropolitan Museum Art, 1980-1994. He retired in 1994.

 

He received his B.A. at the State University of Iowa in Iowa City in 1953 and his  M.L.S from Rutgers University in 1958. He was an avid painter and exhibited widely, including at the Art and Music Library of the University of Rochester and the Carrie Haddad Gallery in Hudson, New York.

 

Bill is survived by his long-time partner John Balkema, Kimball Farms Lifecare Community, 235 Walker St, Lenox, MA 01240.

 

He will be remembered fondly by many whose life he touched, not only for his professional activities and sound advice, but also for his unfailing graciousness. The first words many of us heard from him early in our careers were, “Hello, my name is Bill Walker,” along with a big smile and a firm handshake.

 

Daniel Starr

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