William Woodard

William Parsons Woodard (September 10, 1896-February 20, 1973), was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was a scholar of Japanese religion, and served as an advisor on religion and cultural resources during the allied command after World War II. His research and study of Japanese religions resulted in his book "The Allied Occupation of Japan and Japanese Religions" (1972). [ [http://nwda-db.wsulibs.wsu.edu/findaid/ark:/80444/xv82095 Guide to the William P. Woodard Papers 1869-1974 ] ]

In 1918 William graduated from Kalamazoo College with a history degree. He married Harriet Mead and served in World War I. After the war he graduated from Union Theological Seminary in 1921.

Later in 1921 he went to Japan as a missionary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (Congregational Christian Churches). He stayed in Japan until 1941. During the later part of his stay he worked as a secretary in the headquarters of the Kumiai Christian Church.

From 1942 to 1947, Woodard served in the U.S. Navy as an intelligence officer, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He returned to Japan in 1945 after the end of World War II. He remained in Japan working with the military in a variety of roles related to the Religious Juridical Persons Law, until the end of the Allied occupation in 1952, when he returned to the States.

In 1953 he went back to Japan to found the International Institute for the Study of Religions. He served as their director until 1966, when he again returned to the United States.

Harriet died in 1956. William married Margaret Cuddleback in 1956. She was a missionary and YWCA secretary.

After returning to the States, William lectured at Claremont Graduate School from 1966 until 1972. William died February 20, 1973, in Pomona, California.

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