William Seale

Who is William Seale?

William Seale is an American historian and author.

He attended Southwestern University and Duke University. He taught for several years at Lamar University, the University of Houston, the University of South Carolina, and Columbia University. From 1973-1974 he was curator of cultural history at the Smithsonian Institution. Since 1975 he has been an independent scholar concerned with historical writing and the restoration of historic American buildings, notably state capitols.

His books include, The President’s House: A History, 2 vols., The White House: History of an American Idea; The Tasteful Interlude: American Interiors Through the Camera’s Eye, Recreating the Historic House Interior, Restoration of the Kentucky Governor’s Mansion, Restoration of the Michigan Capitol, State of Michigan, Kent State University Press, 1988, with Erik Kvalsvik, Domestic Views, and various guide books and local histories relating to architecture, such as The Virginia Governor’s Mansion, with Henry-Russell Hitchcock, Temples of Democracy: The State Capitols of the USA, and Courthouse.