William W. Farnam

William Whitman Farnam was a man who did his work well and said as little about it as possible. Treasurer of Yale during practically the whole of President Dwight’s administration, he had a more important part than any other man in placing the institution on its feet at a most critical juncture of its history; but few, even among his associates, appreciated the significance of the work he was doing. He combined public spirit with self-effacement to an extraordinary degree, and the combination lent singular charm to his personality. Professor Farnam worked during many years with the Free Trade League. He was an earnest believer in the importance, not only on economic grounds and for the sake of getting the most out of the resources of the world, but for the purpose of bringing about civilized relations between the nations, of lessening and of finally abolishing tariff barriers. He held that protection represented a form of war, and that a civilized world was to be governed not by warfare, but by law.

Alexander Dana Noyes
1930 Century Association Yearbook