Appalachian State University. John A. Walker College of Business

The Cratis D. Williams Graduate School was established in 1948 providing a structure for the graduate courses that had been offered at Appalachian since 1942 under the auspices of the University of North Carolina. The Cratis D. Williams Graduate School and Research & Sponsored Programs Records can be divided into four main categories: records pertaining to the Graduate Council, administrative documents, Graduate Student Association Senate, and Research Proposals.

The Department of Economics currently operates within the John A. Walker College of Business and offers undergraduate coursework leading to a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, with a variety of concentrations. These records contain administrative and departmental files dating 1978-1999.

John Walker was a businessman, philanthropist, and community leader from North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, who in 1976 contributed a major gift to Appalachian State University's College of Business, which is now named for him. This collection contains certificates and plaques presented to John Walker and speeches made by John Walker.

The Walker College of Business was established in 1970, with the formation of other colleges after Appalachian State Teachers College became Appalachian State University, and incorporated the already extant Department of Economics and Department of Business. These records contain program files, committee and council files, administrative files, correspondence, and many records from the Dean’s Office, 1961-2005, with bulk dates of 1980-2000.

This collection consists of newsletters published by the Center for the Study of Private Enterprise. The issues date from 1986-1989 and go from Volume 1 no. 1-Volume 4 no. 2. The newsletter was designed for high school economics teachers.

John Edwin Thomas served as Chancellor of ASU from his appointment in 1979 to his retirement in 1993. The records contain information on the general administration of Appalachian State University, state governance, accreditation, academic programs, student life, and cultural events. His administration is known for capital improvements to the campus, increased faculty, and development of technological and communication infrastructure.