William Seale
William Seale was 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, 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, Blair House and A White House of Stone
His restoration projects include the state capitols of Michigan, Ohio, Kansas, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, and historical consultation on the capitols of Minnesota, Alaska, and New Jersey. Historic houses include Dodona Manor, the Gen. George C. Marshall House, Leesburg, Virginia; Ten Chimneys, home of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne; Genesee Depot, Wisconsin; George Eastman House, Rochester, New York; Ximenez-Fatio House, St. Augustine, Florida; Old Governor's Mansion ; and many others over a period of twenty-five years.
Seale was editor of White House History, the award-winning journal of the White House Historical Association.
In 2013 he served as a consultant and panelist for the Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network production, , that would run for two seasons.
On November 21, 2019, he died following an illness.
