Eugene Payne Watson (June 29, 1911 - February 29, 1964) was the head librarian and professor of library science at Northwestern State University in his native Natchitoches, Louisiana, from 1940 until his death. He fought to gain greater academic recognition of librarians. In 1950, Watson founded Alpha Beta Alpha, the first coeducational undergraduate library science fraternity in the United States. The fraternity held its first biennial convention on the NSU campus in 1952. At the time of Watson's death, the fraternity had twenty-nine chapters nationally. June 29 is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 185 days remaining. ... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar). ... February 29th, or bissextile day, is the 60th day of a leap year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 306 days remaining. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... The Librarian, a 1556 painting by Giuseppe Arcimboldo A librarian is an information professional trained in library science and information science: the organization and management of information and service to people with information needs. ... The meaning of the word professor (Latin: one who claims publicly to be an expert) varies. ... Library science is the science and study of issues related to libraries and the organization and management of information resources. ... The seal of Northwestern State University. ... The city of Natchitoches (pronounced , or NAK-uh-tush) is the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Look up fraternity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Look up Biennial in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Biennial is a term referring to a period of two years, much in the same way centennial refers to 100 years. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Watson was born to Arthur William Watson (1877-1932) and the former Marie Eugenie Chopin (1879-1917). He had a brother Arthur Chopin Watson (1909-1984), a prominent Natchitoches attorney, philanthropist, and the chairman of the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee from 1968-1976. 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ... 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar). ... An attorney is someone who represents someone else in the transaction of business: For attorney-at-law, see lawyer, solicitor, barrister or civil law notary. ... A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, or reputation to a charitable cause. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1968 Gregorian calendar. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ...

Like his older brother, Watson was educated in the Catholic St. Mary's Academy and St. Mary's High School in Natchitoches. He received his bachelor of arts degree from Northwestern (then the Louisiana State Normal College) in 1933, his master of arts degree from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in 1934, and his master of library science degree from LSU in 1937. He received the Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1951. He also completed advanced studies at Columbia University in New York City from 1959-1960. He never married. A B.A. issused as a certificate Bachelor of Arts (B.A., BA or A.B.), from the Latin Artium Baccalaureus is an undergraduate bachelors degree awarded for either a course or a program in the liberal arts or the sciences, or both. ... A normal school is a institution for training teachers. ... 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... A masters degree is an academic degree usually awarded for completion of a postgraduate course of one or two years in duration. ... Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College at Baton Rouge, generally known as Louisiana State University or LSU, is a public, coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and the main campus of the Louisiana State University System. ... Capitol Building Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana, a state of the United States of America. ... Year 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. ... The University of Texas System comprises fifteen educational institutions in Texas, of which nine are general academic universities, and six are health institutions. ... Nickname: Live Music Capital of the World Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Country United States State Texas Counties Travis County, Williamson County Government  - Mayor Will Wynn Area  - City  296. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... Columbia University is a private research university in the United States. ... Nickname: Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs The Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens Staten Island Settled 1625 Government  - Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area  - City  468. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ...

He joined the NSU faculty as an English instructor in 1934 and became the assistant librarian from 1937-1940. He was promoted to head librarian in 1940, a post that he held for the remainder of his life. His articles on education and literary subjects were published in professional magazines, as book reviews, and as editorials.

He established the "Louisiana Room" at the then Russell Library on the NSU campus. He was a member of the American Library Association, the Modern Language Association, the Bigliographical Society of America, the Louisiana Histyorical Association, the Louisiana Chess Association, Delta Kappa Epsilon, Beta Phi Mu, Phi Kappa Rho, and Kappa Delta Pi. He was a member of the Catholic Knights of Columbus men's organization. He was also active in the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, United Fund, American Red Cross, and the Restoration of Colonial Natchitoches, Inc., a group which preserved the history of Louisiana's oldest surviving city. The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Fifth Edition The Modern Language Association of America (MLA) is the principal professional association in the United States for scholars of literature and literary criticism. ... Chess is a recreational and competitive game for two players. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Beta Phi Mu (also: ΒΦΜ or βφμ) is the international honor society for library & information science and information technology. ... Knights of Columbus emblem The Order of the Knights of Columbus is the worlds largest Catholic fraternal service organization. ... Logo of Rotary International Rotary International is an organisation whose members comprise Rotary Clubs (service clubs) located all over the world. ... Chambers of commerce are business advocacy groups which are usually not associated with government. ... A WWII-era poster encouraged American women to volunteer for the Red Cross as part of the war effort. ...

Watson is interred in the Catholic Cemetery in Natchitoches.

A national library science scholarship is named in his honor. After Watson's death, the Russell Library at NSU was renamed the Eugene P. Watson Memorial Library.

References

"Eugene Payne Watson", A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography Vol. 2 (1988), p. 828

Who's Who in America, XXXIII

Alpha Journal V (1963-1964)

Louisiana History V (1964)

Watson obituary, Northwestern State College Current Sauce, March 6, 1964

http://www.kutztown.edu/academics/education/itc/alpha_beta_alpha.html