Robert K. Richardson, historian and educator, was born in Hartford, Connecticut, the son of a minister. He was a noted author and professor of history at Beloit College which he joined in 1901.

Dr. Richardson received his bachelor and doctorate degrees at Yale University in 1898, becoming secretary of the Beloit College faculty and a member of the First Congregational Church in 1903. Active in history he became college archivist and historian, undertaking the chairmanship of the Beloit Pageant in 1936 and author of the First Church centennial booklet in 1938. He was a former president of the Wisconsin State Historical Society, 1946-1949 and vice-president of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters.

Dr. Richardson was elected deacon of the First Church and served from 1908-1912, serving as trustee from 1916-1919, 1923-1926 and 1933-1936. He also served as treasurer of the church Benevo-lence for the periods of 1933-1940 and 1940-1952, while also serving as clerk of the church. In 1940 Dr. Richardson married Helen L. Drew, professor at Rockford College. After teaching history for a period of 46 years at Beloit, he reached retirement age in 1947 with the title of Professor Emeritus. He was familiar-ly known as “Dickie” by his intimate associates. The busy historian’s demise came in 1952.