William Stanley Hoole (1903–1990), who also wrote under the pen name Will Stanley, was a prominent American historian, librarian, educator, and publisher. Over his distinguished career, he became a central figure in the preservation and study of Southern history, particularly focusing on the history of Alabama, the Confederacy, and his own academic home, the University of Alabama.\n\nAt the University of Alabama, Hoole served in key leadership roles, eventually becoming the dean emeritus of university libraries and professor emeritus of library service. His academic contributions extended beyond administration into active scholarship and publishing. He founded the Confederate Publishing Company, which specialized in historical works about the American South, and served as an editor and author of numerous historical texts.
