A tribute to William Studwell, Christmas carol historian

A tribute to William Studwell, Christmas carol historian
William Studwell, a Christmas Carol historian, talks about the golden era of Christmas songs. Getty/Tim Boyle
A tribute to William Studwell, Christmas carol historian
William Studwell, a Christmas Carol historian, talks about the golden era of Christmas songs. Getty/Tim Boyle

A tribute to William Studwell, Christmas carol historian

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William Studwell loved this time of year. He worked for three decades as a library cataloger at Northern Illinois University. But, the professor emeritus of was widely regarded as one of the leading experts on Christmas carols.

He first spoke with “Eight Forty-Eight” in 2005 when he gave his annual list of top carols. Since then, we’ve often revisited that conversation and the songs he shared.

Studwell died this past August at the age of 74 and “Eight Forty Eight” revisted his original conversation with WBEZ’s Steve Edwards.

Before his death, he chose the 2010 carol of the year: “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”