William Ellis Rachal was born on June 20, 1910 in Marlinton, WV. He came to Davidson College in the fall of 1929. While a student, he was involved with the Philanthropic Society, band, glee club and Freshman track. He graduated in 1933 and received an MA from the University of Virginia in 1933. After a career as a public school teacher, he served in the U.S. military during World War II. He began his career as an historian after the war working at the Virginia State Library He also served as an editor on the James Madison papers. He died in 1980.