Someone asked me whether, when a Williams faculty member who holds a named professorship takes emeritus status, another faculty member is then designated as holding the named professorship. I haven’t been paying attention, and I have no idea. I remember seeing professors referred to as, say “AB, ZY-XW Professor of Subject, Emeritus” (or “Emerita”) but it never occurred to me to look to see whether someone else was soon thereafter appointed “CD, ZY-XW Professor of Subject” while the former incumbent continued to hold the designation but on emeritus status.

I assume that some monetary grant goes with most named professorships. How does that work when the holder takes emeritus status? 

Williams has been profoundly fortunate in the various ways so many of its emerati professors have continued to teach, research, head special committees, and otherwise give to and promote the interests of the College. I think of Hodge Markgraf ‘52 (the Ebenezer Fitch Professor of Chemistry, Emeritus), as the epitome of that.