My Tour through the Asylum

"[A] testament to his journey toward South Carolina's—not only desegregation of schools—but full integration and voice for African American students." —Libby Bernardin, author of Stones Ripe for Sowing

Immortalized in the writings of his most famous student, bestselling author Pat Conroy, veteran education administrator William E. Dufford has led an inspirational life as a stalwart champion for social justice and equal access for all to the empowerment of a good public education. A quintessential Southern storyteller now in his nineties, Dufford reflects on his own transformation through education, from his upbringing in the segregationist Jim Crow Era-South of the 1930s and 1940s to becoming an accomplished integrationist revered by his pantheon of former colleagues and students. In My Tour through the Asylum, several of these supporters share their own candid recollections of Dufford alongside his life story, adding context and anecdotes to the narrative.


Dufford credits the evolution of his mindset from segregationist to integrationist to the good influence of two experiences: his service in the US Navy in the 1940s opening his eyes to a larger worldview and his later doctoral training at the University of Florida under nationally recognized professors introducing him to global perspectives of education.


Drawing the book title and themes from nineteenth-century statesman James Louis Petigru's infamous assessment that South Carolina was "too small to be a republic and too big to be an insane asylum," Dufford offers an insightful, pragmatic, and ultimately hopeful tour through his lived experiences in the courageous, committed service of education and enlightenment.

"William Dufford's memoir is a remarkable example of courage, passion, and determination." —Peggy B. Winder, Newberry College