William C. Bartol was born in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, on November 24, 1847. He entered the University at Lewisburg at the age of nineteen, and he graduated with honor in 1872. As student, he served as editor of the College Herald, the college newspaper. After graduation, he entered the teaching profession, serving as professor of mathematics an the Salisbury Academy in Connecticut, principal of the Centre Hall high school in Pennsylvania, superintendent of the public schools of Union Grove in Wisconsin, and principal of the Huntingdon Academy in Pennsylvania. He then served as professor of mathematics at the Pennsylvania State Normal School at Mansfied for four years before becoming Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy at Bucknell University in 1881.

He was instrumental in the building of the observatory and he became its director. He drew the plans for the observatory and chemical laboratory and served as superintendent for their construction. Before attending college, he had been trained as a draftsman and builder. He was a great supporter of college athletics and an excellent tennis player, who continued to play until he was seventy. In 1893, Professor Bartol taught a course in civil engineering. He also published texts on "Differentials and Derivatives" and "Solid Geometry". When Dr. Bartol retired, the Board of Trustees voted to give him a pension: he was "retired on full pay" in honor of his service as a full professor for almost fifty years (1881 - 1928). William C. Bartol died in 1940 at the age of 93. He is buried in the Lewisburg Cemetary.

This photograph of Professor Bartol is from the 1920 L 'Agenda.