Willis Van Devanter II, one of the world’s top appraisers of historical American documents and books passed away peacefully at age 95. He started reading at age two, began collecting historical books at ten, won Yale's undergraduate book collecting prize at twenty and followed his passion by appraising book, art, prints, antiques and manuscript for the rest of his life.

He was born and raised in Washington, DC, was the son of Winslow and Isabel Earling Van Devanter and grandson of Dolly Burhans and the Supreme Court Justice, Willis Van Devanter, for whom he was named. He was a graduate of St. Albans School, The Hotchkiss School, Yale University and Columbia University. He served in the Army in Germany, attaining the rank of Sergeant. After returning home, he became the Acting Curator of Graphic Arts at Princeton University Library where he began putting his knowledge of books, prints and collecting to professional use.
 

There he was recruited as chief-of-staff for Paul Mellon, the American philanthropist and art collector, to build a collection that became the core of the Yale Center for British Art. He also became integral in the formation of Bunny Mellon’s world renowned botanical book collection.

One of Willis’ characteristically adventurous stories was about the papers of philosopher John Locke. Locke’s library was in danger of being broken up and sold at auction. When Willis discovered that the collection librarian was also a bicyclist, Willis traveled to England and timed it so that he was able to meet the librarian bicycling to work. Willis was able to arrange a deal that allowed Paul Mellon to purchase the collection intact and preserve it at Oxford’s Bodleian Library.
 

A 47-year resident of Poolesville, Willis established his own appraisal practice that he based there. He appraised the papers of many notable Americans including Irving Berlin, W. Averell Harriman, Philip Roth, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and even appraised moon rocks from the Apollo lunar landing. He also started his own historical culinary antique business, The Thankful Chase.
 

Willis had a number of passions. He loved to walk everywhere (very fast) and he loved to travel. He loved bicycling all over the region and belonged to many bicycle clubs in the area. In his early years, he bicycled across France. On vacations, his family would drive and he would meet them there on his bicycle. When he got sick, he bicycled to the hospital.
He also had deep interests in the history of cooking in America. He and his wife, Carter, were charter members of the Culinary Historians of Washington, and Willis lectured on the history of the American cookbook, including at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Tangentially he deeply loved oysters, so much so he kept bushels in his house to shuck when he desired.
 

Willis had a keen sense of humor, always telling funny jokes and stories on road trips and at parties and singing songs of all kinds.
 

He is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Carter Burwell Van Devanter, daughters Susan Van Devanter Newell (JP) and Carly Van Devanter (Chris Shimkaveg), son Winslow Van Devanter, his four grandchildren Jack Newell (Terrell Fuller), Susannah Newell (Noah Levine), Chase Shimkaveg and Connor Shimkaveg, and his sisters Ethel Harris and Isabel Sawhill.
The funeral will be Saturday, September 26th at 11am at St. Peter’s Church in Poolesville, Maryland with a noon luncheon after.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Willis’ beloved St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 20100 Fisher Ave., P.O. Box 387, Poolesville, MD 20837