William Staples is a Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Director of the Surveillance Studies Research Center at the University of Kansas. He worked as a professor in sociology at KU for 31 years before his retirement.

Staples graduated from the University of Oregon in 1980 with a bachelors in science in Sociology. He went on to receive his masters and doctorate from the University of Southern California in 1984 and 1987, respectively. After completing his doctoral studies, he became a post-doctoral fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1987. Staples also served as an assistant adjunct professor at UCLA from 1987 - 1989 before beginning work at KU.

He has published five books, including Everyday Surveillance: Vigilance and Visibility in Postmodern Life (2014); Encyclopedia of Privacy (Volumes 1-2) (2006); Power, Profits, and Patriarchy: The Social Organization of Work at a British Metal Trades Firm, 1791-1922 (2001); The Culture of Surveillance: Discipline and Social Control in the United States (1996); and Castles of Our Conscience: Social Control and the American State, 1800-1985 (1990).

In addition to his publications, Staples also served as a co-editor of Sociological Inquiry and The Sociological Quarterly, as well as the Associate Editor of Surveillance and Society.

Staples was the recipient of a Tony Arnold Faculty Research Stipend from KU in 2012 to further his research into the history of birth certificates. He also received in 2011 the Balfour Jeffrey Award in Humanities and Social Sciences, one of four Higuchi-KU Endowment Research Achievement Awards recognizing excellence in research, for his work on social control and surveillance.

[Information retrieved from University Archives “William Staples” morgue file and from University of Kansas Sociology Department faculty website: https://sociology.ku.edu/people/william-g-staples]