His research interest focused on the work of French Romantic artist Théodore Géricault (1791–1824).
William Eitner was a doctor of law, though never practised, born in Vienna in 1884; prior to World War I, he worked in an Austrian ministry.
At recommendation from his teachers, he went to Princeton University, which he was disappointed by, as they specialized exclusively in early medieval art.
[2] The Office of Strategic Services, predecessor of the CIA, recruited, and he attended the speech of a Colonel talking about unsung heroes who would likely lose their lives but would win the war- secret operations.
[2] He was head analyst for the Ministries Division of the Office of Chief of Counsel, starting in August 1946.
[6] After his education being interrupted by World War II, Eitner returned to Princeton University in 1947, finishing his doctorate in 1952.
[3] His first daughter, Maria "Christy" was born on September 27, 1947, and Eitner planted a sapling taken from the shores of Lake Carnegie on 221C Halsey Street, Princeton, that same day.
[2] He was made the Osgood Hooker Professor of Fine Art Emeritus at Stanford University.
He significantly revived the museum from its slump from the 1906 earthquake; this was done by refurbishing galleries, strengthening collections, and instituting a program of exhibitions, educational services, and publications.
Eitner used Stanford University's lack of care about the museum to act decisively, allowing fast purchases of art items.
"He realized he didn't have the money to buy de Koonings and Pollocks, but he knew the market very well and bought against the market, very anticipatorily, with the funds that he had" - Robert Flynn Johnson on Eitner's museum management practices.
[11]Eitner retired in 1989, two months before the Loma Prieta earthquake closed the museum for ten years.