GEORGE THOMPSON FAIRCHILD

Background

George Thompson Fairchild was born at Brownhelm, Ohio, the youngest child of Grandison and Nancy (Harris) Fairchild, who with their older children had moved thither from Stockbridge, Massachusetts, two decades earlier.

Education

FAIRCHILD, GEORGE THOMPSON , educator, college president, was born at Brownhelm, Ohio, the youngest child of Grandison and Nancy (Harris) Fairchild, who with their older children had moved thither from Stockbridge, Mass. , two decades earlier.

George Fairchild was sent to Oberlin College where he graduated in arts in 1862 and in theology in 1865.

Thenceforth the greater part of his life was devoted to the advancement of education in connection with agricultural institutions.

Thus he was the teacher of moral philosophy and French, had charge of the student rhetorical and arrangement of the curriculum, and was also active in building up the college library.

Career

After fourteen years of service here he was called to the presidency of the Kansas Agricultural College where he spent eighteen years in its development ; his wide experience had made him a councilor in matters of vocational education.

He was at the same time a member of the State Board of Education.

Early in his career he had become a member of the National Teachers Association, and in 1888 was president of the section of industrial education.

Later he was one of the advisory committee of the Agricultural Congress at the World’s Columbian Exposition.

He was also at one time the president of the Association of American Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations, and made notable addresses on the proper scope and methods of agricultural education.

In 1897, because the faculty did not agree with the ideas of the Populist party, then in control of the state, the Board of Regents severed the connection with the college of every one of the faculty.

He then devoted a year to the preparation of his work, Rural Wealth and Welfare, published in 1900.

In 1898 he undertook the work of organizing the industrial and agricultural departments in Berea College, having the title of vice-president.

He was of a family of educators.

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J was for many years president of Oberlin, his brother Edward Henry (1815 - 1889) served for twenty years as president of Berea (Oberlin Review, Oct. 15, 1889), and he himself was a man of wide knowledge in educational matters which he untiringly devoted to public service.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Rural Wealth and Welfare;

    ( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)

Membership

member of the State Board of Education

member of the National Teachers Association

In 1888 was president of the section of industrial education. Later he was one of the advisory committee of the Agricultural Congress at the World’s Columbian Exposition. He was also at one time the president of the Association of American Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations, and made notable addresses on the proper scope and methods of agricultural education.

Connections

On November 25, 1863, he married Charlotte Pearl Halsted, also a graduate of Oberlin.

Father:

Grandison Fairchild

Mother:

Nancy (Harris) Fairchild

Wife:

Charlotte Pearl Halsted