Life of Henry Barnard: The First United States Commissioner of Education, 1867-1870. Bulletin, 1919, No. 8

Henry Barnard was "one of the men who revitalized the American common-school system", and as such, he is clearly worthy of a biography. Not only was his service a noted one to elementary education, but as college president and as the organizer of the United States Bureau of Education his activity also touched other parts of the country's educational development. If he left untouched any field of instruction in those various activities of his career, he certainly claimed the whole universe of education as his province through his editorship of the American Journal of Education. His great saying is worthy of remembrance that the country should have "schools good enough for the best and cheap enough for the poorest." This bulletin chronicles the life of Henry Barnard. Chapters include: (1) Early years and education (1811-1830); (2) Teaching, travel and law (1830-1837); (3) Member of the Connecticut Legislature (1837-1840); (4) Secretary of the Connecticut Board of Commissioners of Common Schools (1838-1842); (5) State superintendent of schools in Rhode Island (1843-1849); (6) State superintendent of education in Connecticut (1850-1855); (7) The American Journal Education (1855-1860) and the chancellorship of the University of Wisconsin (1858-1860); (8) Authorship (1860-1866) and presidency of St. John's College, Annapolis, Maryland (1866-67); (9) United States Commissioner of Education (1867-1870); and (10) Last years (1870-1900). "Reminiscences of Henry Barnard" by David N. Camp is appended. [Best copy available has been provided.]