Charles Rhodes Pomeroy (June 15, 1830 – June 25, 1916) was an American educator most notable for serving as the Kansas State Normal School's (KSN) third president in

Emporia, Kansas Emporia is a city in and the county seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 24,139. Emporia lies between Topeka and Wichita at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 with Interstates 335 ...

Biography

Early life and education

Pomeroy was born in Weybridge, Addison County, Vermont on June 15, 1830. In 1856 Pomeroy graduated from Wesleyan University with a bachelor's and master's of arts, and 1875, he graduated from Simpson Centenary College in

Indianola, Iowa Indianola is a city in Warren County, Iowa, United States, located south of downtown Des Moines, Iowa. The population was 15,833 at the time of the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Warren County. Indianola is home to the National Balloon ...

with a doctorate.

Early career

In 1854, Pomeroy started his long career in education by teaching Greek at Fort Edward Institute in

Fort Edward, New York Fort Edward is a town and the county seat of Washington County, New York, United States. The population was 10,205 at the 2011 census. The municipal center complex is on U.S. Route 4 between the villages of Hudson Falls and Fort Edward.

. From 1855 to 1860, Pomeroy served as a principal at four different institutions: Union Village Academy for one year, Rochester High School for two years, and

Genesee Wesleyan Seminary The Genesee Wesleyan Seminary was the name of two institutions located on the same site in Lima, New York. The Genesee Wesleyan Seminary (I) was founded in 1831 by the Genesee Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The plan for its ...

for one year.

Kansas State Normal School presidency

The

Kansas Board of Regents The Kansas Board of Regents is a body consisting of nine members that governs six state universities in the U.S. state of Kansas. In addition to these six universities, it also supervises and coordinates nineteen community colleges, five technic ...

selected Pomeroy as the Kansas State Normal School's third president in October 1873. He would begin his tenure on January 1, 1874. Because the economy was poor, Pomeroy was unable to pay the professors and staff and also had to work without salary; the board voted that bonds would be paid to teachers as a way of thanking them for their service during the school year on July 2, 1879. During Pomeroy's tenure, a tornado had hit in April 1878 and destroyed the main building on campus, which was followed by a fire that destroyed the two buildings at the school. On August 6, 1879, Pomeroy resigned as president.

Later career

After serving four years as president of the Normal School in Emporia, Pomeroy became Callahan College's president for six years. From 1886 to 1899, Pomeroy served as the Dean and a professor at the

University of Puget Sound The University of Puget Sound (UPS or Puget Sound) is a private university in Tacoma, Washington. The university draws approximately 2,600 students from 44 states and 16 countries. It offers 1,200 courses each year in more than 50 traditional an ...

in Washington (state).

Personal life

On December 2, 1854, Pomeroy married Mary J. Meeker and had one child, Charles Harrington Pomeroy on March 28, 1863.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pomeroy, Charles Rhodes Presidents of Emporia State University Emporia State University faculty Wesleyan University alumni Simpson College alumni University of Puget Sound faculty People from Weybridge, Vermont 1830 births 1916 deaths People from Vashon, Washington