Eliphalet Oram Lyte (June 29, 1842 – January 3, 1913) was an American teacher and author of grammar and composition textbooks. He is credited as the composer of the tune to the popular song "

Row, Row, Row Your Boat "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" is an English language nursery rhyme and a popular children's song, often sung in a round. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 19236. Bing Crosby included the song in a medley on his album ''101 Gang Songs'' (1961). ...

" in the publication ''The Franklin Square Song Collection'' (1881, New York). It is also indicated that he adapted the lyrics, previously published to a different melody.

Biography

Lyte was born near Bird-in-Hand in

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Lancaster County (; Pennsylvania Dutch: Lengeschder Kaundi), sometimes nicknamed the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is located in the south central part of Pennsylvania. ...

, taught there in

Millersville, Pennsylvania Millersville is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. At the 2020 census the population was 7,629 and in 2021 it was estimated at 7,593. Geography Millersville is located in central Lancaster County at (40.006148, -76.35134 ...

, and died there on January 3, 1913. Dr. Lyte entered the

Millersville State Normal School Millersville University of Pennsylvania (commonly known as Millersville University, The Ville, or MU) is a public university in Millersville, Pennsylvania. It is one of the fourteen schools that comprise the Pennsylvania State System of Higher E ...

in 1866 after serving in the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

and teaching for two years. He became professor of rhetoric and bookkeeping in 1868 and later a professor of pedagogy and grammar before being named principal. He was associated with the school for 44 years before his resignation due to ill health. Credited for the first building boom at Millersville, he designed and directed the construction of the Science Building (since removed), the Library (currently Biemesderfer Executive Center) and the Gymnasium (now Dutcher Hall). He also oversaw the construction of the Model School, formerly Myers Hall and now Charles and Mary Hash Building. His textbooks include: * ''Grammar and Composition for Common Schools'' * ''Advanced Grammar and Composition''

References

* ''The Book of World Famous Music Classical, Popular and Folk'' by James Fuld (1966)

External links

19th Century Schoolbooks
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lyte, Eliphalet American educators Linguists of English 1842 births 1913 deaths Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Biography

See also

References

External links