Henry Noble MacCracken (November 19, 1880 – May 7, 1970) was an American academic administrator who was the fifth president of Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, serving from 1915 to 1946 as the first secular president of the college. MacCracken's term as president of Vassar College is the longest in the college's history.

Early life

MacCracken was born in Toledo, Ohio in November 19, 1880, to

Henry Mitchell MacCracken Henry Mitchell MacCracken (September 28, 1840 – December 24, 1918) was an American educator and academic administrator. Biography Henry MacCracken was born in Oxford, Ohio on September 28, 1840. He graduated from Miami University in Ohio ...

. Henry's brother was John Henry MacCracken, president (1915–26) of Lafayette College. In 1900, MacCracken earned an English degree from New York University (NYU). After graduation, he joined the faculty of

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in Beirut for three years before coming back to NYU for graduate study. After completing a master's degree in English, he earned a Ph.D. from Harvard University. On June 12, 1907, MacCracken married Marjorie Dodd. His son, Calvin Dodd MacCracken, was a noted inventor.

Career

MacCracken was president of Vassar from 1915 to 1946. A proponent of women's suffrage and liberal political views in general, MacCracken was fired for holding such beliefs in 1918. However, three trustees resigned and students protested, so MacCracken was returned to his position. In the 1920s, MacCracken was involved in the founding of

Sarah Lawrence College Sarah Lawrence College is a Private university, private liberal arts college in Yonkers, New York. The college models its approach to education after the Supervision system, Oxford/Cambridge system of one-on-one student-faculty tutorials. Sara ...

, which was initially a women's junior college affiliated with Vassar. A residence hall named after MacCracken was completed in 1930. He was on the board of trustees of the college until its affiliation with Vassar was severed in 1935.

Later life

MacCracken died on May 7, 1970, at his home, 87 New Hackensack Road, in Poughkeepsie, New York. His wife, Marjorie Dodd MacCracken died in 1974.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:MacCracken, Henry 1880 births 1970 deaths People from Toledo, Ohio New York University alumni Harvard University alumni Smith College faculty Presidents of Vassar College Commanders of the Order of the White Lion 20th-century American academics