Charles Madison Sarratt (1888–1978) was an American academic and administrator. He was the co-author of a textbook on mathematics. He was the chair of the department of mathematics at

Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University (informally Vandy or VU) is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1873, it was named in honor of shipping and rail magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided the school its initial $1-million ...

from 1924 to 1946, dean of students from 1939 to 1945, vice-chancellor from 1946 to 1958, and dean of alumni from 1958 to 1978.

Early life

Sarratt was born June 21, 1888, in

Gaffney, South Carolina Gaffney is a city in and the seat of Cherokee County, South Carolina, United States, in the Upstate region of South Carolina. Gaffney is known as the "Peach Capital of South Carolina". The population was 12,539 at the 2010 census, with an esti ...

. His father, Robert Clifton Sarratt, served in the

South Carolina House of Representatives The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly. It consists of 124 representatives elected to two-year terms at the same time as U.S. congressional elections. Unlike many legislatures, seati ...

and the South Carolina Senate. His paternal family was of Welsh descent. His mother, Frances Amos, was the daughter of

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

veteran and Inman cotton plantation owner Charles McAlwreath Amos and granddaughter of Charles Amos, the co-owner of the Cowpens Iron Works and a slaveholder in the antebellum era. Sarratt graduated from

Limestone College Limestone University, formerly Limestone College, is a private Christian university in Gaffney, South Carolina. It was established in 1845 by Thomas Curtis, a distinguished scholar born and educated in England. Limestone was the first women's ...

. He then graduated from

Cornell University Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to tea ...

, where he received a bachelor's degree in 1911. He went on to receive a master's degree from Syracuse University in 1915.

Academic career

Sarratt taught in the College of Engineering at Syracuse University from 1913 to 1916. He joined the faculty in the department of mathematics at

in 1916. He became the dean of men in 1922. Two years later, in 1924, he was appointed chair of the department of mathematics, and served as chair for the next twenty-two years. In 1939, he became dean of students. In 1946, he was appointed as vice-chancellor. He also served as chancellor pro tempore in 1946. From 1958 to 1978, he was retired, yet served as dean of alumni. He was known as "Mr Vanderbilt" or "Dean Sarratt," even after he retired. With

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

professor Thomas Alexander, Sarratt was the co-author of ''Alexander Sarratt-Arithmetics'', a three-volume mathematics textbook published in 1924.

Civic activities

Sarratt was a member of the

American Mathematical Society The American Mathematical Society (AMS) is an association of professional mathematicians dedicated to the interests of mathematical research and scholarship, and serves the national and international community through its publications, meetings, ...

. He was also a member of

Phi Beta Kappa The Phi Beta Kappa Society () is the oldest academic honor society in the United States, and the most prestigious, due in part to its long history and academic selectivity. Phi Beta Kappa aims to promote and advocate excellence in the liberal ...

Sigma Xi Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society () is a highly prestigious, non-profit honor society for scientists and engineers. Sigma Xi was founded at Cornell University by a junior faculty member and a small group of graduate students in 1886 ...

, and Sigma Nu. He served on the board of directors of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce. He was President of the American Red Cross. He was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1967. In 1960, Sarratt chaired a committee of black leaders like Stephen J. Wright and Walter S. Davis and white businessmen to put an end to the

Nashville sit-ins The Nashville sit-ins, which lasted from February 13 to May 10, 1960, were part of a protest to end racial segregation at lunch counters in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The sit-in campaign, coordinated by the Nashville Student Movement and th ...

Personal life

Sarratt married Mary Dora Houston in 1922. They had a son, Madison "Houston" Sarratt, who married Martha Haley Davis, the daughter of William Lipscomb Davis. SarratCenter

Death and legacy

Sarratt died on March 24, 1978, in Nashville. The Sarratt Student Center on the campus of Vanderbilt University has been named for him since 1974. Inside, the Sarratt Gallery is also named for him. Moreover, his bust is on display there.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sarratt, Charles Madison 1888 births 1978 deaths American people of Welsh descent People from Gaffney, South Carolina Cornell University alumni Syracuse University alumni Vanderbilt University faculty Mathematicians from South Carolina Mathematicians from New York (state)