Henry Skinner West
West, c. 1919
Born	(1870-12-23)December 23, 1870 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Died	April 9, 1961(1961-04-09) (aged 90) Evanston, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater	Baltimore City College University of Maryland Johns Hopkins University ( BA, PhD)
Occupation	Educator
Spouse	Anne Brown Downman ​ ( m. 1900)​
Children	3

Henry Skinner West (December 23, 1870 – April 9, 1961) was the fifth principal of Maryland State Normal School (now Towson University).

Early life

Henry Skinner West was born on December 23, 1870, in Baltimore. ^{[1] [2]} He attended schools in Maryland. He graduated from both the Baltimore City College and the University of Maryland in 1890. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1893 and a PhD in 1899 from Johns Hopkins University. ^{[1] [3]}

Career

From 1890 to 1891, West taught at a Baltimore elementary school. He then worked as a professor at Baltimore City College from 1894 to 1897 and again in 1900. He was an instructor at Johns Hopkins University from 1899 to 1900. ^[1] He was principal at Western High School from 1900 to 1906. ^{[1] [4]} West was the special assistant superintendent for schools in Baltimore from 1906 to 1911. He then worked for Johns Hopkins summer schools for teachers from 1911 to 1915. ^[4] West was professor of education and director of secondary schools in Cincinnati, Ohio, from 1912 to 1917. ^[4] During this time, he was a professor of education at the University of Cincinnati. ^[5]

In 1917, Dr. West was appointed as principal of the Maryland State Normal School (now Towson University). During his tenure, enrollment at the school dropped severely due to World War I and funding and dormity space for the school was inadequate and the teachers were poorly paid. ^[3] In 1920, West left his position to become the superintendent of schools in Baltimore. He held this position for five years. ^[3] He resigned following criticism about his administration. ^[4] As principal, he held an enrollment campaign to attract more students, reorganized the school administration and introduced the first summer session in 1918. He helped Maryland adopt a system for teacher certification. ^[3]

In 1926, West went to the University of Miami in Florida to work as a professor of education. In 1928, he became its first dean of the College of Liberal Arts. He also became the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in 1929. ^{[2] [4] [3]} He also taught at the University of North Carolina in the summer months. ^[4] West retired in 1942 and was named dean emeritus at the University of Miami for both the School of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences. ^[6]

Personal life

West married Anne Brown Downman on November 17, 1900. ^[7] They had two sons and one daughter, Henry D., Julian S. and Harriet. ^{[2] [4]}

West died on April 9, 1961, at his home in Evanston, Illinois. ^[1]

Legacy

In 1955, the Henry S. West Laboratory School was named in his honor. ^[6]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Henry Skinner West.

• Presidential Biographies - Towson Archives