George Fairchild
Encyclopedia
George Thompson Fairchild (October 6, 1838 – March 16, 1901) was an American educator and university president.
Fairchild was the son of Grandison Fairchild
. George was born on a farm in rural Lorain County, Ohio
, and graduated with two degrees from Oberlin (AB 1862, MA 1865).
In 1865, Fairchild began his academic career as an instructor at State Agricultural College of Michigan
(later Michigan State University
). The following year he was made professor of English, a position he retained through the 1860s and 1870s. Fairchild was also a vice president of Michigan State, and in 1878 he served as acting President.
(later Kansas State University
). He took office on December 1. Notably, at the same time one brother, James Fairchild
, was President of Oberlin College and another brother, Edward Henry Fairchild, was President of the progressive Berea College
.
While at Kansas State, Fairchild stepped into an ongoing debate about the role of land grant colleges. While some felt that the college should be limited to agricultural and mechanical arts, Fairchild reimplemented a classical liberal arts
education at Kansas State. He is credited with saying, "Our college exists not so much to make men farmers as to make farmers men." Fairchild restored classics
courses and brought in prominent professors. He also bolstered the number and caliber of students at Kansas State, lifting attendance at the young school from 207 to 734 students during his tenure. Ernest Fox Nichols
, Philip Fox, Walter T. Swingle, Charles Lester Marlatt
and David Fairchild
(his son) were drawn to study at the school during this era.
President Fairchild retained his position at Kansas State until June 30, 1897. Fairchild submitted his resignation that year in connection with a complete restructuring of the college by members of the Populist Party
on the state Board of Regents, who terminated every employee of Kansas State because the Board disagreed with the University's direction.
Following his resignation from Kansas State, Fairchild became a professor of English and vice president at Berea College in Berea, Kentucky
. While at Berea, Macmillan Company
published Fairchild's book Rural Wealth and Welfare: Economic Principles Illustrated and Applied in Farm Life in 1900.
Fairchild was the son of Grandison Fairchild
Grandison Fairchild
Grandison Fairchild was an American reformer and active in the founding of Oberlin College.He was born in Sheffield, Massachusetts and died in Brownhelm, Ohio....
. George was born on a farm in rural Lorain County, Ohio
Lorain County, Ohio
Lorain County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio, and is considered to be a part of what is locally referred to as Greater Cleveland. As of the 2010 census, its population was 301,356. an increase from 284,664 in 2000...
, and graduated with two degrees from Oberlin (AB 1862, MA 1865).
In 1865, Fairchild began his academic career as an instructor at State Agricultural College of Michigan
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
(later Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
). The following year he was made professor of English, a position he retained through the 1860s and 1870s. Fairchild was also a vice president of Michigan State, and in 1878 he served as acting President.
Kansas State Presidency
In 1879, Fairchild was hired as the third President of Kansas State Agricultural College in Manhattan, KansasManhattan, Kansas
Manhattan is a city located in the northeastern part of the state of Kansas in the United States, at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River. It is the county seat of Riley County and the city extends into Pottawatomie County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 52,281...
(later Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
). He took office on December 1. Notably, at the same time one brother, James Fairchild
James Fairchild
James Harris Fairchild was an American educator.Harris was born in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, on November 25, 1817. His father was Grandison Fairchild. Soon after his birth his parents moved to Brownhelm, Lorain County, Ohio, and settled on a farm about ten miles from the present site of Oberlin...
, was President of Oberlin College and another brother, Edward Henry Fairchild, was President of the progressive Berea College
Berea College
Berea College is a liberal arts work college in Berea, Kentucky , founded in 1855. Current full-time enrollment is 1,514 students...
.
While at Kansas State, Fairchild stepped into an ongoing debate about the role of land grant colleges. While some felt that the college should be limited to agricultural and mechanical arts, Fairchild reimplemented a classical liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
education at Kansas State. He is credited with saying, "Our college exists not so much to make men farmers as to make farmers men." Fairchild restored classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
courses and brought in prominent professors. He also bolstered the number and caliber of students at Kansas State, lifting attendance at the young school from 207 to 734 students during his tenure. Ernest Fox Nichols
Ernest Fox Nichols
Ernest Fox Nichols was a U.S. educator and physicist. He was born in Leavenworth County, Kansas, and received his undergraduate degree from Kansas State University in 1888. After working for a year in the Chemistry Department at Kansas State, he matriculated to graduate school at Cornell...
, Philip Fox, Walter T. Swingle, Charles Lester Marlatt
Charles Lester Marlatt
Charles Lester Marlatt was an American entomologist. Born in 1863 at Atchison, Kansas, he was educated at Kansas State Agricultural College , where he was assistant professor for two years...
and David Fairchild
David Fairchild
David Grandison Fairchild was an American botanist and plant explorer. Fairchild was responsible for the introduction of more than 200,000 exotic plants and varieties of established crops into the United States, including soybeans, pistachios, mangos, nectarines, dates, bamboos, and flowering...
(his son) were drawn to study at the school during this era.
President Fairchild retained his position at Kansas State until June 30, 1897. Fairchild submitted his resignation that year in connection with a complete restructuring of the college by members of the Populist Party
Populist Party (United States)
The People's Party, also known as the "Populists", was a short-lived political party in the United States established in 1891. It was most important in 1892-96, then rapidly faded away...
on the state Board of Regents, who terminated every employee of Kansas State because the Board disagreed with the University's direction.
Following his resignation from Kansas State, Fairchild became a professor of English and vice president at Berea College in Berea, Kentucky
Berea, Kentucky
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 9,851 people, 3,693 households, and 2,426 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,055.4 people per square mile . There were 4,115 housing units at an average density of 440.9 per square mile...
. While at Berea, Macmillan Company
Macmillan Publishers
Macmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than thirty others.-History:...
published Fairchild's book Rural Wealth and Welfare: Economic Principles Illustrated and Applied in Farm Life in 1900.
Family life
In 1863, Fairchild married Charoltte Pearly Halsted. They had five children:- Agnes Mary Fairchild Kirshner
- Edwin MiltonEdwin M. FairchildEdwin Milton Fairchild was a Unitarian minister and lecturer.Fairchild was a descendant of Thomas Fairchild, an early settler in New England. He was a son of George Fairchild.Fairchild was a founder of the Character Education Institute....
- Paul Halsted
- David GrandisonDavid FairchildDavid Grandison Fairchild was an American botanist and plant explorer. Fairchild was responsible for the introduction of more than 200,000 exotic plants and varieties of established crops into the United States, including soybeans, pistachios, mangos, nectarines, dates, bamboos, and flowering...
, a noted biologist and plant explorer - Anna Dalla Fairchild White
Legacy
- Fairchild Hall, on the Kansas State campus, is named in his honor. The building, completed during his tenure in 1894, is home to the K-State Graduate School.
- The Fairchild Theater, on the Michigan State campus, is also named in his honor.