George W. Lilley
Encyclopedia
George W. Lilley was an American academic, professor of mathematics, and the first president of two American universities, today known as South Dakota State University
and Washington State University
.
, Henry County, Illinois
, the son of William Lilley, a native of England, and Harriet Huntley Lilley, a native of Canada. Pioneers in Henry County, George's parents owned two farms including one with a substantial coal mining operation. They had six children.
George Lilley began his college studies at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois
, earning a bachelor's degree about 1873 or 1874. In 1886, Knox College also granted him an honorary degree. He continued his studies at the University of Michigan
in Ann Arbor
and at Illinois Wesleyan University
in Bloomington, Illinois
. The latter institution awarded him both Ph.D. and LL.D. degrees.
, from 1878 to 1880. In early 1884 he was selected to be the first president of Dakota Agricultural College, today South Dakota State University
in Brookings
. Under his leadership, the first building was constructed and enrollment grew from 35 to 252 students with varying educational preparation. While he resigned from the presidency in 1886, he is credited with laying out many ideas and plans that eventually were realized. He then served four years as professor of mathematics there.
On May 1, 1891, Lilley was appointed as the first president of the Washington Agricultural College and School of Science for a one-year term. His responsibilities included serving as director of college's agricultural experiment station. The town of Pullman
in a fertile agricultural region of southeast Washington called the Palouse
had just been chosen as the location for Washington's new land-grant
institution, today Washington State University
. Again he led a fledgling college through construction of its first small building, the hiring of five faculty members and the opening of classes. That occurred on January 12, 1892, with 59 students attending, 13 in collegiate courses and 46 in preparatory courses. Lilley himself served as professor of mathematics and elementary physics, while his brother-in-law Charles E. Munn was appointed professor of veterinary science.
He served the Washington institution through the end of 1892 when the Board of Regents chose John W. Heston
as the institution's second president. Lilley is remembered as "a genial Midwesterner" who was popular with the students.
From Pullman, Lilley moved to Portland, Oregon
, where he served from 1894 to 1896 as principal of the Park School, a Portland public school established in 1878. Then, in 1897, he became a professor of mathematics at the University of Oregon
in Eugene, Oregon
, a position he held until his death in 1904. He was the author of several books on algebra and was a contributor to American mathematical journals.
After her husband's death in 1904, Adelaide trained to be a librarian and served in that capacity for the Carnegie Library of Eugene, Oregon, for more than a quarter century, from the day it opened on August 20, 1906, until 1933. The 1930 Census showed her living in Eugene, a widow, 73 years old, working as the librarian for the City Library. She died on August 19, 1933, and was remembered with the Adelaide Lilley Memorial Shelf, established at the library in 1936.
South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University is the largest university in the U.S. state of South Dakota, located in Brookings. A public land-grant university and sun grant college, founded under the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act, SDSU offers programs of study required by, or harmonious to, this Act...
and Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
.
Early life and education
George W. Lilley was born February 9, 1850, in KewaneeKewanee, Illinois
Kewanee is a city in Henry County, Illinois, United States. "Kewanee" is the Winnebago word for prairie chicken, which lekked there. The population was 12,916 at the 2010 census, down from 12,944 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, Henry County, Illinois
Henry County, Illinois
Henry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 50,486, which is a decrease of 1.0% from 51,020 in 2000. Its county seat is Cambridge...
, the son of William Lilley, a native of England, and Harriet Huntley Lilley, a native of Canada. Pioneers in Henry County, George's parents owned two farms including one with a substantial coal mining operation. They had six children.
George Lilley began his college studies at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County....
, earning a bachelor's degree about 1873 or 1874. In 1886, Knox College also granted him an honorary degree. He continued his studies at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
and at Illinois Wesleyan University
Illinois Wesleyan University
Illinois Wesleyan University is an independent undergraduate university located in Bloomington, Illinois. Founded in 1850, the central portion of the present campus was acquired in 1854 with the first building erected in 1856...
in Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
. The latter institution awarded him both Ph.D. and LL.D. degrees.
Career
Lilley began his career in business in Corning, IowaCorning, Iowa
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,783 people, 803 households, and 452 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,132.3 people per square mile . There were 880 housing units at an average density of 558.9 per square mile...
, from 1878 to 1880. In early 1884 he was selected to be the first president of Dakota Agricultural College, today South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University is the largest university in the U.S. state of South Dakota, located in Brookings. A public land-grant university and sun grant college, founded under the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act, SDSU offers programs of study required by, or harmonious to, this Act...
in Brookings
Brookings, South Dakota
Brookings is a city in Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. Brookings is the fourth largest city in South Dakota, with a population of 22,056 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brookings County, and home to South Dakota State University, the largest institution of higher...
. Under his leadership, the first building was constructed and enrollment grew from 35 to 252 students with varying educational preparation. While he resigned from the presidency in 1886, he is credited with laying out many ideas and plans that eventually were realized. He then served four years as professor of mathematics there.
On May 1, 1891, Lilley was appointed as the first president of the Washington Agricultural College and School of Science for a one-year term. His responsibilities included serving as director of college's agricultural experiment station. The town of Pullman
Pullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
in a fertile agricultural region of southeast Washington called the Palouse
Palouse
The Palouse is a region of the northwestern United States, encompassing parts of southeastern Washington, north central Idaho and, in some definitions, extending south into northeast Oregon. It is a major agricultural area, primarily producing wheat and legumes...
had just been chosen as the location for Washington's new land-grant
Land-grant university
Land-grant universities are institutions of higher education in the United States designated by each state to receive the benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890....
institution, today Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
. Again he led a fledgling college through construction of its first small building, the hiring of five faculty members and the opening of classes. That occurred on January 12, 1892, with 59 students attending, 13 in collegiate courses and 46 in preparatory courses. Lilley himself served as professor of mathematics and elementary physics, while his brother-in-law Charles E. Munn was appointed professor of veterinary science.
He served the Washington institution through the end of 1892 when the Board of Regents chose John W. Heston
John W. Heston
John William Heston was an American academic who served as the second president of Washington State University, the third president of South Dakota State University and the fourth president of Dakota State University....
as the institution's second president. Lilley is remembered as "a genial Midwesterner" who was popular with the students.
From Pullman, Lilley moved to Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, where he served from 1894 to 1896 as principal of the Park School, a Portland public school established in 1878. Then, in 1897, he became a professor of mathematics at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, a position he held until his death in 1904. He was the author of several books on algebra and was a contributor to American mathematical journals.
Family
On June 11, 1879, in Lowell, Massachusetts, Lilley married Sophia Adelaide Munn. The daughter of William and Mary Munn, she was born in Lowell on October 11, 1856. They had one child, a son Frank Munn Lilley, who was born in Corning, Iowa, on May 3 and died on May 6, 1880.,After her husband's death in 1904, Adelaide trained to be a librarian and served in that capacity for the Carnegie Library of Eugene, Oregon, for more than a quarter century, from the day it opened on August 20, 1906, until 1933. The 1930 Census showed her living in Eugene, a widow, 73 years old, working as the librarian for the City Library. She died on August 19, 1933, and was remembered with the Adelaide Lilley Memorial Shelf, established at the library in 1936.
External links
- George Lilley, 1891-1892, in WSU History: In the Beginning
- George Lilley in The Presidents, Washington State Magazine, May 2007
- George Lilley in WSU presidents I have known or known of, by Gen DeVleming
- Obituary in The American mathematical monthly: devoted to the interests of collegiate mathematics, Volumes 11-12, 1904
- Obituary in the Michigan alumnus, Volume 11, Alumni Association of the University of Michigan., 1905
- Entries on Harriet Huntley, George Lilley, in Genealogy of the descendants of John White of Wenham and Lancaster, Massachusetts, 1638-1900, by Almira Larkin White, 1900.