Joseph Dupuy Eggleston
Encyclopedia
Joseph DuPuy Eggleston was an American educator, the 7th president of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
(Virginia Tech), and the 27th president of Hampden-Sydney College
. Eggleston also served as a public school teacher and administrator and as the chief of the Division of Rural Education for the United States Bureau of Education.
and then Hampden-Sydney College
in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia where he received a Bachelor of Arts
Degree in 1886; he later received a Master's Degree
.
on December 18, 1895 in Farmville, VA. The couple had two children: Elizabeth Carrington Eggleston and Joseph DuPuy Eggleston, III.
; Eggleston continued teaching highschool until 1893 when he became superintendent of the public schools in Asheville. Eggleston continued in this position until 1900. Two years later Eggleston was appointed as the editor and secretary of the Bureau of Information and Publicity of the Southern Education Board at the University of Tennessee. In this position, Eggleston was "charged with studying education conditions with the goal of improving social, economic, and cultural circumstances in the South by improving the quality of education throughout the region." In 1903 Eggleston returned to Prince Edward County, Virginia to serve as the superintendent of schools. In 1905 Eggleston became the first elected State Superintendent of Virginia public schools, a position he held from 1906 until 1012. Eggleston then briefly served as chief of the Division of Rural Education in the U.S. Bureau of Education from January to July 1913 before accepting the presidency of Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
when an Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) unit was established at the school; the school "became a national training center for war." Eggleston in an attempt to help the war effort, "offered the services of the university's extension service to the Federal Food Commission, to promote food production and conservation." In 1919 Eggleston resigned after being offered the position of president at his alma mater, Hampden-Sydney College.
from 1919 until 1939. With his 20 year term as president of the college, Eggleston brought various innovations to the administration of the school. For example, Eggleston hired a full-time business manager, instituted an annual budget, and had a dean deal with student issues. Under Eggleston's leadership the school saw a new "building entirely for the sciences Bagby Hall) . . . . [Eggleston also] persuaded a descendant of one of the founding Trustees to give a building {Morton Hall} in memory of his ancestor - the most generous gift the College ever received." While Eggleston was president of Hampden-Sydney, Virginia Tech invited Eggleston to be the commencement speaker in 1939. Eggleston retired as president in 1939.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
(Virginia Tech), and the 27th president of Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...
. Eggleston also served as a public school teacher and administrator and as the chief of the Division of Rural Education for the United States Bureau of Education.
Education
Eggleston attended Prince Edward Academy in Prince Edward County, VirginiaPrince Edward County, Virginia
Prince Edward County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 23,368. Its county seat is Farmville.-Formation and County Seats:...
and then Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...
in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia where he received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
Degree in 1886; he later received a Master's Degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
.
Personal life
Eggleston married Julia Johnson, a resident of Farmville, VirginiaFarmville, Virginia
Farmville is a town in Prince Edward and Cumberland counties in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,845 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Prince Edward County....
on December 18, 1895 in Farmville, VA. The couple had two children: Elizabeth Carrington Eggleston and Joseph DuPuy Eggleston, III.
Public School Career
From 1886 until 1889 Eggleston served as a public school teacher in Virginia, Georgia, and North Carolina. In 1891 Eggleston began teaching high school in Asheville, North CarolinaAsheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
; Eggleston continued teaching highschool until 1893 when he became superintendent of the public schools in Asheville. Eggleston continued in this position until 1900. Two years later Eggleston was appointed as the editor and secretary of the Bureau of Information and Publicity of the Southern Education Board at the University of Tennessee. In this position, Eggleston was "charged with studying education conditions with the goal of improving social, economic, and cultural circumstances in the South by improving the quality of education throughout the region." In 1903 Eggleston returned to Prince Edward County, Virginia to serve as the superintendent of schools. In 1905 Eggleston became the first elected State Superintendent of Virginia public schools, a position he held from 1906 until 1012. Eggleston then briefly served as chief of the Division of Rural Education in the U.S. Bureau of Education from January to July 1913 before accepting the presidency of Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
The Work of the Rural School
In 1913, the year Eggleston was transitioning from the U.S. Bureau of Education to his office in Blacksburg, Virginia, The Work of the Rural School, a book written by Eggleston, was publish. The book is an in-depth study (with images) of rural schools in the United States. Eggleston, throughout the book, discusses what what rural schools were like at the time as well as proposed changes needed. Eggleston used many of his own experiences as a guide in writing the book; for example, Chapter XIV is entitled "The State Superintendent of Public Instruction" and is an in depth study into the position and how it operates (pulling from his own experiences as State Superintendent of Virginia).President of Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Eggleston served as President of Virginia Tech from 1913 until his resignation in 1919. Eggleston served as president during World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
when an Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) unit was established at the school; the school "became a national training center for war." Eggleston in an attempt to help the war effort, "offered the services of the university's extension service to the Federal Food Commission, to promote food production and conservation." In 1919 Eggleston resigned after being offered the position of president at his alma mater, Hampden-Sydney College.
President of Hampden-Sydney College
Eggleston served as president of Hampden-Sydney CollegeHampden-Sydney College
Hampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...
from 1919 until 1939. With his 20 year term as president of the college, Eggleston brought various innovations to the administration of the school. For example, Eggleston hired a full-time business manager, instituted an annual budget, and had a dean deal with student issues. Under Eggleston's leadership the school saw a new "building entirely for the sciences Bagby Hall) . . . . [Eggleston also] persuaded a descendant of one of the founding Trustees to give a building {Morton Hall} in memory of his ancestor - the most generous gift the College ever received." While Eggleston was president of Hampden-Sydney, Virginia Tech invited Eggleston to be the commencement speaker in 1939. Eggleston retired as president in 1939.
Legacy
Eggleston dedicated his entire life to education. In fact, Volume 24, Issue 7 of "American Education", which hosts a picture of Eggleston along with his name and position as president of Hampden-Sydney on its cover, notes that "[e]ducation as a life work strongly appealed to Dr. Eggleston even in his youth." Only two years into Eggleston's presidency at Hampden-Sydney College, it was noted that he was "widely and favorably known as an expert in school affairs, and his services [were] constantly in demand in educational gatherings." While Eggleston was State Superintendent of Public Education in Virginia he revolutionized the state education system, making it an organized system. In fact, Eggleston left the public school system in Virginia "thoroughly co-ordinated, with better school buildings, longer terms, more efficient teachers, increased salaries, more school libraries, with abundant high schools in every section . . . . [T]he result he left [was] a thoroughly developed school system." This theme of innovation in education continued through his term as president of Virginia Tech and then of Hampden-Sydney. Eggleston's life was a life devoted to education and and the improvement of its instruction.See also
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute
- Hampden-Sydney, Virginia
- Hampden-Sydney CollegeHampden-Sydney CollegeHampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...
- List of Hampden-Sydney College alumni