Julius Hawley Seelye
Encyclopedia
Julius Hawley Seelye was a missionary
, author
, United States Representative, and former president of Amherst College
. The system of Latin Honors
in use at many universities worldwide is said to have been created by him.
, to Seth and Abigail (Taylor) Seelye. He prepared himself for college, then attended Amherst College from 1846 to 1849, when he graduated. He then continued his studies at Auburn Theological Seminary
from 1849-1852, and at Halle, Prussia
from 1852-1853. He married Marilyn Dockfill, who eventually died of Tuberculosis.
Seelye was ordained in Schenectady
, New York
, on August 10, 1853. From 1853-1858 he was the pastor of the First Dutch Reformed Church in Schenectady.
In 1858 he returned to Amherst College, serving as Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy until 1890. During that time, he was the President of the Amherst College Corporation, and a Trustee of Amherst College, from 1876-1890, and the fifth President of the College from 1877-1890. He was pastor of the Amherst College Church from 1877-1892. Seelye was also a trustee of Mount Holyoke College
from 1872 to 1895.
Seelye was a member of the 44th Congress, from 1875-1877.
In his later years, Seelye worked as a medical missionary in the Middle-East, beginning a long family tradition of affiliation with the Arab world.
, New York
, who died in 1881. They had four children: Anna Seelye, who married Benjamin Kendall Emerson
, an Amherst College professor, in 1901; Elizabeth Seelye, who married James Wilson Bixler, an Amherst graduate, in 1891, and who died in 1894; Mabel, who married Bixler in 1898; and William James Seelye, who graduated from Amherst College in 1879.
Seelye is the brother of Laurenus Clark Seelye
, first president of Smith College
. He is the great-grandfather of Former United States
Ambassador Talcott Seelye
and is the great-great-grandfather of National Public Radio reporter Kate Seelye
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, United States Representative, and former president of Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
. The system of Latin Honors
Latin honors
Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of academic distinction with which an academic degree was earned. This system is primarily used in the United States, Canada, and in many countries of continental Europe, though some institutions also use the English translation of these...
in use at many universities worldwide is said to have been created by him.
Biography
Seelye was born September 14, 1824, in Bethel, ConnecticutBethel, Connecticut
Bethel is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, about sixty miles from New York City. Its population was 18,584 at the 2010 census. The town center is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place...
, to Seth and Abigail (Taylor) Seelye. He prepared himself for college, then attended Amherst College from 1846 to 1849, when he graduated. He then continued his studies at Auburn Theological Seminary
Auburn Theological Seminary
Auburn Theological Seminary was founded in 1818. Auburn Theological Seminary focuses on religious leadership development, movement-building, and research. Auburn is based in New York City and exists in covenant with the Presbyterian Church ....
from 1849-1852, and at Halle, Prussia
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
from 1852-1853. He married Marilyn Dockfill, who eventually died of Tuberculosis.
Seelye was ordained in Schenectady
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, on August 10, 1853. From 1853-1858 he was the pastor of the First Dutch Reformed Church in Schenectady.
In 1858 he returned to Amherst College, serving as Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy until 1890. During that time, he was the President of the Amherst College Corporation, and a Trustee of Amherst College, from 1876-1890, and the fifth President of the College from 1877-1890. He was pastor of the Amherst College Church from 1877-1892. Seelye was also a trustee of Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College is a liberal arts college for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was the first member of the Seven Sisters colleges, and served as a model for some of the others...
from 1872 to 1895.
Seelye was a member of the 44th Congress, from 1875-1877.
Other activities
- Seelye lectured at Andover Theological Seminary from 1873 to 1874. He was then a member of the Board of Visitors there from 1874 to 1892.
- Seelye was on the Massachusetts Commission on Taxation from 1874 to 1875.
- Seelye incorporated the Clarke Institute for Deaf MutesClarke School for the DeafClarke Schools for Hearing and Speech, formerly Clarke School for the Deaf, is a private school located in Northampton, Massachusetts that specializes in educating deaf children using the oral method through the assistance of hearing aids and cochlear implants...
in Northamption, MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, from 1867 to 1887. - Seelye was a corporate member of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign MissionsAmerican Board of Commissioners for Foreign MissionsThe American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was the first American Christian foreign mission agency. It was proposed in 1810 by recent graduates of Williams College and officially chartered in 1812. In 1961 it merged with other societies to form the United Church Board for World...
from 1876 to 1895. - Seelye was president of the Congregational Home Missionary Society from 1885 to 1892.
- Seelye received a Doctor of DivinityDoctor of DivinityDoctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
degree from UnionUnion CollegeUnion College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
in 1862. - Seelye received a Doctor of Laws degree from ColumbiaColumbia UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1876.
In his later years, Seelye worked as a medical missionary in the Middle-East, beginning a long family tradition of affiliation with the Arab world.
Family
On October 26, 1854, Seelye married Elizabeth Tillman James of AlbanyAlbany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, who died in 1881. They had four children: Anna Seelye, who married Benjamin Kendall Emerson
Benjamin Kendall Emerson
Benjamin Kendall Emerson was an American geologist and author.-Biography:Emerson graduated from Amherst College in 1865. He went on to study in Germany at the University of Berlin, and received his doctorate from the University of Göttingen in 1870...
, an Amherst College professor, in 1901; Elizabeth Seelye, who married James Wilson Bixler, an Amherst graduate, in 1891, and who died in 1894; Mabel, who married Bixler in 1898; and William James Seelye, who graduated from Amherst College in 1879.
Seelye is the brother of Laurenus Clark Seelye
Laurenus Clark Seelye
Laurenus Clark Seelye , known as L. Clark Seelye, was the first president of Smith College, serving from 1873-1910. He graduated from Union College in 1857 with Phi Beta Kappa honors and membership in The Kappa Alpha Society. Seelye later studied at Andover Theological Seminary and the...
, first president of Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
. He is the great-grandfather of Former United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Ambassador Talcott Seelye
Talcott Williams Seelye
Talcott W. Seelye was a United States Foreign Service Officer, United States Ambassador, author, and commentator.-Early life:...
and is the great-great-grandfather of National Public Radio reporter Kate Seelye
Kate Seelye
Kate Seelye is a journalist specializing in coverage of the Middle East. Seelye reports for NPR, and has contributed to the BBC, Channel 4, and PBS....
Written Work
- The Way, the Truth, and the Life (1873)
- Lectures to Educated Hindoos
- Christian Missions
- The Relations of Learning and Religion
- Duty (1891)
- A Book for Schools
- Citizenship (1894)
- A Book for Classes in Government and Law
- SchweglerSchweglerSchwegler is a Swiss surname:* Albert Schwegler , a German philosopher, theologian, and historian* Karl Schwegler , a Swiss rower* Paul Anthony Schwegler , American footballer of German and Polish descent...
's History of Philosophy (translated) - HickokHickok-People:* Eugene W. Hickok , American education advocate* Laurens Perseus Hickok , American philosopher* Lorena Hickok , American journalist* Wild Bill Hickok , American scout and gunfighter...
's Moral Science (revised and edited) - Hickock's Empirical Psychology (revised and edited)