Malcolm MacVicar
Encyclopedia
Malcolm MacVicar later called Malcolm MacVicar, Sr to distinguish him from his grandson of the same name, was a prominent American educator active during the latter half of the 19th century.
, before becoming a Baptist minister and eventually attending the University of Rochester
, from which he graduated in 1859. After graduation he was hired as a teacher of math and natural science at Brockport Collegiate Institute, now the State University of New York at Brockport
.
s in New York. MacVicar Hall is named for him.
In 1868, he left Brockport to become the superintendent of Leavenworth Public Schools in Leavenworth, Kansas
, a position which he held for one year. He then returned to New York to be the principal of Potsdam State Normal School (now SUNY Potsdam) from 1869-1879. In 1880, he served as the principal of Michigan State Normal School (now Eastern Michigan University
).
In 1881 he was appointed "professor of Apologetics and Biblical Interpretation" at Toronto Baptist College, and was a leader in the movement for the school to merge with Woodstock College, which it did in 1887. MacVicar then served as the first chancellor of the newly formed McMaster University
, leading the school from 1888 until 1890.
MacVicar left McMaster to become the superintendent of education for the American Baptist Home Mission Society, which founded a number of historically black colleges and universities
. MacVicar said that "it is one thing to give young men and women such industrial training as will fit them to earn successfully a good livelihood; and yet quite another thing to imbue them with a missionary spirit, and fit them to be instructors and leaders of others. The latter . . . should be the chief, if not the only, work of the Home Mission Schools." Under MacVicar's leadership, the Society founded Virginia Union University
in Richmond, Virginia
, and from the school's founding in 1899 until his death in 1904, MacVicar was the first president. MacVicar Hall, a women's residence hall, is named for him.
MacVicar Hospital, at Spelman College
, is also named for him, owing to his involvement with the American Baptist Home Mission Society.
The Journal of Education reviewed Principles in 1893, saying, "[MacVicar] has endeavored—with, on the whole, considerable success—to state briefly, but clearly and suggestively, the leading propositions concerning the nature and processes of education, leading up, finally, to the training necessary for one who is to become a teacher. . . Altogether, we like this little book, and are glad to have it."
Early years
Born in Dunglass, Argylshire, Scotland, MacVicar's parents emigrated to Canada when he was young. He served for a time as a ship's carpenter in Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, before becoming a Baptist minister and eventually attending the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
, from which he graduated in 1859. After graduation he was hired as a teacher of math and natural science at Brockport Collegiate Institute, now the State University of New York at Brockport
State University of New York at Brockport
The College at Brockport: State University of New York, also known as SUNY Brockport, Brockport State, College at Brockport, or the State University of New York at Brockport, is a four-year liberal arts college located in Brockport, Monroe County, New York, United States, near Rochester...
.
University leader
After teaching there for four years, MacVicar became the principal of Brockport Collegiate Institute (now SUNY Brockport), remaining there from 1863 to 1867. During this time, he oversaw the transition to Brockport State Normal School, one of four normal schoolNormal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
s in New York. MacVicar Hall is named for him.
In 1868, he left Brockport to become the superintendent of Leavenworth Public Schools in Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas and within the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area. Located in the northeast portion of the state, it is on the west bank of the Missouri River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
, a position which he held for one year. He then returned to New York to be the principal of Potsdam State Normal School (now SUNY Potsdam) from 1869-1879. In 1880, he served as the principal of Michigan State Normal School (now Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
).
In 1881 he was appointed "professor of Apologetics and Biblical Interpretation" at Toronto Baptist College, and was a leader in the movement for the school to merge with Woodstock College, which it did in 1887. MacVicar then served as the first chancellor of the newly formed McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
, leading the school from 1888 until 1890.
MacVicar left McMaster to become the superintendent of education for the American Baptist Home Mission Society, which founded a number of historically black colleges and universities
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community....
. MacVicar said that "it is one thing to give young men and women such industrial training as will fit them to earn successfully a good livelihood; and yet quite another thing to imbue them with a missionary spirit, and fit them to be instructors and leaders of others. The latter . . . should be the chief, if not the only, work of the Home Mission Schools." Under MacVicar's leadership, the Society founded Virginia Union University
Virginia Union University
Virginia Union University is a historically black university located in Richmond, Virginia, United States. It took its present name in 1899 upon the merger of two older schools, Richmond Theological Institute and Wayland Seminary, each founded after the end of American Civil War by the American...
in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, and from the school's founding in 1899 until his death in 1904, MacVicar was the first president. MacVicar Hall, a women's residence hall, is named for him.
MacVicar Hospital, at Spelman College
Spelman College
Spelman College is a four-year liberal arts women's college located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The college is part of the Atlanta University Center academic consortium in Atlanta. Founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, Spelman was the first historically black female...
, is also named for him, owing to his involvement with the American Baptist Home Mission Society.
Author
During the course of his career as an educator and an administrator, MacVicar found the time to write a number of books relating to education. These included A Complete Arithmetic (1876), An Elementary Arithmetic (1877), Hand-book of the MacVicar Tellurian Globe (1878), Teachers' Manual of Elementary Arithmetic (1880), and Principles of Education (1892). A Complete Arithmetic and Principles of Education remain in print as of 2011.The Journal of Education reviewed Principles in 1893, saying, "[MacVicar] has endeavored—with, on the whole, considerable success—to state briefly, but clearly and suggestively, the leading propositions concerning the nature and processes of education, leading up, finally, to the training necessary for one who is to become a teacher. . . Altogether, we like this little book, and are glad to have it."