Parke Kolbe
Encyclopedia
Parke Rexford Kolbe was an author, teacher, administrator, and president of three educational institutions; University of Akron
, Polytechnic Institute of New York University, and Drexel University
.
, Kolbe earned his first two degrees at Buchtel College, now known as the University of Akron
. Training in linguistics he went on to study at Paris
, Heidelberg
, and Göttingen
. After studying abroad Kolbe served as a Professor of Modern Languages at his alma mater from 1905 to 1913.
. He served in that capacity until 1925 when he became the president of the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. During his tenure at Akron Kolbe penned The Colleges in the War Time and After in 1919. Three years after his appointment to the Polytechnic Institute, 1928, he published Urban Influences on Higher Education in England and the United States. Kolbe, a member of the educational commission to Soviet Russia, went to Russia as a part of a Cultural Delegation of twenty in 1928 along with Drexel's president, Kenneth G. Matheson
.
During his tenure Kolbe strived to reverse the trend of falling enrollment at Drexel, he accomplished that by instituting an Open House, allowing Philadelphia-area high school students and their parents to visit Drexel. This program proved to be such a success that it was temporarily discontinued in 1938, due to peak enrollment being reached. In this time, Kolbe took note of the school’s need to expand, and, with the budgetary assistance of an increasing enrollment and slight raise in tuition, set to work appealing for a separate building for the library, as well as additional student use buildings and campus ground, including an athletics field. In addition to these improvements to the Institute Kolbe was responsible for increased research and the display of the Drexel Institute's Collections.
In 1936 the school was renamed the Drexel Institute of Technology after a 1935 survey of students found that the with the art program no longer active the name "Drexel Institute of Art, Science, and Industry" was unnecessary.
Due to the great focus on engineering instruction placed on the school, Drexel was selected by the federal government to serve as the Philadelphia region’s school for instructing students in engineering defense in anticipation of World War II
. This program grew rapidly during the times of war, with sixteen various classes being offered in the field of scientific national defense by 1941. Kolbe served as president until his death on February 28, 1942.
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
, Polytechnic Institute of New York University, and Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
.
Early life
Born in OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, Kolbe earned his first two degrees at Buchtel College, now known as the University of Akron
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
. Training in linguistics he went on to study at Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, and Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
. After studying abroad Kolbe served as a Professor of Modern Languages at his alma mater from 1905 to 1913.
Educational work
In 1913 Kolbe was chosen to serve as president of Buchtel College, guiding its transition from a college to what is now known as the University of AkronUniversity of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
. He served in that capacity until 1925 when he became the president of the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. During his tenure at Akron Kolbe penned The Colleges in the War Time and After in 1919. Three years after his appointment to the Polytechnic Institute, 1928, he published Urban Influences on Higher Education in England and the United States. Kolbe, a member of the educational commission to Soviet Russia, went to Russia as a part of a Cultural Delegation of twenty in 1928 along with Drexel's president, Kenneth G. Matheson
Kenneth G. Matheson
Kenneth Gordon Matheson was a professor at and a chancellor of several educational institutions.-Early life:...
.
Drexel Institute
On May 16, 1932, after the burial of Drexel's previous president, Kenneth G. Matheson, Kolbe was invited by the Board of Trustees to visit the institute. After his visit, on June 9, he was offered the presidency of the university and started serving on October 1, 1932. During his first year of presidency Kolbe surveyed the institute and made several recommendations involving the strengthening of the internal organization. He achieved this by centralizing the admissions process and replacing the Faculty Council with a governing body, with deans, for each school.During his tenure Kolbe strived to reverse the trend of falling enrollment at Drexel, he accomplished that by instituting an Open House, allowing Philadelphia-area high school students and their parents to visit Drexel. This program proved to be such a success that it was temporarily discontinued in 1938, due to peak enrollment being reached. In this time, Kolbe took note of the school’s need to expand, and, with the budgetary assistance of an increasing enrollment and slight raise in tuition, set to work appealing for a separate building for the library, as well as additional student use buildings and campus ground, including an athletics field. In addition to these improvements to the Institute Kolbe was responsible for increased research and the display of the Drexel Institute's Collections.
In 1936 the school was renamed the Drexel Institute of Technology after a 1935 survey of students found that the with the art program no longer active the name "Drexel Institute of Art, Science, and Industry" was unnecessary.
Due to the great focus on engineering instruction placed on the school, Drexel was selected by the federal government to serve as the Philadelphia region’s school for instructing students in engineering defense in anticipation of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. This program grew rapidly during the times of war, with sixteen various classes being offered in the field of scientific national defense by 1941. Kolbe served as president until his death on February 28, 1942.