William J. Milne (educator)
Encyclopedia
William James Milne was an American educator, academic administrator, and author. He was known for heading two teachers' colleges in New York
State, and writing numerous mathematics textbooks.
In 1871, Milne became principal of what had been planned four years before as Wadsworth Normal and Training School, and officially opened it in Geneseo, N.Y.
as the Geneseo Normal and Training School
. Milne was on the faculty of what is today the State University of New York at Brockport
before going to Geneseo.
He held his Ph.D. by October 1874, when he was ordained an elder of the town's Central Presbyterian
Church. He also held an LL.D. degree in 1880, when, in March, that church and the First Presbyterian Church of Geneseo Village united to form the Presbyterian Church of Geneseo Village. He and the other elders of the two churches became the 12 elders of the united church, and in September he was elected as one of its 6 trustees, and also became one of three superintendents of its Sunday school
. He continued as an elder and trustee at least into 1887. In 1889 Milne was succeeded as head of Geneseo Normal and Training School by his brother John M. Milne
.
In 1889 Milne took the presidency of New York State Normal School
at Albany
, overseeing development of its mission, as reflected in its name changes to New York State Normal College in 1890, and to New York State College for Teachers in 1914. He died later that year.
The institution's early American practice-teaching school was named The Milne School
after him, and after the school's closing in 1977, the building has continued, in its new roles, to be called Milne Hall. He was also memorialized -- jointly with his brother John M. Milne, who had followed him as president at Geneseo -- by the naming of the Milne Library, in 1966, as part of the institution that by then had the name State University College at Geneseo.
Revision of, for instance, his First course in algebra was continued after his death by Walter F. Downey, as the Milne-Downey ... texts.
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...
State, and writing numerous mathematics textbooks.
In 1871, Milne became principal of what had been planned four years before as Wadsworth Normal and Training School, and officially opened it in Geneseo, N.Y.
Geneseo, New York
Geneseo is the name of a town and its village in Livingston County in the Finger Lakes region of New York, USA, outside of Rochester, New York. The town's population is approximately 9,600, of which about 7,600 live in the village...
as the Geneseo Normal and Training School
State University of New York at Geneseo
The State University of New York at Geneseo—also known as SUNY Geneseo, Geneseo State, or, colloquially, Geneseo—is located in Geneseo, Livingston County, New York, United States. It is a University College of the State University of New York...
. Milne was on the faculty of what is today 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...
before going to Geneseo.
He held his Ph.D. by October 1874, when he was ordained an elder of the town's Central Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
Church. He also held an LL.D. degree in 1880, when, in March, that church and the First Presbyterian Church of Geneseo Village united to form the Presbyterian Church of Geneseo Village. He and the other elders of the two churches became the 12 elders of the united church, and in September he was elected as one of its 6 trustees, and also became one of three superintendents of its Sunday school
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
. He continued as an elder and trustee at least into 1887. In 1889 Milne was succeeded as head of Geneseo Normal and Training School by his brother John M. Milne
John M. Milne
John M. Milne was the second head of the institution that is today State University of New York at Geneseo. Milne was a graduate of State University of New York at Brockport. He was preceded as head of SUNY Geneseo by his brother, William J. Milne.-Sources:*...
.
In 1889 Milne took the presidency of New York State Normal School
University at Albany, SUNY
The State University of New York at Albany, also known as University at Albany, State University of New York, SUNY Albany or simply UAlbany, is a public university located in Albany, Guilderland, and East Greenbush, New York, United States; is the senior campus of the State University of New York ...
at Albany
Albany, 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...
, overseeing development of its mission, as reflected in its name changes to New York State Normal College in 1890, and to New York State College for Teachers in 1914. He died later that year.
The institution's early American practice-teaching school was named The Milne School
The Milne School
The Milne School, frequently referred to as Milne High School, was the campus laboratory school for what is now known as the University at Albany, State University of New York, located in Albany, New York. Its mission was to provide a location for prospective teachers to do their practice teaching...
after him, and after the school's closing in 1977, the building has continued, in its new roles, to be called Milne Hall. He was also memorialized -- jointly with his brother John M. Milne, who had followed him as president at Geneseo -- by the naming of the Milne Library, in 1966, as part of the institution that by then had the name State University College at Geneseo.
Publications
Milne was the author of an extensive mathematics curriculum, with multiple editions, including the following texts and ancillary materials:- The practical arithmetic on the inductive plan including oral and written exercises: Inductive Series (1878)
- Basic methods of teaching (1882)
- High school algebra: embracing a complete course for high schools and academies (c. 1892)
- Standard Arithmetic: embracing a complete course for schools and academies (c.1892 & 1895)
- Elements of arithmetic for primary and intermediate classes in public and private schools (c. 1893)
- Elements of algebra: a course for grammar schools and beginners in public and private schools (c. 1894)
- A mental arithmetic (1897)
- Key to Milne's Plane and solid geometry (1899)
- High school algebra, embracing a complete course for high schools and academies (1906)
- Progressive Arithmetic - First Book - Authorized By the Minister of Education for Use in British Columbia (1912)
- Standard algebra, revised (1914)
- Milne's New York State Arithmetic - Without Answers: First Book (1914 & 1918)
- Milne's New York State Arithmetic - Second Book (1914)
Revision of, for instance, his First course in algebra was continued after his death by Walter F. Downey, as the Milne-Downey ... texts.
- Milne's Inductive Series Elementary Arithmetic (1882)