William Torrey Harris: The Commemoration of the One Hundredth Anniversary of His Birth, 1835-1935. Bulletin, 1936, No. 17

Throughout the centuries there have appeared from time to time individuals who have merited designation as great educational leaders. Nearly every country lays claim to a few whose thought and action have been responsible in the main for its spiritual and cultural growth. The United States is no exception in this respect for it lays claim to an unusual group of men and women whose influence long will be felt in behalf of the educational advancement of the nation. Among these, not the least was William T. Harris, the fourth Commissioner of Education of the United States of America. This year 1835 marks the time of the birth of Harris. Harris, a philosopher of high order, was, perhaps as much as any man, the creator of the modern public-school system. With a great endowment of mind he gave a type of leadership to education which scarcely has been surpassed in this country. The life of William T. Harris is full of inspiration for the scholar and administrator. In many respects his contributions were not spectacular. This was doubtless natural, because the forces with which he worked were to a large extent hidden. Yet it was because of the power and the depth of his thought, the breadth of his view, and the long continuity of purpose that enabled his work to be so lasting in influence. This bulletin contains the following: (1) Foreword; (2) Preface; (3) Tributes at the Washington Dinner in honor of William T. Harris; (4) The tribute of the Department of Superintendence of the National Education Association to William T. Harris; and (6) The tribute of Connecticut and of neighbors to William T. Harris. Individual sections contain footnotes. [Best copy available has been provided.]