Simon Strousse Baker | |
---|---|
Sixth President of Washington & Jefferson College | |
In office March 29, 1922 – May 13, 1931 | |
Preceded by | Samuel Charles Black |
Succeeded by | Ralph Cooper Hutchinson |
Personal details | |
Born | July 11, 1866 Amwell Township, Pennsylvania |
Died | October 10, 1932 Washington, Pennsylvania | (aged 66)
Alma mater |
Washington & Jefferson College University of Pittsburgh |
Simon Strousse Baker (July 11, 1866 – October 10, 1932) was the 6th president of Washington & Jefferson College. [1]
Baker, the great-great-grandson of Dr. Thaddeus Dod, the founder of Washington Academy, was born in Amwell Township, Pennsylvania on July 11, 1866. [1] In 1892, he graduated from Washington & Jefferson College, where he played football and was a member of Phi Delta Theta. [1] [2] [3] He earned a master's degree from W&J in 1912 and a Doctor of Laws degree from University of Pittsburgh in 1922. [1] He enjoyed playing golf, taking long walks, and reading Greek, Roman and Early American history. [2] He frequented "many a smart Pittsburgh club" and often took his wife to opera or theatre shows in Pittsburgh. [2]
He worked for 25 years as an associate superintendent of Pittsburgh's schools. Baker served as acting president of Washington & Jefferson following the death of Dr. Black, and he was elected president in his own right on January 26, 1922. [1] He was inaugurated on March 29, 1922. [1] During his tenure, the college physical plant of the college underwent extensive renovation and modernization. [1] Modern business methods were adopted and the endowment grew considerably. [1] Also, the college experienced advances in academics. [1]
He was sympathetic and well liked by the college's trustees and by "many a townsman." [2] However, the student body felt that Baker was "autocratic" and held an "unfriendly attitude toward the student body as individuals." [1] Specifically, students objected to his policies regarding campus garb and athletics. [4] Baker defended himself, saying that the perceived ill-will towards students was unintentional and a misunderstanding. [1] Nonetheless, the student body held a strike and general walkout on March 18, 1931. [1]
Baker had hoped to complete his plans to build a Moffat Memorial building, a chemistry building, and a stadium before retiring. [1] But, in light of the strike, he resigned on April 23, 1931, for health reasons and for "the good of the College." [1] Baker had been in ill health since undergoing a serious operation in 1930. [2] His health and temperament never recovered from the death of his only son, Lieut. Edward David Baker, an aviator who was shot down in France in 1918. [2] The trustees accepted his resignation on May 13, 1931. [1]
He committed suicide on October 10, 1932. [1] [5]
Simon Strousse Baker | |
---|---|
Sixth President of Washington & Jefferson College | |
In office March 29, 1922 – May 13, 1931 | |
Preceded by | Samuel Charles Black |
Succeeded by | Ralph Cooper Hutchinson |
Personal details | |
Born | July 11, 1866 Amwell Township, Pennsylvania |
Died | October 10, 1932 Washington, Pennsylvania | (aged 66)
Alma mater |
Washington & Jefferson College University of Pittsburgh |
Simon Strousse Baker (July 11, 1866 – October 10, 1932) was the 6th president of Washington & Jefferson College. [1]
Baker, the great-great-grandson of Dr. Thaddeus Dod, the founder of Washington Academy, was born in Amwell Township, Pennsylvania on July 11, 1866. [1] In 1892, he graduated from Washington & Jefferson College, where he played football and was a member of Phi Delta Theta. [1] [2] [3] He earned a master's degree from W&J in 1912 and a Doctor of Laws degree from University of Pittsburgh in 1922. [1] He enjoyed playing golf, taking long walks, and reading Greek, Roman and Early American history. [2] He frequented "many a smart Pittsburgh club" and often took his wife to opera or theatre shows in Pittsburgh. [2]
He worked for 25 years as an associate superintendent of Pittsburgh's schools. Baker served as acting president of Washington & Jefferson following the death of Dr. Black, and he was elected president in his own right on January 26, 1922. [1] He was inaugurated on March 29, 1922. [1] During his tenure, the college physical plant of the college underwent extensive renovation and modernization. [1] Modern business methods were adopted and the endowment grew considerably. [1] Also, the college experienced advances in academics. [1]
He was sympathetic and well liked by the college's trustees and by "many a townsman." [2] However, the student body felt that Baker was "autocratic" and held an "unfriendly attitude toward the student body as individuals." [1] Specifically, students objected to his policies regarding campus garb and athletics. [4] Baker defended himself, saying that the perceived ill-will towards students was unintentional and a misunderstanding. [1] Nonetheless, the student body held a strike and general walkout on March 18, 1931. [1]
Baker had hoped to complete his plans to build a Moffat Memorial building, a chemistry building, and a stadium before retiring. [1] But, in light of the strike, he resigned on April 23, 1931, for health reasons and for "the good of the College." [1] Baker had been in ill health since undergoing a serious operation in 1930. [2] His health and temperament never recovered from the death of his only son, Lieut. Edward David Baker, an aviator who was shot down in France in 1918. [2] The trustees accepted his resignation on May 13, 1931. [1]
He committed suicide on October 10, 1932. [1] [5]