Carleton B. Gibson
Encyclopedia
Carleton Bartlett Gibson (18 September 1863 – May 22, 1927) was a 19th– and 20th century American industrial educator, most notable for having served as the first president of the Rochester Athenæum and Mechanics Institute, from 1910 to 1916.
He was born in Mobile, Alabama
in 1863 and attended school at the Barton Academy and the Mobile Military Academy. He graduated from the University of Alabama
with bachelor's and master's degrees in 1884 and 1885, respectively and married the former Martha Goodwin Newcomb in 1889. While still in college he became principal of the public school in Mulberry, Alabama. After graduation, he took a job at the State Normal School at Jacksonville, Alabama
and helped establish the University Military School of Alabama
in 1892. He briefly served as president of the Alabama Central Female College in Tuscaloosa in 1893.
Also in 1893, he left to become the principal of the Columbus, Georgia
High School and within the year became Superintendent of the Columbus City Schools. With the financial support of George Foster Peabody
, he established the first school for industrial education
in the South, the Primary Industrial School of Columbus in 1900. The school introduced the children of mill workers to two dozen different handicrafts that would prove useful for their later employ in the local textile factories.
Gibson was hired to oversee the Rochester Athenæum and Mechanics Institute in June 1910 by the then board of directors which included George Eastman
. He instituted the Institute's Cooperative education
program in 1912, as part of his focus on industrial education. The program required students to study half time and to work half time in shops at Eastman Kodak
, Gleason Works, and the German American Button Company.
Gibson took a leave of absence from the Institute in 1914, joining Herbert Hoover
's American Commission for War Relief in Belgium
with tours of duty in Belgium, France, and Russian Poland. He eventually resigned the Institute Presidency to pursue that undertaking full time in June 1915. The Institute did not recognize his resignation for a full year while it sought another president. Upon America's entry into the War, he organized divisional schools for the Army and served as director of Vocational Training for the American Expeditionary Force
in France.
After the end of the War, Gibson was elected Superintendent of the Savannah, Georgia
public school system. In 1926, he left education to become a vice president at the Florida Title Insurance
Company in Miami. He died suddenly in Norfolk, Virginia
in 1927.
He was born in Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
in 1863 and attended school at the Barton Academy and the Mobile Military Academy. He graduated from the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
with bachelor's and master's degrees in 1884 and 1885, respectively and married the former Martha Goodwin Newcomb in 1889. While still in college he became principal of the public school in Mulberry, Alabama. After graduation, he took a job at the State Normal School at Jacksonville, Alabama
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville State University is a regional public coeducational university located in Jacksonville, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1883, Jacksonville State offers programs of study in four academic units leading to Bachelor's, Master's, and Education Specialist degrees, in addition to continuing and...
and helped establish the University Military School of Alabama
UMS-Wright Preparatory School
- History :The UMS-Wright Preparatory School has its foundation in the life of one man—Julius Tutwiler Wright. His goal was an education for the whole person-mental, moral, and physical-intensively tailored to the needs of the individual student. His goal remains central today to the educational...
in 1892. He briefly served as president of the Alabama Central Female College in Tuscaloosa in 1893.
Also in 1893, he left to become the principal of the Columbus, Georgia
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
High School and within the year became Superintendent of the Columbus City Schools. With the financial support of George Foster Peabody
George Foster Peabody
George Foster Peabody was a banker and philanthropist.-Early life:...
, he established the first school for industrial education
Vocational education
Vocational education or vocational education and training is an education that prepares trainees for jobs that are based on manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic, and totally related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation...
in the South, the Primary Industrial School of Columbus in 1900. The school introduced the children of mill workers to two dozen different handicrafts that would prove useful for their later employ in the local textile factories.
Gibson was hired to oversee the Rochester Athenæum and Mechanics Institute in June 1910 by the then board of directors which included George Eastman
George Eastman
George Eastman was an American innovator and entrepreneur who founded the Eastman Kodak Company and invented roll film, helping to bring photography to the mainstream...
. He instituted the Institute's Cooperative education
Cooperative education
Cooperative education is a structured method of combining classroom-based education with practical work experience. A cooperative education experience, commonly known as a "co-op", provides academic credit for structured job experience...
program in 1912, as part of his focus on industrial education. The program required students to study half time and to work half time in shops at Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak Company is a multinational imaging and photographic equipment, materials and services company headquarted in Rochester, New York, United States. It was founded by George Eastman in 1892....
, Gleason Works, and the German American Button Company.
Gibson took a leave of absence from the Institute in 1914, joining Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
's American Commission for War Relief in Belgium
Committee for Relief in Belgium
The Commission for Relief in Belgium or C.R.B. − known also as just Belgian Relief − was an international organization that arranged for the supply of food to German-occupied Belgium and northern France during the First World War.Its leading figure was chairman Herbert Hoover .- Origins :When the...
with tours of duty in Belgium, France, and Russian Poland. He eventually resigned the Institute Presidency to pursue that undertaking full time in June 1915. The Institute did not recognize his resignation for a full year while it sought another president. Upon America's entry into the War, he organized divisional schools for the Army and served as director of Vocational Training for the American Expeditionary Force
American Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF were the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside British and French allied forces in the last year of the war, against Imperial German forces...
in France.
After the end of the War, Gibson was elected Superintendent of the Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
public school system. In 1926, he left education to become a vice president at the Florida Title Insurance
Title insurance
Title insurance is a form of indemnity insurance predominantly found in the United States which insures against financial loss from defects in title to real property and from the invalidity or unenforceability of mortgage liens. Title insurance is principally a product developed and sold in the...
Company in Miami. He died suddenly in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
in 1927.