Dyke Brown
Encyclopedia
Dyke Brown was best known for founding The Athenian School
in Danville, California
.
; he graduated in 1932. Before enrolling in college, he traveled in Europe and attended the Schule Schloss Salem School in Germany, then under the direction of the noted educator, Kurt Hahn
.
Returning to the U.S., Brown attended U.C. Berkeley and graduated in 1936, with a BA with highest honors and Phi Beta Kappa. He then went to University of Oxford
on a Rhodes Scholarship
, from 1936 to 1938, earning a B.A. and M.A. in Politics, Economics, and Philosophy. While at Oxford, Brown visited Italy, where he met his future wife, Catherine Whitely, known to all as Kate. From Berkeley, Brown went to Yale Law School
, where he earned a Juris Doctor
degree in 1941, and was immediately hired as Assistant Dean and Assistant Professor of Law by Yale.
, December 7, 1941. Brown, like many of his generation, immediately enlisted in the Navy, and was appointed flag lieutenant and aide to Admiral Jules James
, commander of the Sixth Naval District in Charleston, South Carolina
. Brown was on active duty from 1942 to 1945.
Horace Rowan Gaither
was commissioned by the Ford Foundation's Board of Trustees to create a series of studies to guide the Foundation's growth. In 1949, Gaither recruited Brown to serve as an Assistant Director of the Study for the Ford Foundation on Policy and Program.
In 1953, Dyke was elected a Vice President of the Ford Foundation, with an emphasis on the Foundation's Public Affairs Program and the Program in Economic Development and Administration. The Brown family moved from California to Scarsdale, New York
. Brown's interest in educating youth grew out of several sources: his own children's educational experiences and his work for the Ford Foundation in youth development and preventing juvenile delinquency.
He conceived the desire to start a boarding school that would embody his ideas.
The school opened with 9th and 10th grades, in the fall of 1965. Brown continued to serve as the founder and chief fundraiser, working toward his goal of four distinct campuses sharing a common core of facilities.
In the early years, Brown also taught a seminar to upperclassmen in constitutional law.
Brown was strongly influenced by Kurt Hahn
, the German educator who founded Outward Bound and Gordonstoun
in Scotland. The conferences of schools influenced by Hahn's educational ideas is called Round Square
. For many years, Athenian was the only American member of the Round Square conference.
Obituary, http://www.valleysentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=87&Itemid=5
The Athenian School
The Athenian School is a college preparatory school located in Danville, California. Athenian educates students in grades 6-12 on a campus at the base of Mt. Diablo, located near San Francisco in Northern California...
in Danville, California
Danville, California
The Town of Danville is located in the San Ramon Valley in Contra Costa County, California. It is one of the incorporated municipalities in California that uses "town" in its name instead of "city". The population was 42,039 in 2010. Danville is one of the wealthiest suburbs of Oakland and San...
.
Early life and academic career
Dyke was born Franklin Moore Brown in San Francisco, on April 16, 1915. It is not known how or when "Dyke" became the only first name he was known by. His high school years were spent at Piedmont High SchoolPiedmont High School
Piedmont High School is a public high school located in Piedmont, California, United States. It is noted for its nationally ranked academics, nationally-known Bird Calling Contest, and the A-11 football offense...
; he graduated in 1932. Before enrolling in college, he traveled in Europe and attended the Schule Schloss Salem School in Germany, then under the direction of the noted educator, Kurt Hahn
Kurt Hahn
Kurt Martin Hahn was a German educator whose philosophies are considered internationally influential.-Biography:...
.
Returning to the U.S., Brown attended U.C. Berkeley and graduated in 1936, with a BA with highest honors and Phi Beta Kappa. He then went to University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
on a Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
, from 1936 to 1938, earning a B.A. and M.A. in Politics, Economics, and Philosophy. While at Oxford, Brown visited Italy, where he met his future wife, Catherine Whitely, known to all as Kate. From Berkeley, Brown went to Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
, where he earned a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree in 1941, and was immediately hired as Assistant Dean and Assistant Professor of Law by Yale.
World War II
America entered World War II after the attack on Pearl HarborAttack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
, December 7, 1941. Brown, like many of his generation, immediately enlisted in the Navy, and was appointed flag lieutenant and aide to Admiral Jules James
Jules James
Jules James, , was a career U.S. Naval officer that served a prominent stateside role during World War 2.Jules James was born in Danville, Virginia, where he studied at Virginia Military Institute preparatory to entering the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. In 1928 he married Eleanor Standish...
, commander of the Sixth Naval District in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. Brown was on active duty from 1942 to 1945.
1946 to 1962: From the Practice of Law to the Ford Foundation
After the war, Brown returned to San Francisco and his law career. He first worked for John Francis Neylan (William Randolph Hearst's general counsel) and then in 1949, became a partner at the firm of Cooley, Crowley and Gaither.Horace Rowan Gaither
Horace Rowan Gaither
Horace Rowan Gaither, Jr. , known as H. Rowan Gaither, was a San Francisco attorney, investment banker, and a powerful administrator at the Ford Foundation. During World War II, he served as assistant director of the Radiation Laboratory at M.I.T. In 1948, he helped found the Rand Corporation and...
was commissioned by the Ford Foundation's Board of Trustees to create a series of studies to guide the Foundation's growth. In 1949, Gaither recruited Brown to serve as an Assistant Director of the Study for the Ford Foundation on Policy and Program.
In 1953, Dyke was elected a Vice President of the Ford Foundation, with an emphasis on the Foundation's Public Affairs Program and the Program in Economic Development and Administration. The Brown family moved from California to Scarsdale, New York
Scarsdale, New York
Scarsdale is a coterminous town and village in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the northern suburbs of New York City. The Town of Scarsdale is coextensive with the Village of Scarsdale, but the community has opted to operate solely with a village government, one of several villages...
. Brown's interest in educating youth grew out of several sources: his own children's educational experiences and his work for the Ford Foundation in youth development and preventing juvenile delinquency.
He conceived the desire to start a boarding school that would embody his ideas.
The Athenian Years, 1962 to 1977
Brown left the Ford Foundation in 1962, and returned to the San Francisco Bay Area to raise funds and look for land for the school. In 1963, a portion of the Blackhawk Ranch was purchased, and construction began.The school opened with 9th and 10th grades, in the fall of 1965. Brown continued to serve as the founder and chief fundraiser, working toward his goal of four distinct campuses sharing a common core of facilities.
In the early years, Brown also taught a seminar to upperclassmen in constitutional law.
Activities after The Athenian Years
Brown retired from active service to Athenian in 1977, focusing his interest on younger children. He coordinated with the Hewlett Foundation to create the Child Development Project.Brown was strongly influenced by Kurt Hahn
Kurt Hahn
Kurt Martin Hahn was a German educator whose philosophies are considered internationally influential.-Biography:...
, the German educator who founded Outward Bound and Gordonstoun
Gordonstoun
Gordonstoun School is a co-educational independent school for boarding and day pupils in Moray in North East Scotland. Named after the estate originally owned by Sir Robert Gordon in the 1600s, the school now uses this estate as its campus...
in Scotland. The conferences of schools influenced by Hahn's educational ideas is called Round Square
Round Square
The Round Square Conference of Schools is a worldwide association of more than 80 schools that allows students to travel between schools,tour foreign countries, involve themselves in community service and discover cultures along the way.-History:...
. For many years, Athenian was the only American member of the Round Square conference.
External links
- Press Release, the Athenian School, on the event of Brown's death
Obituary, http://www.valleysentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=87&Itemid=5