Ernest O. Melby
Encyclopedia
Ernest Oscar Melby was a professor, dean, and university president.
, the son of Ole Hanson and Ellen Stakke Melby. Melby received his B.A. from St. Olaf College
in Northfield, Minnesota
in 1913. He attended graduate school at the University of Minnesota
to receive his masters and Ph.D. He married Aurora Herbert on December 29, 1914. Aurora and Ernest Melby met in Alexandria, Minnesota
, when he was a physics teacher. They had one child, Stanley Herbert Melby.
and Brewster, Minnesota
. He served as a schools superintendent. In 1928, he was appointed Assistant Professor of Education at Northwestern University
, where he conducted prolific research on the administration of several Illinois school districts, the results of which were published in 1929 and 1930. As a result, he was rapidly promoted to associate professor and professor. In 1934, he was named Dean of the School of Education at Northwestern, a position he held until 1941 when his antagonistic relationship with University President Franklyn Bliss Snyder
deteriorated to the point where Melby resigned.
Melby assumed the presidency of Montana State University
, a post he held from 1941 to 1943 and from 1944 to 1945. In 1943, he was Chancellor
of the University of Montana. From 1945 to 1956, Melby served as Dean of the School of Education (now Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development) at New York University
.
Dr. Melby joined the faculty of the College of Education at Michigan State University
in 1956 following his retirement as dean of the College of Education at New York University. Originally intending to stay for just one year, he worked for 19 years prior to his retirement from Michigan State University in 1975.
In 1975, Dr. Melby accepted a distinguished professorship at Florida Atlantic University
where he founded and served as consultant to Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Community Education.
Ernest O. Melby also served as special consultant to the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
.
makes funds available to a student enrolled in the Department of Educational Leadership who is interested in the field of Community Education/Community Schools)
.
was founded in 1967 with a grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
. On February 12, 1988, the Center was formally named in honor of Ernest O. Melby.
Background
Ernest Oscar Melby was born in Lake Park, MinnesotaLake Park, Minnesota
Lake Park is a city in Becker County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 783 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, the son of Ole Hanson and Ellen Stakke Melby. Melby received his B.A. from St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after Olaf II of Norway,...
in Northfield, Minnesota
Northfield, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 17,147 people, 4,909 households, and 3,210 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,452.2 people per square mile . There were 5,119 housing units at an average density of 732.1 per square mile...
in 1913. He attended graduate school at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
to receive his masters and Ph.D. He married Aurora Herbert on December 29, 1914. Aurora and Ernest Melby met in Alexandria, Minnesota
Alexandria, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,820 people, however the most recent count suggests a population upwards of 10,000, which is displayed on Alexandria's city limits signs. The census lists 4,047 households, and 2,011 families residing in the city. The population density was 992.5 people per...
, when he was a physics teacher. They had one child, Stanley Herbert Melby.
Career
Melby began his career as a high school teacher and principal in Minnesota before serving for nine years as the superintendent of schools in Long Prairie, Black DuckBlackduck, Minnesota
Blackduck is a city in Beltrami County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 785 as of the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which are land and is water. -Demographics:...
and Brewster, Minnesota
Brewster, Minnesota
Brewster is a city in Nobles County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 473 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Brewster has a total area of , all of it land. It is located one-half mile from the Jackson County line, on section 25 of Hersey Township...
. He served as a schools superintendent. In 1928, he was appointed Assistant Professor of Education at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, where he conducted prolific research on the administration of several Illinois school districts, the results of which were published in 1929 and 1930. As a result, he was rapidly promoted to associate professor and professor. In 1934, he was named Dean of the School of Education at Northwestern, a position he held until 1941 when his antagonistic relationship with University President Franklyn Bliss Snyder
Franklyn Bliss Snyder
Franklyn Bliss Snyder was the 18th President of Northwestern University and an American scholar of Scottish literature. Snyder was the son of a Congregational minister, Peter Miles Snyder, from Connecticut and grew up in Rockford, Illinois. He received his undergraduate degree from Beloit...
deteriorated to the point where Melby resigned.
Melby assumed the presidency of Montana State University
Montana State University - Bozeman
Montana State University – Bozeman is a public university located in Bozeman, Montana. It is the state's land-grant university and primary campus in the Montana State University System, which is part of the Montana University System...
, a post he held from 1941 to 1943 and from 1944 to 1945. In 1943, he was Chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
of the University of Montana. From 1945 to 1956, Melby served as Dean of the School of Education (now Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development) at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
.
Dr. Melby joined the faculty of the College of Education at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in 1956 following his retirement as dean of the College of Education at New York University. Originally intending to stay for just one year, he worked for 19 years prior to his retirement from Michigan State University in 1975.
In 1975, Dr. Melby accepted a distinguished professorship at Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University, also referred to as FAU or Florida Atlantic, is a public, coeducational, research university located in , United States. The university has six satellite campuses located in the Florida cities of Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, Port St. Lucie, and in Fort...
where he founded and served as consultant to Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Community Education.
Ernest O. Melby also served as special consultant to the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is a charitable foundation founded in 1926 by Charles Stewart Mott of Flint, Michigan. Mott was the leading industrialist in Flint through his association with General Motors....
.
Selected works
- American Education Is in Danger (ADL Bulletin, May 1951)
- American Education under Fire: The Story of the 'Phony Three-R Fight (The New York Times Magazine September 23, 1951)
- Administering Community Education (Prentice-Hall. 1955)
- The Role of the School in Community Education (Pendell Publishing Company. 1969)
Ernest O. Melby Internship
The Ernest O. Melby Internship at Florida Atlantic UniversityFlorida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University, also referred to as FAU or Florida Atlantic, is a public, coeducational, research university located in , United States. The university has six satellite campuses located in the Florida cities of Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, Port St. Lucie, and in Fort...
makes funds available to a student enrolled in the Department of Educational Leadership who is interested in the field of Community Education/Community Schools)
Ernest O. and Aurora H. Melby Endowed Fellowship
The Ernest O. and Aurora H. Melby Endowed Fellowship was established through the estates of Ernest and Aurora Melby in 1994 following the death of Aurora Melby at 102 years of age. The fellowship is designated for students in the Department of Educational Administration at Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
.
Ernest O. Melby Community Education Center
The Ernest O. Melby Community Education Center at Florida Atlantic UniversityFlorida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University, also referred to as FAU or Florida Atlantic, is a public, coeducational, research university located in , United States. The university has six satellite campuses located in the Florida cities of Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, Port St. Lucie, and in Fort...
was founded in 1967 with a grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is a charitable foundation founded in 1926 by Charles Stewart Mott of Flint, Michigan. Mott was the leading industrialist in Flint through his association with General Motors....
. On February 12, 1988, the Center was formally named in honor of Ernest O. Melby.