John Gabbert Bowman
Encyclopedia
John Gabbert Bowman was the tenth Chancellor
(1921–1945) of the University of Pittsburgh
and the ninth President (1911–1914) of the University of Iowa
.
He is best known for initiating and completing the 42-story Cathedral of Learning
, the centerpiece of Pitt's campus, over the objections of many faculty and community members. At the time it was the tallest educational structure in the world. He also established the University of Pittsburgh Press
and oversaw the institution of controversial athletic policies that resulted in the resignation in popular head football coach Jock Sutherland
.
Bowman was the first University of Iowa alumnus
to become its President, as well as the school’s first Iowa-born chief administrator. He earned the B.A.
degree in 1899, the M.A.
in 1904, and the Litt.D. in 1934. He became a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity
as an undergraduate.
He also worked as a journalist in Iowa
and Illinois
, taught in a one-room rural Iowa school and at Columbia University
. From Columbia he worked at the newly founded Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
In 1915 he became the founding director of the American College of Surgeons
, where he served until 1921.
Bowman was born in Davenport, Iowa
. He married Florence Ridgway Berry and they had two children. He died at age 85 on December 2, 1962 in Bedford, Pennsylvania
.
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
(1921–1945) of the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
and the ninth President (1911–1914) of the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
.
He is best known for initiating and completing the 42-story Cathedral of Learning
Cathedral of Learning
The Cathedral of Learning, a Pittsburgh landmark listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is the centerpiece of the University of Pittsburgh's main campus in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States...
, the centerpiece of Pitt's campus, over the objections of many faculty and community members. At the time it was the tallest educational structure in the world. He also established the University of Pittsburgh Press
University of Pittsburgh Press
The University of Pittsburgh Press is a scholarly publishing house and a major American university press, part of the University of Pittsburgh. The university and the press are located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States....
and oversaw the institution of controversial athletic policies that resulted in the resignation in popular head football coach Jock Sutherland
Jock Sutherland
Dr. John Bain "Jock" Sutherland, D.D.S., was an American football coach. He coached college football at Lafayette College and the University of Pittsburgh and professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Steelers...
.
Bowman was the first University of Iowa alumnus
Alumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
to become its President, as well as the school’s first Iowa-born chief administrator. He earned the B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1899, the M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1904, and the Litt.D. in 1934. He became a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
as an undergraduate.
He also worked as a journalist in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
and Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, taught in a one-room rural Iowa school and at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. From Columbia he worked at the newly founded Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
In 1915 he became the founding director of the American College of Surgeons
American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is an educational association of surgeons created in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice.-Membership:...
, where he served until 1921.
Bowman was born in Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
. He married Florence Ridgway Berry and they had two children. He died at age 85 on December 2, 1962 in Bedford, Pennsylvania
Bedford, Pennsylvania
Bedford is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, west of the State Capital, Harrisburg. It is the county seat of Bedford County. Bedford was established in the mid-18th century. Population counts follow: 1890, 2,242; 1900, 2,167; 1910, 2,385. The population was 3,141 at the 2000...
.
Books
- The World That Was, nonfiction (New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1947).
- Nationality Rooms of the University of Pittsburgh, with Ruth Crawford Mitchell and Andrey Avinoff, nonfiction (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1947).
- Happy All Day Through, poetry (Chicago: P.F. Volland Company, 1917).