Oliver Marcy
Encyclopedia
Oliver Marcy was twice an acting president at Northwestern University
from 1876-1881 and in 1890.
Born in Colrain, Massachusetts
, the seventh of 11 children, he attended Wesleyan Academy
and graduated from Wesleyan University
in 1846.
He became professor
of natural science
at Northwestern University in 1862 and taught there for 37 years and held a number of faculty posts.
Marcy established the Northwestern University Museum of Natural History
and served as its curator
from 1871 to his death. He also held several administrative positions at Northwestern. He was Dean of the College of Technology from 1873 to 1876 and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts from 1890 to 1899. Twice he served as Acting President of the University, from 1876 to 1881 and again from May to September 1890.
Marcy married Elizabeth Eunice Smith in 1874. They had four children of whom only one, Annie, survived. Mrs. Marcy was very active in temperance
causes and Methodist social work; Chicago's Methodist-sponsored settlement house, the Marcy Center, was named in her honor.
Both are buried at Wilbraham, Massachusetts
.
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....
from 1876-1881 and in 1890.
Born in Colrain, Massachusetts
Colrain, Massachusetts
Colrain is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,813 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :Colrain was first settled in 1735 as "Boston Township No...
, the seventh of 11 children, he attended Wesleyan Academy
Wilbraham Wesleyan Academy
Wilbraham Wesleyan Academy was one of the oldest educational institutions of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was originally established by Methodist clergy of New England, in 1818...
and graduated from Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
in 1846.
He became professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of natural science
Natural science
The natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
at Northwestern University in 1862 and taught there for 37 years and held a number of faculty posts.
Marcy established the Northwestern University Museum of Natural History
Museum of Natural History
A museum of natural history is a museum with exhibits about natural history, including such topics as animals, plants, ecosystems, geology, paleontology, and climatology. Some museums feature natural-history collections in addition to other collections, such as ones related to history, art and...
and served as its curator
Curator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
from 1871 to his death. He also held several administrative positions at Northwestern. He was Dean of the College of Technology from 1873 to 1876 and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts from 1890 to 1899. Twice he served as Acting President of the University, from 1876 to 1881 and again from May to September 1890.
Marcy married Elizabeth Eunice Smith in 1874. They had four children of whom only one, Annie, survived. Mrs. Marcy was very active in temperance
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
causes and Methodist social work; Chicago's Methodist-sponsored settlement house, the Marcy Center, was named in her honor.
Both are buried at Wilbraham, Massachusetts
Wilbraham, Massachusetts
Wilbraham is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is also a suburb of the City of Springfield, Massachusetts and part of the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,868 at the 2010 census...
.