Thomas Blanchard Stowell
Encyclopedia
Thomas Blanchard Stowell (1846–1927) was a distinguished American
educator.
Stowell was born on March 29, 1846 in Perry, New York
. In 1865, at the age of 19, he graduated from Genesee College (now Syracuse University
). He went on to earn a Master's degree
in 1868 and a Ph.D.
in 1881 from the same institution.
After graduating from college in 1865, he became principal of the Addison Academy in Addison, New York
. One year later, he was in charge of the Academic Department of the Union School in Morrisville, New York
. The next year he was a professor of mathematics at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary
. The year after he was principal of Morris High School in Leavenworth, Kansas
.
In 1869 Stowell became the Chair of Natural Sciences at the new (founded 1868) Cortland State Normal School in Cortland, New York
, now known as the State University of New York at Cortland
. After having just held four jobs in four years, he stayed at Cortland for 20 years.
Stowell left Cortland in 1889 to become the principal of the Potsdam Normal School in Potsdam, New York
, now known as the State University of New York at Potsdam
. He remained at Potsdam for another 20 years. In 1909 he was awarded an honorary LL.D. from St. Lawrence University
in Canton, New York
.
In 1909 Stowell left Potsdam to become the founding chair of the new Department of Education in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Southern California
(USC). In 1918 USC established its School of Education
, and Stowell became the founding dean
of the school.
In addition to his administrative roles, Stowell was also an accomplished scientist. His work included the fields of human
and comparative anatomy
, microscopy
, and comparative neurology
. He was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
; a charter member of the Association of American Anatomists and a member of their nomenclature committee; and a member of the Microscopy Society of America
and American History Association. Stowell was particularly known for his pamphlets on the origin and cranial nerves of the domestic cat. In 1891 he was a contributor to Volume 1 of The Journal of Comparative Neurology.
Thomas Blanchard Stowell retired in 1919 after a career of 54 years in education. The University of Southern California named the Thomas Blanchard Stowell Hall of Education and Stowell Research Library in his honor. In 1963 SUNY Potsdam named its Stowell Hall in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator.
Stowell was born on March 29, 1846 in Perry, New York
Perry (town), New York
Perry is a town in Wyoming County, New York, USA. The population was 6,654 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry....
. In 1865, at the age of 19, he graduated from Genesee College (now Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
). He went on to earn a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in 1868 and a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1881 from the same institution.
After graduating from college in 1865, he became principal of the Addison Academy in Addison, New York
Addison (town), New York
Addison is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 2,640 at the 2000 census. The name was selected to honor the author Joseph Addison....
. One year later, he was in charge of the Academic Department of the Union School in Morrisville, New York
Morrisville, New York
Morrisville is a village in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 2,148 at the 2000 census. The village is named after its founder, Thomas Morris.The Village of Morrisville in the northwest part of the Town of Eaton on US Route 20....
. The next year he was a professor of mathematics at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary
Genesee Wesleyan Seminary
The Genesee Wesleyan Seminary was the name of two institutions located on the same site in Lima, New York.The Genesee Wesleyan Seminary was founded in 1831 by the Genesee Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The plan for its establishment dates to 1829 when the Conference...
. The year after he was principal of Morris High School in Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas and within the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area. Located in the northeast portion of the state, it is on the west bank of the Missouri River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
.
In 1869 Stowell became the Chair of Natural Sciences at the new (founded 1868) Cortland State Normal School in Cortland, New York
Cortland, New York
Cortland is a city in Cortland County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 18,740. It is the county seat of Cortland County.The City of Cortland, near the west border of the county, is surrounded by the Town of Cortlandville....
, now known as the State University of New York at Cortland
State University of New York at Cortland
The State University of New York College at Cortland, also officially called SUNY Cortland or informally known as Cortland State, is a coeducational university located in Cortland, New York...
. After having just held four jobs in four years, he stayed at Cortland for 20 years.
Stowell left Cortland in 1889 to become the principal of the Potsdam Normal School in Potsdam, New York
Potsdam (town), New York
Potsdam is a town located in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 15,957 at the 2000 census. The ZIP code is 13676. The town is named after the city of Potsdam in Germany...
, now known as the State University of New York at Potsdam
State University of New York at Potsdam
The State University of New York at Potsdam, also known as SUNY Potsdam, or, colloquially, Potsdam, is a public university located in the Village of Potsdam in St. Lawrence County, New York. Founded in 1816, it is among the 50 oldest colleges in the United States...
. He remained at Potsdam for another 20 years. In 1909 he was awarded an honorary LL.D. from St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University is a four-year liberal arts college located in the village of Canton in Saint Lawrence County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2300 undergraduate and 100 graduate students, about equally split between male and female....
in Canton, New York
Canton (town), New York
Canton is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, USA. The population was 10,334 at the 2000 census. The town contains two villages: one also named Canton, the other named Rensselaer Falls. Canton is located near the center of the county. The town is named after Canton in China. Canton is the...
.
In 1909 Stowell left Potsdam to become the founding chair of the new Department of Education in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
(USC). In 1918 USC established its School of Education
USC Rossier School of Education
The University of Southern California's Rossier School of Education is one of the graduate schools of the University of Southern California. The Rossier School offers six Masters degree programs, a Doctor of Education degree, and a Ph.D. in Urban Education Policy. The Rossier School places an...
, and Stowell became the founding dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the school.
In addition to his administrative roles, Stowell was also an accomplished scientist. His work included the fields of human
Human anatomy
Human anatomy is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the human body. Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy. Gross anatomy is the study of anatomical structures that can be seen by the naked eye...
and comparative anatomy
Comparative anatomy
Comparative anatomy is the study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of organisms. It is closely related to evolutionary biology and phylogeny .-Description:...
, microscopy
Microscopy
Microscopy is the technical field of using microscopes to view samples and objects that cannot be seen with the unaided eye...
, and comparative neurology
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
. He was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
; a charter member of the Association of American Anatomists and a member of their nomenclature committee; and a member of the Microscopy Society of America
Microscopy Society of America
The Microscopy Society of America was founded in 1942 as The Electron Microscope Society of America and is a non-profit organization that provides microanalytical facilities for studies within the sciences. Currently, there are approximately 3000 members. The society holds an annual meeting, which...
and American History Association. Stowell was particularly known for his pamphlets on the origin and cranial nerves of the domestic cat. In 1891 he was a contributor to Volume 1 of The Journal of Comparative Neurology.
Thomas Blanchard Stowell retired in 1919 after a career of 54 years in education. The University of Southern California named the Thomas Blanchard Stowell Hall of Education and Stowell Research Library in his honor. In 1963 SUNY Potsdam named its Stowell Hall in his honor.