Wallace W. Kirby
Encyclopedia
Wallace W. Kirby was an officer of the United States Army
who served as Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
in 1924.
After school, he went into the printing
business. In 1900, he joined the United States Geological Survey
.
During World War I
, Kirby was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army
and assigned to the United States Army Corps of Engineers
, where he was responsible for map
reproduction activities. While serving with expeditionary forces in France
, Kirby commanded the 29th Engineers, a unit of surveying and map-making experts.
In February 1924, President of the United States
Calvin Coolidge
named Kirby Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
. Because Kirby was a member of the military, he was not eligible to hold this office, so the United States Congress
passed a joint resolution
to allow Kirby to hold this office for six months without resigning his military commission.
After his time as Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Kirby returned to the Engineer Reproduction Plant in Washington, D.C.
Kirby left the Army in 1927, forming a printing company in Arlington, Virginia that he ran until his death in 1962.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
who served as Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
The Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is the head of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing within the United States Department of the Treasury. The current Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is Larry R. Felix....
in 1924.
Biography
Wallace W. Kirby was born in 1881 and raised in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
After school, he went into the printing
Printing
Printing is a process for reproducing text and image, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. It is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process, and is an essential part of publishing and transaction printing....
business. In 1900, he joined the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Kirby was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and assigned to the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
, where he was responsible for map
Map
A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes....
reproduction activities. While serving with expeditionary forces in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Kirby commanded the 29th Engineers, a unit of surveying and map-making experts.
In February 1924, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
named Kirby Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
The Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is the head of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing within the United States Department of the Treasury. The current Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is Larry R. Felix....
. Because Kirby was a member of the military, he was not eligible to hold this office, so the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
passed a joint resolution
Joint resolution
In the United States Congress, a joint resolution is a legislative measure that requires approval by the Senate and the House and is presented to the President for his/her approval or disapproval, in exactly the same case as a bill....
to allow Kirby to hold this office for six months without resigning his military commission.
After his time as Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Kirby returned to the Engineer Reproduction Plant in Washington, D.C.
Kirby left the Army in 1927, forming a printing company in Arlington, Virginia that he ran until his death in 1962.