Los Angeles County
Biographies
GRENVILLE C. EMERY
EMERY, GRENVILLE C. , Educator and Head Master of the Harvard School, Los Angeles, California, was born July 19, 1843, at Ripley, Maine. His father was John G. Emery, and his mother Mary Stanley (Jones) Emery. January 27, 1871, at Livermore Falls, Maine, he married Ella Rhoda Pike, and of this union seven children have been born. They are Ellen R., Mary R.,
Bertrand G., Laura J., Ella Pike, Grenville Pike, and John Emery.
Mr. Emery seems to have been destined for the duties of an educator, for after his public school days were completed, which were in the common schools of his native state, he entered Corinna Union Academy, Maine, as a student and assistant to the principal, and remained four years. After this he attended the Maine State Seminary, 1861-64; Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, 1864-68; and studied at Gottingen, Germany, 1882-83. He received the degree A. B. From Bates College in 1868, and A. M. In 1869. Years afterward, 1904, he received the degree, Litt.D.
He became an instructor in the Maine State Seminary at Lewiston and served in this capacity during the years 1868 and 1869. He was given the principalship of the High School and the Superintendency of the schools of Auburn, Maine, in 1870, and continued in these positions until an offer came from Michigan, where he became principal of the Grand Rapids High School. This position he retained through the term of 1871-72, after which he returned to the New England states.
His next position as an educator was that of sub-master of the Lawrence Grammar School, Boston, Mass., which position he held successfully until 1891, when he resigned to study in Germany. He went to Germany and at the University of Gottingen, took up studies pertaining to his profession during the years 1881-82.
On returning to America he became master in the Boston Latin School, and remained there until 1897. During his services in Boston he endeared himself to the pupils and parents by the personal interest which he took in each individual pupil, and became widely known throughout that vicinity for his thoroughness in teaching and his original methods.
During this teaching period, Mr. Emery became, in conjunction with Mr. Bradbury, Headmaster of the Cambridge Latin School, the author of a number of works in mathematics, particularly in Algebra, which are today used by any of the high and secondary schools of the country. Among his best known and most successful works are the following: “Academic Algebra” (Bradbury and Emery), 1890; “Academic Algebra” (Teachers’ Edition), 1890; “Algebra for Beginners” (Bradbury and Emery), 1894; and “Key to Algebra for Beginners.” 1896. In June, 1897, Mr. Emery left Boston for Los Angeles, where he has been identified with its educational circles ever since.
On arriving there in 1899 he immediately entered upon educational work, as principal of the Los Angeles Military Academy.
In the fall of 1900 he founded the now famous Harvard School of Los Angeles, military drill being a feature, and became its Head Master.
Under his leadership the school has steadily grown to a preparatory school of the first rank, and now has its graduates in Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Cornell, Stanford, the Universities of California and Virginia; or as graduates from those universities, pursuing successful business or professional work in this and other cities of the country.
Mr. Emery expects to retain the Headmastership of the Harvard School but a short time longer. A chartered corporation under the auspices of the Episcopal Church has recently purchased the institution, and it will be known hereafter as “The Harvard School upon the Emery Foundation.” Joseph H. Johnson, Episcopal Bishop of Los Angeles, in virtue of his office, is its president, and it has been his desire and that of the advisory board with him that Mr. Emery’s name be perpetuated in the title of the school, owing to the generous terms under which the school has been sold to the church. Mr. Emery is to retain the head mastership only until a fitting successor can be found for him. The school, as delivered by Mr. Emery to the church, is a beautiful property, a magnificent group of ornamental buildings, occupying an extensive square, in the heart of the best residence section of Los Angeles, with one of the chief interurban lines running past its gates. In the words of Bishop Johnson—“It shall be regarded always as a monument to the liberality of Mr. and Mrs. Emery, to whom lasting credit is due as the founders of the institution.” Mr. Emery has made of the school a success and will retire with a record of worthy accomplishment.
Transcribed 11-1-09
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 346, International News Service, New York, Chicago, San
Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta.
1913.
© 2009 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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