26 Facts About David Felmley

David Felmley was an American educator best known for his thirty-year-long tenure as the sixth president of Illinois State University, then known as Illinois State Normal University.

David Felmley was born on April 24,1857, near Somerville, New Jersey.

In 1873, Felmley enrolled in Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois.

David Felmley then became the superintendent of schools in Carrollton, Illinois, following his graduation.

In 1887, David Felmley married Auta Stout, although she died in July 1921.

In 1890, when John W Cook became the president of Illinois State Normal University, Felmley took over his position as the professor of mathematics.

David Felmley was a charter member of the Rotary Club and the College Alumni Club in Bloomington, and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Delta Upsilon, and Pi Kappa Delta.

David Felmley was elected the first president of the National Council of Normal School Presidents.

David Felmley was remarried in March 1928 to Jennie Green.

David Felmley was a member of the National Society for the Scientific Study of Education during his time at ISNU.

David Felmley was a member of the State Teachers' Association and was elected its president in 1901.

David Felmley served as the president of ISNU for thirty years and was the one who set its course as a teachers college until the 1960s.

David Felmley believed that everyone deserved a high school education, even those who did not plan to attend college or university.

David Felmley wanted the school to focus on pedagogy and professional teacher preparation, and was thus unconcerned with faculty credentials.

David Felmley argued that the teachers colleges and normal schools, which often recruited and educated students from less privileged backgrounds, were the best institutions for training secondary school teachers.

David Felmley led the charge to turn normal schools in Illinois into four year baccalaureate institutions.

David Felmley was the first Democrat to hold the office of president at the university and supported the right of the faculty to hold and express their individual political beliefs.

In 1927, Felmley hired John A Kinneman to join the university faculty despite the controversy that surrounded Kinneman's outspoken support of the West Chester State Normal School's Liberal Club and his defense of their meetings that led to him being fired.

David Felmley supported the adoption of the metric system, reform of the university calendar, and the use of simplified spelling in all university publications.

David Felmley oversaw the beginnings of a more diverse faculty, hiring several Latino instructors to teach Spanish and potentially the first Jewish faculty member as well.

David Felmley fought for increasing the salaries of faculty at the university after World War I due to post-war inflation and the disparity in salary between ISNU and the University of Illinois.

Shortly before his death, David Felmley submitted his resignation as president of ISNU to the Normal School Board due to his physical health.

David Felmley had been dealing with prolonged illness for about fourteen months prior to his death.

David Felmley's condition had been considered critical in the week before his death, and in the hours before his death he was unconscious.

David Felmley died on January 24,1930, in his home in Normal.

David Felmley was buried in Carrollton City Cemetery in Carrollton, Illinois.