English High School - Blue and Blue / Record Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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William Devore Assistant Head Master Taking over the duties as Assistant Head Master this year was Mr. William Devore. Mr. Devore received his A.B. from Harvard College and his Ed.M. from Boston Teacher ' s College in 1937. Mr. Devore has served on the faculty since 1939. The class of 1964 wishes Mr. Devore the best of luck on his new job.

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Mead Master ' s Message As the time for graduation draws near, I welcome this op- portunity to say a few words of parting. The Class of 1964 has not only had a splendid record of scholastic achievement but has also triumphed recognizably on the athletic field. You have provided the needed leadership to the under- graduate body, and have fostered the school spirit. Most of you will be going on to college or the business world. I know I can count on you to strive to be men of ho nor and achieve- ment through service to mankind. God Bless you all. Joseph L. Malone Head Master

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Mcritagi In 1820, the town of Boston felt that the time had arrived to supplement its secondary school system, which at that time consisted of only the Latin School. A subcommittee, consisting of clergy, merchants, and jurists, was appointed to consider the subject of providing advanced schooling for boys not pursuing a college career. This committee presented a report which recommended the estabhshment of a school to be called the Enghsh Classical School (a title that was eventually changed permanently to the English High School in 1833) with admittance obtainable thru ' suitable examination. This committee further stated that the course should be spread over a period of three years, vdth subjects including English, Math, and Natural Philosophy. The school was opened in a building on Derne Street (in the rear of the State House, the site now commemorated by a plaque, gift of the Class of 1874) in the year 1821. George Barrold Emerson, a famous New England educator and botanist, was appointed the first headmaster. Mr. Emerson served until 1823, resigning at that time to open a fashionable academy for girls. Shortly after the appointment of Solomon P. Miles as headmaster, the school was moved from Derne to Pickney Street where it remained until 1844. Mr. Miles retired because of ill health in 1837 and was succeeded by Thomas Sherwin, a master in the school since 1829. Mr. Sherwin, a great and beloved headmaster, and a famous author of math text-books, presided over the school until his death at the age of 70 in 1869. Dinning his regime such famous men as J. P. Morgan, the great financier, and Samuel P. Langley, inventor of the airplane engine, were graduated from the school. In 1844, the English High School was moved to a building on Bedford Street, which was also to house the Latin School. There the school remained until 1881 when English was moved to an elaborate new building on Montgomery Street, a building regarded in its time as one of the finest educational edifices in the country. Mr. Cumston, a master in the school for over 20 years, was appointed headmaster at Sherwin ' s death. He continued in this post until 1874, when he retired to pursue a business career. Edwin Pliny Seaver, an instructor of mathematics at Harvard, was his successor, resigning in 1881 to accept the position of Superintendent of Schools in Boston, the second teacher at English High to be honored so, — John D. Philbrick having held the position previously. Francis A- Waterhouse, a graduate of Bowdoin and headmaster of Newton High School, was his successor, continuing in that oflfice until his untimely death in Europe, while on leave of absence in 1894. Mr. Robert Babson, a teacher of German since 1864, was appointed his successor. Mr. Babson retired because of ill health in 1901; it was during his time that the system of departmental heads was established. Mr. John F. Casey, his successor, had been a teacher of mathematics in the school since 1872 and was held in the greatest of esteem by the alumni and student body. Mr. Casey retired reluctantly in 1915, because of the age limit and was succeeded by William B. Snow, then head of the French Department. During Mr. Snow ' s regime, the English High School celebrated its centenary. In 1922, the School Committee elected Mr. Snow Assistant Superintendent of Boston public schools, whereupon he was succeeded by Mr. Walter F. Downey, who had been a teacher of mathematics in the school for 12 years. On Mr. Downey ' s retirement in 1954, Mr. M. Henry Mclnemey was named headmaster. It was in Mr. Mclnerney ' s time that English High School moved from the old building on Montgomery Street to the High School of Commerce building on Avenue Louis Pasteur. Since the appointment of Mr. Joseph L. Malone as headmaster in 1956, many new honors have been brought to the school. I I ' • 11 n