Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/112

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

lished addresses and contributor to "The South in the Building of the Nation," writ- ing the article "Virginia in the New Na- tion," and to the Library of Southern Liter- ature. "Negroes and their Treatment in Virginia, 1865-67" written by him dealing with the reconstruction period has been well received in all sections of the country. From 191 1 until 1913 he held the dual offices of dean of Emory and Henry College and president of Radford State Normal School, but in the latter year resigned the former fully to devote his time to the latter insti- tution.

John Preston McConnell was born in Scott county, Virginia, February 22, 1866, son of Hiram Kilgore McConnell. born June 25, 1838, yet living, a farmer of Scott county and his wife, Ginsey Elizabeth (Brickey) McConnell, born February 20, 1840, yet liv- ing, daughter of John C. and Lucy (Comp- ton) Brickey. Dr. McConnell secured his early education in the public schools in Scott county, passing thence to River View Seminary, and other old field schools in which he was prepared for college. He en- tered Milligan College, Tennessee, and re- ceived the degree of Bachelor of Arts, class of 1890. He was retained by his alma mater as instructor and later as professor of Latin and Greek until 1900, and during the year 1895-96 he held the position of acting presi- dent of the college. From 1896 until 1900 he was conductor of Summer Normal Schools in the state of Tennessee. In the year 1900 he severed his connections with Milligan College and matriculated in the graduate department of the University of V'irginia, specializing in history and eco- nomics and receiving the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 1904. During 1904 he was president of the Graduate Club of the uni- versity, was charter member of the Raven Society of the university, and while study- ing in the university taught history and English literature in Rawlings Female In- stitute. He won the Harrison Trophy at the university, a prize awarded to the best debator. From 1902 to 1904 he was a licen- tiate in history in the University of Vir- ginia. After receiving the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the University of \^ir- ginia. Dr. McConnell was elected to the chair of history and economics, Emory and Henry College, remaining with that institu- tion until June 10, 1913. During his last

two years at Emory and Henry he was dean of the college ; he severed his connection with that school and devoted himself to de- veloping the State Normal School for Women, at Radford, Montgomery county, Virginia, of which institution he had been elected president, October 2, 191 1.

During these years he had been active in other forms of educational work. In 1906 he was elected vice-president of the Co-op- erative Education Association of Virginia ; chairman of Virginia Educational Confer- ence, in 1912; president of Virginia State Teachers Association, 1911-12; and presi- dent of the .\])palachian School Improve- ment Foundation since its organization in 191 2. His published pamphlets, articles and addresses deal chiefly with educational and sociological questions. He is actively iden- tified with many of the educational, civic and religious organizations of Virginia. He is deeply interested in the Young Men's Christian Association and is a member of the executive committee of the State Asso- ciation and chairman of the committee hav- ing charge of the work in Southwest Vir- ginia. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa fraternity, William and Mary College chap- ter, is a communicant of the church of the Disciples of Christ, and in political faith a Democrat.

Dr. McConnell married. May 21, 1891, Clara Louisa Lucas, born in Montgomery county, \'irginia, March 15, 1869, daughter of Charles Davis and Nancy B. (Charlton) Lucas. Children : June Evangeline, born March 16, 1892; Robert Lucas, May 10, 1894: Carl Hiram, November 2, 1896; John Paul, December i, 1898: Annie Ginsey. Feb- ruary 2, 1901, born at Charlottesville, Vir- ginia, the others at Milligan College, Ten- nessee.

Dr. McConnell has de^•oted his life to the improvemnt of the economic, industrial and educational life of the state. His influence has been chiefly felt in the western part of the state which is now undergoing a revo- lution in transportation, industry, educa- tion, home life and home comforts. The rapid development of the natural resources in the south and the phenomenal increase of material wealth must, he feels, be a peril to social and individual welfare, unless there is an equivalent development of the intellectual, esthetic and spiritual life of the people, as there are none so poor as the