Nahum Leonard

Last updated
Nahum Leonard
Born
Nathum Leonard III

December 11, 1876
Bridgewater, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedSeptember 11, 1927(1927-09-11) (aged 50)
Plymouth, Massachusetts, U.S.
Burial placeMt. Prospect Cemetery, Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Education Bridgewater State College
Harvard University
Occupation(s)Superintendent of Schools, principal, and educator
Employer(s) Sanderson Academy

Keene Normal School

North Andover Public Schools
Known forFounding Kappa Delta Phi

Nahum Leonard III (December 11, 1876 - September 11, 1927) was an American educator and one of the founders of the college fraternity Kappa Delta Phi. [1]

Contents

Early life

Leonard was born in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. His father was Lahum Kingman Leonard, a representative in the Massachusetts legislature, high school principal, and superintendent of the State Farm. [2]

He attended Bridgewater State College in 1899, graduating in 1902. [3] While in college, he was a member of the Normal Club. [4] He was also at one time the president of the athletic association. [5] On April 14, 1900, fourteen male students met and established Kappa Delta Phi. [6] That day Leonard wrote in his diary, "Fourteen specimens of the genus homo, banded together by the sacred ties of fraternal brotherhood, met in [the] dining hall at 7:00 p.m. sharp…a number of [speeches] were made all expatiating on the desirability of perpetuating this secret band of brothers. Suffice it to be said, that an organization was effected [sic] which we hope may be as lasting as the university itself.” [3] Leonard was elected as the fraternity's secretary and later served as treasurer and vice president. [7] [6] [8]

Career

After graduating from college, Leonard became the principal of Sanderson Academy in Ashfield, Massachusetts, from the fall of 1907 to June 1910. [9] [10] When he left Sanderson, he took to college studies at Harvard University. [11] [10]

He was then associated with the Keene Normal School in Keene, New Hampshire. [12] [13] In May 1921, he was hired as the Superintendent of Schools in North Andover, Massachusetts. [12] He held that position until he resigned in 1927 due to poor health. [14]

Personal life

Leonard was married and had a son. [15] He remained active in the Kappa Delta Phi fraternity and attended its annual conventions, which began at his suggestion. [13] [6] He also helped established the Gamma chapter. [16] On June 21, 1902, he was chosen "Father of the Fraternity". [6] In June 1904, he served on the committee of four members that explored whether or not Kappa Delta Phi should become a national fraternity. [6]

Leonard had a summer home in Plymouth, Massachusetts. [14] He died on September 11, 1927, in Plymouth [14] from angina pectoris immediate cardio sclerosis. He was buried in the Mt. Prospect Cemetery in Bridgewater.

Honors

At its 1929 convention, Kappa Delta Phi changed the name of its scholarship fund to the Nathum Leonard Loan Fund in his honor. [17]

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References

  1. ↑ About Kappa Delta Phi National Fraternity.
  2. ↑ "Death of Capt. Nahum Leonard". The Boston Globe. 1891-01-06. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-08-06– via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 Kingsley, Orson (October 28, 2022). "Archived Scrapbooks Tell of Bridgewater Normal School's Role in Fraternity's Founding | From the Archives and Special Collections". Bridgewater State University. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  4. ↑ The..Normal Offering. Bridgewater State Normal School; 1900, p. 36
  5. ↑ The..Normal Offering. Bridgewater State Normal School; 1900, p. 42
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Clemence, Robert E. (1950). The Golden Year of Kappa Delta PhiLibson, N.H.: The Ammonoosuc Press, p. 14. via Selections from Archives and Special Collections, Bridgewater State University.
  7. ↑ The..Normal Offering. Bridgewater State Normal School; 1900, p. 53.
  8. ↑ Clemence, Robert E. (1950). The Golden Year of Kappa Delta Phi. Libson, N.H.: The Ammonoosuc Press, p. 153. via Selections from Archives and Special Collections, Bridgewater State University.
  9. ↑ "Ashfield". The Recorder. Greenfield, Massachusetts. 1909-07-24. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-08-06– via Newspapers.com.
  10. 1 2 "Sanderson Academy Principal Resigns". Boston Evening Transcript. 1910-06-28. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-08-06– via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Ashfield". The Recorder. Greenfield, Massachusetts. 1911-02-18. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-08-06– via Newspapers.com.
  12. 1 2 "Leonard School Head". Boston Post. 1921-05-17. p. 17. Retrieved 2023-08-06– via Newspapers.com.
  13. 1 2 "Dine at Boston City Club. Members of Kappa Delta Phi at Bridgewater Normal School". The Boston Globe. 1912-02-04. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-08-06– via Newspapers.com.
  14. 1 2 3 "Ex-Supt Nahum Leonard of North Andover Dies". The Boston Globe. 1927-09-13. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-08-06– via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Ashfield". The North Adams Transcript. Massachusetts. 1920-08-24. p. 7. Retrieved 2023-08-06– via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ Clemence, Robert E. (1950). The Golden Year of Kappa Delta Phi. Libson, N.H.: The Ammonoosuc Press, p. 85. via Selections from Archives and Special Collections, Bridgewater State University.
  17. ↑ Clemence, Robert E. (1950). The Golden Year of Kappa Delta Phi. Libson, N.H.: The Ammonoosuc Press, p. 28 and 48. via Selections from Archives and Special Collections, Bridgewater State University.
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