John Williston Cook

John Williston Cook (April 20, 1844 – July 15, 1922) was a prominent educator during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in the United States, specifically in Illinois. His work in education, specifically in association with the Herbartianism movement, had a lasting impact on the field at the time.

Early life

Cook was born on April 20, 1844, in Oneida County, New York.[1] He moved to McLean County, Illinois, with his family in 1851.[2] He attended Illinois State Normal University prior to his time as a faculty member, graduating in 1865.[1] He taught for one year in Brimfield, Illinois, before returning to Normal and becoming the principal of the model school associated with ISNU.[2] In 1867 he became married to Lydia Spafford.[2]

Professor and university president

Illinois State University

In 1868, Cook joined the ISNU faculty as the professor of history and geography.[2] In 1869, he became the professor of reading and elocution, and in 1876 was made the professor of mathematics.[2] In 1890, Cook was appointed president of the university.[3] In 1890, ISNU became the national center of Herbartianism, a pedagogical movement of reform for education in elementary schools.[4] Cook encouraged ISNU graduates to continue their education beyond the university in order to strengthen their training as teachers, and heavily supported the faculty’s study of Herbartianism.[5] As president, Cook advocated for the construction of a gymnasium on campus, and in 1895 the Illinois legislature appropriated $40,000 for the construction of the gymnasium,  later renamed John W. Cook Hall.[6] Cook was president of the university when it broke its tradition of free tuition and instituted a fee of two dollars per term starting in December of 1898.[7] Cook resigned from ISNU in 1899.[4]

Northern Illinois University

In 1899, Cook began his career at the Dekalb Normal School, which would later become Northern Illinois University.[8] He served as president of NIU from 1899 to 1919.[9] He was essential to the organization of the school, the hiring of the first faculty members, and establishing the base curriculum for students.[9]

Later life and death

Cook wrote a massive book titled Educational History of Illinois, published in 1912, which strongly featured ISNU.[10] Cook died on July 15, 1922, in Chicago, Illinois.[1]

Legacy

There is a building named after Cook on the Illinois State University Campus, John W. Cook Hall, which is used predominantly by the School of Music.[11] There is also a building on Northern Illinois University’s Campus, Williston Hall, named in his honor.[12]

References
  1. The Index. Normal, Illinois: Illinois State Normal University. 1923. p. 6.
  2. Cook, John Williston; McHugh, James (1882). "A History of the Illinois State Normal University". Illinois State University History Books: 49.
  3. Harper, Charles (1935). "Development of the Teachers College in the United States with Special Reference to the Illinois State Normal University". Illinois State University History Books: 171.
  4. Freed, John B. (2009). Educating Illinois: Illinois State University, 1857–2007. Donning Company. p. 147. ISBN 978-1-57864-536-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  5. Freed 2009, p. 152.
  6. Freed 2009, p. 106.
  7. Freed 2009, p. 139.
  8. Freed 2009, pp. 156–157.
  9. "Past Presidents". Northern Illinois University. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  10. Freed 2009, p. 99.
  11. "Cook Hall | Illinois State". Illinois State University. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  12. "Williston Hall". Northern Illinois University. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
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