Filbey, Emery Thomas

Emery T. Filbey was born on December 23, 1878 in Cambridge City, Indiana.

He began teaching at rural school after graduating from the eighth grade and went on to pursue a career in education at the Indiana State Normal School. He taught in Indiana for nearly eight years before coming to the University of Chicago in 1909. That same year he married Lena Leora Chance. Between 1909 and in 1917 he pursued his Ph.B. while simultaneously heading the Department of industrial arts at the University of Chicago Laboratory School. In 1919 he was made an assistant professor at the University of Chicago and received his masters degree in 1920.

Filbey dedicated over fifty years of his life to the University of Chicago, largely acting in an administrative capacity. He was Dean of the College from 1923-27, Director of the Institute of Meat Packing from 1924-30, Director of Personnel and Alumni Relations from 1926-27, Professor of Commerce and Business Administration from 1927-30, Assistant to the President from 1930-33, Dean of the Faculties from 1933-37, and Vice-President and Dean of the Faculties from 1937-1944. Even after his retirement in 1944, Filbey served as Acting Dean of the Division of Social Sciences in 1954, Acting Dean of the Federated Theological Seminary in 1955, and Acting Director of the Oriental Institute in 1962.

Filbey was a capable administrator and active philanthropist. He served on the Board of Managers of the Chicago Young Men’s Christian Association (Y.M.C.A.) and the Douglas Smith Fund for Working Girls. He was also, actively involved in the George M. Pullman Education Foundation, the National Labor Relations Board, and the Country Home for Convalescent Children.

Filbey passed way in 1969, at the age of 90.