New York (State). Education Dept. Commissioner's Office.

Education Commissioner John H. Finley was a renowned Francophile who had lectured at the Sorbonne and several French universities in the years prior to World War I. He was a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor and author of a book that was awarded the Malte-Brun Medal of the Geographic Society of Paris. In addition to his pursuits in the realm of education, he was active in health and social service matters, serving, for example, as chairman of the New York State Commission for the Blind (1913-1915), the Albany County Chapter of the American Red Cross, the New York State Committee of the Commission for Relief in Belgium, and the Committee for Men Blinded in Battle (often in gas attacks).

Dr. Finley's trip was endorsed at the highest levels of both countries. He conveyed to France greetings from President Woodrow Wilson and a special letter from Governor Charles S. Whitman, who proclaimed the observance of "France Day" in the state during which all schools gave special lessons in French history and the part France was playing in the war. Dr. Finley was the envoy of colleges and universities across the country, many of which sent messages of sympathy and support to their sister institutions in France. Letters from Winifred Holt, Secretary of the New York Association for the Blind, characterize Dr. Finley as the organization's "Ambassador of the blind," and he also visited members of a host of charitable and service organizations during this stay in France.

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