Belfield, Henry H. (Henry Holmes), 1837-1912

Variant names

Hide Profile

Educator. A.B., Iowa College, 1858. A.M., Griswold College, 1861; and Iowa College, 1868. Ph. D., Iowa College, 1878. Principal and superintendent of public schools, Dubuque, Iowa. Principal at various public schools, Chicago. Director, Chicago Manual Training School, 1883-1903. Dean of Technology Course, University of Chicago Laboratory High School, 1903-1908.

From the description of Family papers, 1844-1967 (inclusive). (University of Chicago Library). WorldCat record id: 40935165

From the description of Family papers, 1844-1967 (inclusive). (University of Chicago Library). WorldCat record id: 52250096

Henry Holmes Belfield, educator, was born November 17, 1837, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His family moved west in 1846, living in Iowa and Missouri. Belfield received an A.B. degree from Iowa College in 1858, A.M. degrees from Griswold College in 1861 and Iowa College in 1868, and a Ph.D. from Iowa College in 1878. Before moving to Chicago in 1866, he served as Principal and Superintendent of Public Schools in Dubuque, Iowa, and as an assistant adjutant general in the 8th Iowa Cavalry.

In Chicago, Belfield worked as Principal of Jones School, 1866-1868, Dore School, 1868-1876, and North Division High School, 1876-1883. In 1883 he was appointed as the first Director of the newly-formed Chicago Manual Training School. He and his family moved to Hyde Park the following year.

The Chicago Manual Training School was created by the Commercial Club of Chicago, its trustees included E. W. Blatchford, R. T. Crane, W. A. Fuller, Marshall Field, John Crerar, John W. Doane, W. K. Fairbank, Edson Keith, and George M. Pullman. It was conceived not as a trade school but as a high school that combined training in carpentry, drawing, and machine shopwork with mathematics, science, and language in a program of general education. The first of its kind in Chicago, it served as a model for the R. T. Crane Manual Training School and Armour Institute, as well as similar schools in other cities.

In 1897 the Commercial Club offered the school as a gift to the University of Chicago, and in 1903 it was merged with the South Side Academy to form the University High School. Belfield's title was changed to Dean of the Technological Course of the University High School, since the Manual Training School was technically dissolved. He served in that position until his retirement in 1908. Although he had recommended the acquisition of the school by the University, he felt that it was unfortunate that much of the school's identity and character were lost through the administrative changes. Belfield died June 5, 1912.

From the guide to the Belfield, Henry H. and Belfield Family. Papers, 1849-1967, (Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library 1100 East 57th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Belfield, Henry H. (Henry Holmes), 1837-1912. Family papers, 1844-1967 (inclusive). University of Chicago Library
referencedIn Helen Belfield Bates Van Tyne Papers, 1846-1971, 1950-1966 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Belfield, Henry H. and Belfield Family. Papers, 1849-1967 Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library,
creatorOf Belfield, Henry H. (Henry Holmes), 1837-1912. Family papers, 1844-1967 (inclusive). University of Chicago Library
creatorOf Van Tyne, Helen Belfield Bates. Helen Belfield Bates Van Tyne papers, 1846-1971. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Baird, Spencer Fullerton, 1823-1887. Blatchford family papers - additions, 1841-1947, bulk 1870-1914. Newberry Library
referencedIn Chicago Manual Training School. Records, 1882-1913 Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library,
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Belfield family. family
associatedWith Belfield family. family
associatedWith Belfield Family family
associatedWith Belfield, Thomas. person
associatedWith Chicago Manual Training School. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Chicago. Laboratory Schools corporateBody
associatedWith Van Tyne, Helen Belfield Bates. person
associatedWith Van Tyne, Helen Belfield Bates. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
California
Nevada
Nevada
California
Subject
Gold mines and mining
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1837

Death 1912

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6vd7cnf

Ark ID: w6vd7cnf

SNAC ID: 69086167