Irwin Shepard Letter to Philander P. Claxton
In this letter to Philander P. Claxton, Irwin Shepard (Secretary of the National Education Association) mentions an upcoming meeting in Denver and describes his service at the Battle of Fort Sanders during the Civil War. He tells Claxton that Knoxville, and especially the grounds of the University of Tennessee, hold a sacred place in his memory and recalls serving on the Fort's parapet during the battle, helping to collect the dead and wounded, and participating in a burning party that destroyed Judge Reese's house. Shepard closes by speculating that Ft. Sanders is practically obliterated and observing that it is a pity and a shame that it was not preserved as a park.
Dates
- 1909 April 5
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Extent
0.1 Linear Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
In this letter to Philander P. Claxton, Irwin Shepard (Secretary of the National Education Association) mentions an upcoming meeting in Denver and describes his service at the Battle of Fort Sanders during the Civil War. He tells Claxton that Knoxville, and especially the grounds of the University of Tennessee, hold a sacred place in his memory and recalls serving on the Fort's parapet during the battle, helping to collect the dead and wounded, and participating in a burning party that destroyed Judge Reese's house. Shepard closes by speculating that Ft. Sanders is practically obliterated and observing that it is a pity and a shame that it was not preserved as a park.
Biographical/Historical Note
Irwin Shepard was born to Luman and Betsy Jane (Pangborn) Shepard on July 5, 1843 in Skaneateles, New York. He entered the State Normal School at Ypsilanti, Michigan in 1860 but left in 1861 to serve with Company E of the 17th Michigan Infantry. On November 20, 1863 Shepard and Private Andrew Kelley went behind enemy lines to burn houses from whence snipers had been firing on their unit. Both they and Corporal John Falconer were later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their conduct on this mission. After the war ended, Shepard returned to his education and earned his A. B. (1871) and M. A. (1873) from Olivet College in Michigan. He was later awarded an honorary PhD from Olivet College (1893) and an honorary Pd.M. from Michigan Normal College (1912). Shepard married Mary Bassett Elmer on August 23, 1871 and the couple had three children, Julia May, Elmer Irwin, and Ernest Edward. Irwin Shepard worked as the Superintendent of City Schools in Charles City, Iowa (1871-1875) before moving to Winona, Minnesota where he served as the Principal of the High School (1875-1878), the Superintendent of the City Schools (1875-1878), and the President of the Winona Normal School (1879-1898). In 1898, Shepard became the first permanent Secretary of the National Education Association, where he served until August of 1912. He died in Winona on April 17, 1916 and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Arrangement
This collection consists of a single folder.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository