William Henry Venable
Encyclopedia
William Henry Venable was an American author and educator.
. He began to teach at seventeen years of age, and during his vacations attended teachers' institutes in Oxford, Ohio
, being one of the first teachers in the state upon whom the Ohio board of examiners conferred a life certificate. He was graduated at the National Normal University
at Lebanon, Ohio
, in 1862, became professor of natural science in Chickering Classical and Scientific Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, in the same year, was its principal and proprietor in 1881, organized and was first president of the Cincinnati Society of Political Education, and in 1882 founded and conducted in that city the African School of Popular Science and History.
Beginning in 1886, he spent three years on literary work and lecturing. He was an editor of the Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly. He was actively connected with many educational associations, and a member of several learned bodies. The Ohio University
gave him the degree of LL.D. in 1886. In 1889 he became Chairman of the English Department at Hughes High School in Cincinnati and in 1896 became Chairman of the same department at Walnut Hills High School
, also in Cincinnati. While holding these positions he was an active proponent of education reform.
attended Walnut Hills and went on to become a noted actress.
He also published several pamphlets, addresses, etc., and edited "The Dramatic Actor," a collection of plays (1873) and "Dramatic Scenes from the Best Authors" (1874).
Biography
He was born in Warren County, OhioWarren County, Ohio
Warren County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. The population was 212,693 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Lebanon. Warren County was erected May 1, 1803, from Hamilton County, and named for Dr...
. He began to teach at seventeen years of age, and during his vacations attended teachers' institutes in Oxford, Ohio
Oxford, Ohio
Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States, in the southwestern portion of the state. It lies in Oxford Township, originally called the College Township. The population was 21,943 at the 2000 census. This college town was founded as a home for Miami University. Oxford...
, being one of the first teachers in the state upon whom the Ohio board of examiners conferred a life certificate. He was graduated at the National Normal University
National Normal University
National Normal University was a teacher's college in Lebanon, Ohio. It opened in 1855 as Southwestern State Normal College and took the name National Normal University in 1870. Alfred Holbrook was the first president and the school's guiding force for most of its existence. He resigned in 1897...
at Lebanon, Ohio
Lebanon, Ohio
The population at the 2010 census was 20,033. As of the census of 2000, there were 16,962 people residing in the city. The population density was 1,440.6 people per square mile . There were 6,218 housing units at an average density of 528.1 per square mile...
, in 1862, became professor of natural science in Chickering Classical and Scientific Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, in the same year, was its principal and proprietor in 1881, organized and was first president of the Cincinnati Society of Political Education, and in 1882 founded and conducted in that city the African School of Popular Science and History.
Beginning in 1886, he spent three years on literary work and lecturing. He was an editor of the Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly. He was actively connected with many educational associations, and a member of several learned bodies. The Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
gave him the degree of LL.D. in 1886. In 1889 he became Chairman of the English Department at Hughes High School in Cincinnati and in 1896 became Chairman of the same department at Walnut Hills High School
Walnut Hills High School (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Walnut Hills High School is a public college-preparatory high school in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. Operated by the Cincinnati Public Schools, it houses grades seven through twelve and maintains a culturally diverse student body. The school has been given an excellent rating by the Ohio...
, also in Cincinnati. While holding these positions he was an active proponent of education reform.
Descendants
His son Emerson Venable also taught English at Walnut Hills. His granddaughter Evelyn VenableEvelyn Venable
Evelyn Venable was an American actress. In addition to starring in several films in the 1930s and 1940s, she is notable as the voice and model for the Blue Fairy in the Walt Disney's Pinocchio....
attended Walnut Hills and went on to become a noted actress.
Notable works
He published 22 books, including:- "June on the Miami, and other Poems" (Cincinnati, 1871)
- "A School History of the United States" (1872)
- "The School Stage, 's a collection of juvenile acting plays, original and adapted (1873)
- "The Teacher's Dream," a poem (New York, 1880)
- "Melodies of the Heart, and other Poems" (Cincinnati, 1884)
- "Melodies of the heart, songs of freedom, and other poems" (1885);
- "Footprints of the Pioneers in the Ohio Valley" (1888)
- "Biography of William D. Gallagher" (1888)
- "Historical Sketch of Western Periodical Literature" (1888)
- "Early periodical literature of the Ohio Valley" (1888)
- "Down South before the war" (1889)
- "Beginnings of literary culture in the Ohio valley, historical and biographical sketches" (1891)
- "Let him first be a man, and other essays chiefly relating to education and culture" (1893)
- "Saga of the oak, and other poems" (1904)
- "Dream of empire, or, The house of Blennerhassett" (1901)
- "Floridian sonnets" (1909)
- "Buckeye boyhood" (1911)
He also published several pamphlets, addresses, etc., and edited "The Dramatic Actor," a collection of plays (1873) and "Dramatic Scenes from the Best Authors" (1874).