Jerome Hall Raymond
National Cyclopedia of American Biography
RAYMOND, Jerome Hall, college president, was born at Clinton, Iowa, Mar. 10 1869, son of Henry Wilbur and Virginia (Hall) Raymond, of French descent. He was graduated A.B. at Northwestern university in 1892 (A.M. 1893) and Ph.D. at the University of Chicago in 1895. During 1887-89 he was secretary to Frances E. Willard (q.v.) and from 1889 to 1890 was private secretary to George M. Pullman (q.v). During 1890-91 he traveled in Europe and Asia as secretary to Bishop James M. Thoburn of the Methodist Episcopal church, completing the circuit of the globe. He was secretary and lecturer in history of the Chicago Society for University Extension, 1892-93; professor of history and political science at Lawrence university, Appleton Wis., 1893-94; lecturer on sociology and secretary of the class study department of the university extension department of the University of Chicago, 1894-95, and professor of sociology and secretary of the university extension department of the University of Wisconsin, 1895-97. During 1897-1901 he was president and professor of economics and sociology at West Virginia university. During his administration sweeping changes were inaugurated, the faculty was greatly increased, the attendance more than doubled, a higher standard of scholarship and of conduct prevailed, new departments and buildings were added and the university's power for good was felt throughout the state. "The institution was weak and antiquated before Dr. Raymond took hold of it," wrote David Starr Jordan, "but he has brought it up fairly in line with modern schools, chang-
(402) -ing in the meantime the whole aspect of things." During 1901-09 he was associate professor of sociology at the University of Chicago and a lecturer for the university extension department. In 1909-10 he was president of Toledo university (now the University of the City of Toledo) and professor of economics and political science there. The University was founded in 1872 by Jessup W. Scott as the Toledo university of arts and trades. In 1884 it was taken over by the city council and became a municipal institution under the name of Toledo university. Subsequently it had a varied history under various controlling bodies, such as the board of education and board of trustees, until Raymond became president. During his administration the university became affiliated with the Toledo conservatory of music; a college of arts and sciences was inaugurated; law classes became part of the curriculum; organized labor and business men achieved a $75,000 bond issue; building was improved, new instructors added, enrollment increased and the University Athletic Association formed. His aim throughout was to keep standards and curriculum high in the face of many obstacles. At the time of his resignation the university had forty faculty members and 200 students. He was professor of economics and political science at Knox college during 1910-12 and university extension lecturer in political science for the University of California during 1914-19. A brilliant, entertaining and popular lecturer, he was widely known for his lectures on political subjects. His prevailing passion was a burning desire to extend the benefits of education to the masses. Interesting in the class-room he was most at home on the lecture platform, where he could bring to adult audiences the fruits of his wide study and travel. A few months of each year were devoted to travel in America and Europe, and in this way he obtained a broad view of world affairs. He was married at Aurora, Ill., Aug. 15, 1895, to Nettie Josephine, daughter of Rev. Eli Lester Hunt, of that city. Mrs. Raymond is a well-known lecturer for women's clubs, university extension societies and similar organizations and was formerly lecturer on general literature at the University of Chicago and professor of comparative literature at Toledo university. Raymond died, without issue, at Evanston Ill., Feb. 22, 1928.
