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NEA
WSU
Ed Dept.
Winona,
MN
WSU
Home Page
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On Saturday, July 9, 1898, in the
Grand Opera House at Washington, D. C., Nicolas Murray Butler, professor
at Columbia University and former President of the NEA, arose to address
the "annual meeting of the active members" of the National Education
Association. He proposed an amendment to the NEA's constitution which
would accept hereafter that the position of Secretary be elected annually
from the list of officers and by the Association, and make that office
a paid and permanent servant of the Association.
With the acceptance of this amendment,
the course of the NEA took a major step into Minnesota history. The
reason for this honor was the active participation of Dr. Irwin A.
Shepard in the NEA organization. His election as the first official
Secretary for the NEA, became a major transition for the development
of the NEA. The city of Winona,
Minnesota had the privilege
of being the first headquarters of the National
Education Association.
 For
nearly 20 Years the headquarters of what was to become the nations
largest education organization had a mailing address of Winona, Minnesota.
Before 1898, there were no records or documents of any kind on file
with the NEA. Under Dr. Shepard's care the NEA's records and correspondence
was organized, filed, and preserved.
Before this time the NEA operated from
where ever the "annual meetings" were held. The records of these meetings
were notes taken by whoever was acting as secretary at the time. There
were no official records, documents, or correspondence kept in a single
location.
Irwin A. Shepard was born in 1843,
in Skanestewles, New York. He received his Ph.D. degree at Olivet
College in Michigan. When war broke out, he was attending the
State Normal School at Ypsilanti, Michigan. After serving his
country for two and half years he was discharged in 1865 because
of wounds received in battle. While recovering from his wounds
he continued his studies and began his professional career in
education.
In 1875, Dr. Shepard came to Winona,
Minnesota as principal of Winona Senior High School. Three years
later he was named Superintendent of the Winona Public School
System. Only a year later, Dr. Shepard became the fourth man to
serve as principal of the Winona Normal School, which later became Winona
State University.
Irwin Shepard lived at 118 West Wabasha,
in Winona, Minnesota where he had his office and maintained correspondence
with the NEA. Dr. Shepard recognized the importance of the NEA, and
with the demands getting larger, he resigned from the his position
as President of the Winona Normal School in 1898.
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