William Ernest Gillespie (February 9, 1912 – November 5, 1967)[1] was an American educator who served as assistant principal, dean of faculty, and interim principal at Phillips Exeter Academy.
Gillespie was born on February 9, 1912, in Exeter, New Hampshire, to Walter and Margaret (Alexander) Gillespie. His father taught Latin at Phillips Exeter from 1910 to 1940. He was educated at local public schools, and graduated from Phillips Exeter in 1929.[2] He went on to study at Princeton University, where he graduated in 1933, and earned his MA and PhD degrees in classics in 1935 and 1937, respectively. Beginning his career in teaching Latin at Exeter in September 1939,[3] he was only absent from the school for three years when he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was appointed assistant to the principal in 1960, taking charge of a variety of administrative matters for principal William Saltonstall; upon the latter's resignation in June 1963 to join the Peace Corps, he was named acting principal for one year, until the appointment of Richard W. Day.[4] Under Day's leadership, Gillespie served as assistant principal and dean of the faculty.
Acting Principal of Phillips Exeter Academy, 1963-1964edit
As acting principal, Gillespie introduced numerous long-lasting changes to Academy regulations and policy, most notably regarding smoking and drug abuse. For example, recognizing the growing evidence of the harmful effects of smoking, Gillespie himself quit smoking and introduced more stringent restrictions on smoking by students.[1] In 1964, Gillespie permitted the secretary of the Communist Party to speak in the Academy assembly hall, but then denied the same privilege to Richard Alpert and Timothy Leary, who both had been suspended from the Harvard University faculty. Exeter students criticized Gillespie for this apparent inconsistency regarding freedom of speech, but he regained their support after presenting his case in a forthright address to students in chapel by pointing out the difference between the dangers of Communism and of hallucinogenic drugs.[1]
"Warm Nest" Comment, 1964edit
In Gillespie's last public speech to the Academy, an address to the seniors at the commencement of 1964,[1] his closing words aroused no little misinterpretation and controversy.
It is nearly time for you to be off. You have a lot to do. This is no time to concern ourselves with nostalgia. As a matter of fact, I don't think anybody has ever claimed that Exeter is a warm nest. But I hope, and I expect, that when you find yourselves involved in skirmishes on the frontiers of barbarism, which are not very far away, you'll strike some shrewd blows in favor of civilization. Some day you'll come back to show us your trophies and your scars, and we'll be glad to see you.
Coming at a time of societal discontent and upheaval in America, Gillespie's words were widely misinterpreted and misquoted. "Exeter is not a warm nest" became a rallying cry among advocates for reform, specifically with regard to what was then perceived as a harsh advising and disciplinary system.[5]
Gillespie died on November 5, 1967, in Exeter Hospital. He was married to Janet Lansing Wicks, with whom he had four children, two sons and two daughters.
Referencesedit
^ abcd"William Ernest Gillespie '29". The Phillips Exeter Bulletin. LXIV (2): 80. Winter 1968.
^Harper, Steven J. (2007). Straddling Worlds: The Jewish-American Journey of Professor Richard W. Leopold. Northwestern University Press. ISBN9780810124448.
^Heskel and Dyer (2008). After the Harkness Gift: A History of Phillips Exeter Academy Since 1930. University Press of New England. pp. 135–136.
January 01, 1970
william, ernest, gillespie, february, 1912, november, 1967, american, educator, served, assistant, principal, dean, faculty, interim, principal, phillips, exeter, academy, interim, principal, phillips, exeter, academyin, office, 1963, 1964preceded, bywilliam, . William Ernest Gillespie February 9 1912 November 5 1967 1 was an American educator who served as assistant principal dean of faculty and interim principal at Phillips Exeter Academy William Ernest GillespieInterim Principal of Phillips Exeter AcademyIn office 1963 1964Preceded byWilliam Gurdon SaltonstallSucceeded byRichard Ward DayPersonal detailsBornFebruary 9 1912Exeter New HampshireDiedNovember 5 1967Exeter New HampshireNationalityAmericanAlma materPhillips Exeter AcademyPrinceton University Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Acting Principal of Phillips Exeter Academy 1963 1964 3 Warm Nest Comment 1964 4 ReferencesEarly life and career editGillespie was born on February 9 1912 in Exeter New Hampshire to Walter and Margaret Alexander Gillespie His father taught Latin at Phillips Exeter from 1910 to 1940 He was educated at local public schools and graduated from Phillips Exeter in 1929 2 He went on to study at Princeton University where he graduated in 1933 and earned his MA and PhD degrees in classics in 1935 and 1937 respectively Beginning his career in teaching Latin at Exeter in September 1939 3 he was only absent from the school for three years when he served in the U S Navy during World War II He was appointed assistant to the principal in 1960 taking charge of a variety of administrative matters for principal William Saltonstall upon the latter s resignation in June 1963 to join the Peace Corps he was named acting principal for one year until the appointment of Richard W Day 4 Under Day s leadership Gillespie served as assistant principal and dean of the faculty Acting Principal of Phillips Exeter Academy 1963 1964 editAs acting principal Gillespie introduced numerous long lasting changes to Academy regulations and policy most notably regarding smoking and drug abuse For example recognizing the growing evidence of the harmful effects of smoking Gillespie himself quit smoking and introduced more stringent restrictions on smoking by students 1 In 1964 Gillespie permitted the secretary of the Communist Party to speak in the Academy assembly hall but then denied the same privilege to Richard Alpert and Timothy Leary who both had been suspended from the Harvard University faculty Exeter students criticized Gillespie for this apparent inconsistency regarding freedom of speech but he regained their support after presenting his case in a forthright address to students in chapel by pointing out the difference between the dangers of Communism and of hallucinogenic drugs 1 Warm Nest Comment 1964 editIn Gillespie s last public speech to the Academy an address to the seniors at the commencement of 1964 1 his closing words aroused no little misinterpretation and controversy It is nearly time for you to be off You have a lot to do This is no time to concern ourselves with nostalgia As a matter of fact I don t think anybody has ever claimed that Exeter is a warm nest But I hope and I expect that when you find yourselves involved in skirmishes on the frontiers of barbarism which are not very far away you ll strike some shrewd blows in favor of civilization Some day you ll come back to show us your trophies and your scars and we ll be glad to see you Coming at a time of societal discontent and upheaval in America Gillespie s words were widely misinterpreted and misquoted Exeter is not a warm nest became a rallying cry among advocates for reform specifically with regard to what was then perceived as a harsh advising and disciplinary system 5 Gillespie died on November 5 1967 in Exeter Hospital He was married to Janet Lansing Wicks with whom he had four children two sons and two daughters References edit a b c d William Ernest Gillespie 29 The Phillips Exeter Bulletin LXIV 2 80 Winter 1968 Harper Steven J 2007 Straddling Worlds The Jewish American Journey of Professor Richard W Leopold Northwestern University Press ISBN 9780810124448 PEAN Class of 1943 Phillips Exeter Academy 1943 Princeton Alumni Weekly princeton alumni weekly 1968 Heskel and Dyer 2008 After the Harkness Gift A History of Phillips Exeter Academy Since 1930 University Press of New England pp 135 136 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Ernest Gillespie amp oldid 1138860945, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
