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On May 4, 1874, Walter George Whitman was born in Norway, Maine to George Washington Whitman and Eliza Jane (Davis) Whitman. Following his graduation from Norway High School, he attended Tufts College, where in 1898; he received an A.B. degree (Artium Baccalaureus) and began teaching at Goddard Seminary in Barre, Vermont, and later at high schools in Gloucester and Springfield, Massachusetts. In 1906, he received an M.A. degree at Columbia University, while teaching at New York City’s Ethical Culture School. His longest tenure was at the Salem Normal School, where he taught Practical Science and served as Head of the Science Department. On August 20, 1912, Whitman married Grace Bates. Together, the couple had three children, George B. Whitman, who became the eccentric owner of the bookstore, Shakespeare and Company in Paris, France, Mary C. Whitman, and H. Carlton Whitman.
While teaching, George Whitman established and served on boards of numerous science-based organizations, becoming the founder of General Science Quarterly in 1916. In 1925, Whitman took a yearlong sabbatical from Salem Normal School and along with his family, moved to China, where he taught physics at Nanking University. While living in China, Whitman chose to live in the Chinese community instead of one of the homes provided for Americans. While there, Whitman took several photographs and lantern slides, chronicling the everyday life of the Chinese people. While in Asia, Whitman traveled to other countries including Japan, India, and Egypt; also making stops in Europe. During the 1920s and 1930s, Whitman authored and co-authored several science textbooks, including lesson plans and exams. These textbooks were widely used across the country and abroad and remained relevant for many decades. He is largely recognized as a pioneer and leading force in general science and science education.
Walter George Whitman died of a heart attack in his Orlando, Florida home on November 2, 1952. He was 78 years old.
Teaching Experience:
Goddard Seminary, Barre, Vermont, 1898-1899
Gloucester, Massachusetts, High School, 1899-1903
Springfield, Massachusetts, High School, 1903-1905
Ethical Culture School, New York City, 1905- 1910
State Normal School, Salem, Massachusetts, Head of Science Department, 1910-1914; 1915-1944
Nanking University, China, 1925-1926
Summer Schools:
Columbia, 1906-1912
Teachers College, Columbia University, 1913
State Normal School, Hyannis, Massachusetts, 1915- 1916
University of Pittsburgh, 1917-19
Hampton, Virginia, Normal and Agricultural Institute, 1924-1925, 1927
Organizations:
New York City Physics Club, President, 1910
New England Association of Chemistry Teachers, President, 1912-1913
Science Editor for the American Book Company, 1913-1915
General Science Club of New England, Organizer President, 1916-1918
General Science Quarterly, Founder, 1916, Editor, 1916-1931
National Council on Elementary Science, President, 1934-1935
National Association for Research in Science Teaching, Charter Member, Vice-president, 1936, President, 1937
American Association for the Advancement of Science, Member
American Science Teachers Association, Member
Education:
A.B. degree, Tufts College, Medford, Massachusetts, (1898)
M.A. degree, Columbia University, (1906)
Publications:
Household Physics
Laboratory Manual
Civic Science in the Home
Civic Science in the Community
My Own Science Problems
Science in Our Social Life
Science in Our World of Progress
Doorsteps to Science
Problems in General Science
Films:
Atmospheric Pressure
Compressed Air
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Digitized Archives
China Photographs, 1925-1926
Walter George Whitman Photographs and Ephemera
Walter George Whitman Papers Finding Aid
Walter George Whitman Collection
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