author
Calvin Olin Davis
1871–1954
A longtime educator and scholar of secondary schooling, this early twentieth-century writer helped shape conversations about how history and public education should be taught. His books reflect a practical interest in teacher training, curriculum, and the growth of junior high and public secondary education.
1 Audiobook
A Guide to Methods and Observation in History Studies in High School Observation
by Calvin Olin Davis
About the author
Born in Macomb, Michigan, on February 5, 1871, Calvin Olin Davis built his career around teaching and the study of schools. Archival records from the University of Michigan say he earned his bachelor's degree there in 1895, a master's degree in 1904, and a Ph.D. from Harvard in 1910. While pursuing his advanced study, he also taught in South Bend, Indiana.
Davis became known for writing about secondary education and the teaching of history. His works include A Guide to Methods and Observation in History, Public Secondary Education, and Junior High School Education, books aimed at teachers, school leaders, and students preparing to enter the profession. The surviving descriptions of his papers and publications show a writer deeply interested in curriculum, accreditation, and the organization of modern schools.
He died in 1954. Although he is not widely remembered today outside educational history and library collections, his work offers a useful window into how American educators in the early twentieth century thought about training teachers and building stronger public schools.