BROWN, Elmer Ellsworth, American educator: b. Kiantone, Chautauqua County, N. Y., 28 Aug. 1861. He was graduated at the Illinois State Normal University 1881, and at the University of Michigan, A.B., 1889, and made use of the intervening time in earning the means for his university course by teaching public schools in Belvidere, Ill. He was elected association State secretary for Illinois of the Y. M. C. A. and served in that capacity, 1884 87; was principal of the high school, Jackson, Mich., 1890-91; acting assistant professor of science and art of teaching at Ann Arbor, 1891 92; associate professor of a similar chair in the University of California, 1892-93; full pro fessor, 1893-1906, and honorary professor from 1 July 1906, when he was appointed United States Commissioner of Education to succeed William T. Harris, deceased, and thus became head of the Bureau of Education in the Depart ment of the Interior, Washington, D. C. Be
came chancellor of New York University in 1911. He visited Europe (1889) to pursue a post-graduate course in pedagogy at the Univer sity of Halle, Wittenberg, Germany, receiving the. degree of Ph.D. in 1890. His honorary degrees are Columbia, LL.D. (1907) and Wes leyan, LL.D. (1909). He was elected member of the National Council of Education and served as president, 1905-07. He was also made fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Science and vice-president of the section of education in 1907. Among his contributions to pedagogic literature are