University School - History and Headmasters

History and Headmasters

• 1890–1900: Headmaster Newton M. Anderson (Founder) - University School was established in 1890 by Anderson. The school's first building was erected on 10 acres (40,000 m2) at the corner of Hough Avenue and East 71st Street in Cleveland.
• 1900–1908: Headmaster George D. Pettee - Pettee led the entire student body to the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, in 1901. Seeing that the school had begun to outgrow its environs, Pettee was the first to suggest the idea of moving the school to what later became the eastern suburbs of Cleveland, depicting an early educational manifestation of the white flight phenomenon.
• 1908–1947: Headmaster Harry S. Peters - Peters led US during two World Wars, the Great Depression and, in 1926, to the 36-acre (150,000 m2) campus in Shaker Heights. He was the longest-tenured headmaster in University School history.
• 1947–1963: Headmaster Harold L. Cruikshank - Cruikshank oversaw the building of the Hanna Wing on the Shaker Campus and guided the school through the end of World War II to the beginning of the 1960s.
• 1963–1988: Headmaster Rowland P. McKinley Jr. - Under the leadership of McKinley, the Upper School moved, in 1970, from Shaker Heights to nearly 200 acres (0.81 km2) of meadows and woodland in Hunting Valley. In 1966, a junior student was attacked and had his long hair cut off by upperclassmen; he dropped out of University School after the administration did not respond and later committed suicide.
• 1988–2005: Headmaster Richard A. Hawley - Hawley, the sixth headmaster of US, had a national reputation as an educator and author. With the support of the US community, Conway Hall on the Shaker Campus and the William S. Kilroy '43 Field House in Hunting Valley were built during Dr. Hawley's tenure.
• 2005–present: Headmaster Stephen S. Murray, the seventh headmaster.