OBERT CURRY, A. M., Ph. D., second son of Robert and Kezia Curry, was born near Murrysville, Westmoreland Co., Pa., on the 8th of June, 1821. In his ninth year his parents removed to Washington County of the same State, where he was raised, and trained to habits of industry.
   His opportunities for obtaining an early school education were very meager, as his parents, although honest, industrious and intelligent, were in limited circumstances. This want of opportunity, however, was offset to a certain extent by his early home education, as under the guidance of his parents, who were Presbyterians of Scotch extraction, he had learned to read and write, and treasured up in memory the Westminster Assembly's shorter catechism, and many psalms and hymns, and other choice selections of prose and poetry, further back than at his majority he could remember. His instructions in the Sunday-school, and from the pulpit also, formed an important part of his early education, and doubtless had much to do in shaping his character and forming his purposes for life.
   He early manifested an ardent desire to obtain a liberal education, and in the meantime, by his own unaided home efforts, supplemented by a few months' instruction in the public schools of his neighborhood, gained such a knowledge of the common branches of an English education as enabled him to pass a satisfactory examination before an intelligent school committee, from which he received such certificates and recommendations as justified him in applying for a position as teacher in the public schools, and henceforward relied entirely on his own efforts for support and success in securing an education.
   After teaching a few terms in the public schools, he became a student in the academy at Frankfort Springs, Beaver Co., Pa., where he made considerable progress in the study of mathematics and the Classics. Subsequently he attended an academy in Cross Creek Village, Washington Co., Pa., devoting his time while there exclusively to the study of the Latin and Greek languages. In the summer of 1845 he entered the Freshman class of Jefferson College, where he graduated in 1848, having taught more or less in the meantime.
   After graduation he taught one year in the Hays McNary school, and on Dec. 26, 1849, he and Miss Mary McCloy, youngest daughter of Dr. Alexander McCloy, of Cannonsburg, Pa., were united in marriage.
   He subsequently held successively the principalship of the West Newton Academy, the Cannonsburg graded schools, and that of a private seminary in West Manchester. In the spring of 1855 he organized, at Mansfield, Pa., the first Normal School west of the Alleghany Mountains. In the fall of the same year he became Principal of the New Brighton Female Seminary, in which position he remained until his wife died, in the fall of 1859, when he, with his little daughter, an only child, returned to Pittsburgh, where for a time he edited and published an educational journal, known as the National Educator.
   In 1860 he founded the celebrated Curry Institute, of Pittsburgh, Pa., an institution which still bears his name, and which, while comprising three courses -- Normal, Classical and Commercial -- was nevertheless designed for the special education and training of teachers. It was a private enterprise, which, while demanding high prices for tuition, had to compete with the Pittsburgh Central High School, which comprised a Normal Department free to all its pupils. Curry Institute opened with only four students, but grew so rapidly that by the end of the first year it numbered over 200 students. Its popularity increased from year to year, until before long there was a constant demand for all its graduates as teachers, and indeed all its other students who could obtain certificates of any grade. During his thirteen years' connection with the institution as Principal, its average annual attendance was over 317 students, while toward the last of that period, some of its catalogues show an annual enrollment of over 500 students.
   In the spring of 1873 he was appointed Deputy State Superintendent of Public Instruction in Pennsylvania, and as his thirteen years of unceasing labor in building up and carrying on his school had somewhat impaired his health, and as in the meantime his little daughter had died, thus leaving him alone, he disposed of his interest in the school, accepted the proffered office, and entered upon its du-

ties on the 1st of June, 1873. His estimated fitness for the position, the nature of his work, and the ability with which he discharged the duties of his office, are aptly and briefly expressed in the following abstracts taken from leading educational journals and elsewhere. Thus, Dr. J. P. Wickersham, in the Pennsylvania School Journal for June, 1873, in speaking of the suitableness of his appointment, says; "Prof. Robert Curry has all his life been engaged in the work of education. In 1855 he established the first Normal School west of the mountains, and since that time has been constantly engaged in the work of training teachers. His appointment was asked for by an immense number of superintendents, teachers, school directors, public men and leading private citizens. He seems to come into office by the universal good-will of his section of the State, and the cause of education is expected to profit much by his appointment." The following resolution, which is taken from the published minutes of the Teachers' Association, held in the city of Pittsburgh April 5, 1873, and which was unanimously adopted by that body, is a type of the numerous requests above alluded to, and, at the same time, indicates the estimation in which he was held at home.
   "Resolved, That this convention nominate Prof. Robert Curry, and earnestly urge his appointment to the position of Deputy State Superintendent of Public Instruction, believing that his natural ability, educational qualifications, extensive experience as an educator, popularity as an institute lecturer and instructor, and his high moral character, are such as to eminently fit him for this important position." The Warren Institute Gem for September, 1873, says: "Prof. Robert Curry entered upon the duties of his office last June. The degree of Ph. D. was conferred upon him by Washington and Jefferson College last July. He is now in the prime of life, and endowed with ripe scholarship and rich experience, and his services as State Instructor cannot fail to be of incalculable value to the cause of education throughout the State." The National Journal of Education for June, 1880, speaking of Dr. Curry's official work in Pennsylvania, says:"As Deputy State Superintendent of Public Instruction, he spent nearly four years as State Instructor in the city and county institutes of the common. wealth, attending the city and county superintendents' conventions, and in visiting the State Normal Schools and examining their graduating classes. His public addresses were very highly and widely appreciated, having been quoted largely by the National Bureau of Education in its annual reports, the French Centennial Commission, in its report on the state of education in this country, and by the press in Canada, Germany, and other foreign countries, as well as at home."
   During the summer of 1876 he made his headquarters in Philadelphia, where, having charge of Pennsylvania's Centennial Educational exhibit, he had rare opportunities for becoming acquainted with the leading educators and educational systems of the world. In the meantime, he and Miss Jennie B. Boggs, of Allegheny City, were married, began housekeeping in Philadelphia, expecting to make that place their future home. In December of that year, however, he was unanimously elected Principal of the Nebraska State Normal School, and although it was not to his pecuniary interest to make the change, he had a desire to see the West, and as the work was congenial, and would allow film to enjoy more of home life, he at once resigned his office and repaired to Nebraska. In acknowledging the receipt of Dr. Curry's resignation, Dr. Wickersham, in the Pennsylvania School Journal, says: "In parting with Prof. Curry in Pennsylvania, it is only just to say of public education loses a warm friend, and the Department of Public Instruction an able and faithful officer."
   In January, 1877, he entered upon the duties of his new position as Principal of the Nebraska State Normal School. Under his management the history of the institution was one of uninterrupted prosperity. The thoroughness and efficiency of its work during his administration is fully attested by Hon. S. R. Thompson, for several years State Superintendent of Public Instruction in Nebraska, who, in his annual report for 1880, says: "Nebraska is fortunate in having one of the best Normal Schools in the United States. This statement is made deliberately, and after a careful study of the schools of other States. The firm, consistent management,

the liberal course of study, extending through five years, the zeal and ability of the teachers, and the industry and enthusiasm of the pupils, render our Normal School an institution of which every intelligent friend of education in the State may well feel proud."
   Dr. Curry has delivered many lectures, and done much institute work in the State. He was president of the State Teachers' Association in 1880. He has always been an earnest student, and is a deep thinker and able worker.
   He is the author of the following pamphlets, viz; "Education--What It is not, and What It is;" "Special Education," "Prerequisites to Success," "The Formation of Human Character," "The Relative Importance of the Teacher's Vocation," "The Philosophy of Revelation," "Geometry--Its Nature, Elements, Use, and How to Teach It," "The Earth as a Model School," "The Earth as a Cosmical System," "Man and His Environments," and various other addresses and reports. Several years ago he had partially prepared a series of arithmetics, which, while in manuscript form, were destroyed by fire. He now has several other works in a state of partial preparation.
   In 1883 Dr. Curry resigned his position as Principal of the Nebraska State Normal School, and removed to Palmyra, Neb., where he has since devoted most of his time to philosophy, literature and writing, and his leisure hours to the management of his large landed estate in that vicinity.
   Although an educator by profession, Dr. Curry has never restricted his reading and study to any single line of investigation, but has rather endeavored to widen and enrich his views on all subjects, by widening his course of reading and study. After leaving college he read full courses in law, medicine and theology, respectively; not with a view to practicing any of them as a profession, but rather for his own improvement in thus extending his range of thought, and rounding out his own education, believing that an educator should keep abreast of the times in all departments of human progress. And no doubt his great success as an educator, as well as his achievements in other fields of labor, is largely due to his high culture, rich experience, and liberal views thus acquired.
   We have already seen that his experience as an educator has been much and varied, having served as Principal of all grades of schools, from the public, district, primary and graded schools, up through the academy, the female seminary, and the private, and State Normal schools, and that he has filled all these positions with marked ability and success. But his experience outside of his profession, and for the most part simultaneous with the performance of its duties, has been scarcely less extensive. He was for many years an active worker in the Sunday-school, part of the time as Superintendent, and all the time as teacher of Bible classes. He was for a time editor and proprietor of the National Educator. While carrying on his professional work in Pittsburgh, he also served a term as Bank Director, and was subsequently Deputy State Superintendent of Public Instruction in Pennsylvania, all of which positions he filled with credit to himself, and fidelity to the interests of all concerned. His integrity and business tact have been clearly shown in his prudent management of the pecuniary interests of all the institutions, both private and public, committed to his care, as well as by his judicious investments made on his own account.
   This brief sketch affords an apt illustration of what can be accomplished in this country by talent, pluck and high purpose. The subject of this biography was born and raised in the country, where, without money, books or influential friends, he began his public career during his minority, and by his own unaided efforts rose step by step, until he reached the highest plane of scholarship, and now stands in the very front rank of educators.
   Dr. Curry has all his life taken an active part in everything relating to the public good, and the amelioration of mankind. His sympathies have always been with the downtrodden and the poor, both at home. and abroad. He has often lent a helping hand to worthy students seeking to better their condition by means of a good education, by furnishing them free instruction, and, in some cases, while conducting his own private schools, free boarding. Without being a bigot in religion, a partisan in politics, or an ultra sensationalist on reforms, he is a Presbyterian in church polity, a Republican in politics, and a teetotaler as regards the use of tobacco and intoxicating drinks.

RS. JENNIE B. CURRY, daughter of James and Lucinda Boggs, was born in Allegheny City, Pa., Oct. 26, 1845. Her parents being Covenanters, she was not only trained to habits of industry and economy, but thoroughly instructed in all the doctrines, catechisms and customs of the Covenanter Church, of which she early became an active member. Her systematic, conscientious home training during her infancy and childhood, conditioned on her part such discipline and habits of promptness and self-denial as rendered her performance of duty ever after comparatively easy.
   Miss Boggs received her early school education in the Third Ward public schools of Allegheny City, and her professional education and training in Curry Institute, Pittsburgh, Pa., where she graduated in the Normal course of that institution in the fall of 1864.
   After completing the Normal course, she was, on account of her superior qualifications and high character, chosen an assistant teacher in the institution, where, with marked ability and success, she taught nine consecutive years, during which time she, in addition to her duties as teacher, completed a full college course of study in the academic department of that institution. In the meantime she received, on examination by the proper authorities, all the different kinds of legal certificates and diplomas granted to teachers in the State of Pennsylvania, including the Provisional, the Professional, and the Permanent State Certificates and the State Normal School Diploma.
   When Curry Institute passed from under the management of its founder, Miss Boggs took a rest of one year, during which time she was elected Assistant Principal of the Morehead Public Schools of Pittsburgh, Pa., and took charge as teacher of the High School of that institution. After holding this position two years, she resigned at the close of the school year, in June, 1876.
   On July 19, 1876, she was married to Dr. Robert Curry, then Deputy State Superintendent of Public Instruction in Pennsylvania, and spent the remainder of the summer with him in Philadelphia, where at the great Centennial, with its immense educational exhibits, she made many acquaintances, and greatly extended her observations on school appliances, school workers and school systems.
   In December, 1876, she removed with her husband to Nebraska. In the summer of 1877 she was elected to the Chair of Language and Methods, in the Nebraska State Normal School, which position she filled two years, at the expiration of which time she was transferred to the Chair of Methods and Training, which position she continued to fill until the summer of 1883, when, with her husband, she resigned, and removed to Palmyra, Neb., where she now resides. When she was chosen a member of the State Normal School faculty she was also given charge of the State Normal School Library, which was under her special care and direction during her six years' connection with the institution.
   Mrs. Curry was a member of the Allegheny County Teachers' Association from 1863 until she left the State, in 1876. She was Vice President of the Pennsylvania State Teachers' Association in 1868. She has prepared and read papers before a number of Teachers' Associations, and done much Institute work in both Pennsylvania and Nebraska.
   She united with the Covenanter Church in her childhood, but has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for nearly twenty years. She was an active and successful worker in the Sunday-school from the time she was fifteen years of age until she came to Nebraska.
   Mrs. Curry has for many years been a great reader, not only of the current literature furnished by the leading magazines and reviews, but also of the most prominent books published in the interest of literature, science and religion. Since removing to Palmyra she has made philosophy a special study, and in the meantime has read, with her husband, the "History of Philosophy," as given by Cousin, Schwegler and Ueberweg, respectively; and made a critical study of Kant's "Critique of Pure Reason," and the Philosophies of Schelling, Fichte and Hegel.
   But her accomplishments and efficiency as a scholar and educator are not her only qualifications, nor, perhaps, her most important on equally at home in the domestic circle. Having been brought up to habits of industry and neatness, she in childhood learned how to do all kinds of