Harvard University Graduate School of Education: Deans' records

The Harvard University Graduate School of Education was established in 1920. From 1891 to 1920, the study of education at Harvard took place within two different divisions of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Until 1906, education faculty were appointed to the Division of Philosophy. In 1906, a separate Division of Education was established.

Paul Henry Hanus held Harvard’s first faculty appointment in the field of education. Hanus was chair of the Division of Education from 1906 to 1912. Henry Wyman Holmes succeeded Hanus, serving as chair from 1912 to 1920 when he became the first Dean of the newly formed Harvard University Graduate School of Education.

Holmes was Dean of the Graduate School of Education from 1920 to 1940. Francis Trow Spaulding was Dean from 1940 to 1945, although, due to war service, he was effectively Dean only from 1940 to 1942. Acting Dean Phillip J. Rulon served from 1942 to 1948. Francis Keppel was Dean from 1948 to 1962, followed by Theodore Sizer from 1964 to 1972. Succeeding Sizer, Paul N. Ylvisaker served as Dean of the Harvard University Graduate School of Education from 1972 to 1982, Patricia Albjerg Graham from 1982 to 1991, Jerome T. Murphy from 1992 to 2001, Ellen Condliffe Lagemann from 2002 to 2005, and Kathleen McCartney from 2005 to 2013. James Ryan became Dean in 2013.