Charles S. Chapin

Charles Sumner Chapin (October 19, 1859 – March 21, 1924) was an American educator who was principal of the Westfield State Normal School (1896–1901), Rhode Island State Normal School (1901–1907), and the New Jersey State Normal School at Montclair (1908–1924).

Biography Chapin was born on October 19, 1859 in Westfield, Massachusetts. He was valedictorian of the class at 1876 at Worcester Classical High School and graduated at the top of his class at Wesleyan University in 1880. He succeeded James C. Greenough, who resigned due to a faculty protest against his management that also led to the removal all of the protesting faculty. Despite the difficult circumstances he inherited, his tenure was described by the Massachusetts Board of Education as "from the first entirely successful". On December 3, 1907, he was appointed principal of the new state normal school in Montclair, New Jersey. He was given control over the selection of the entire teaching staff and organization of the faculty. He took office on July 1, 1908. He remained president until his death on March 21, 1924 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.