Claude Wayland Wilson
This article describes Claude W. Wilson who was a member of the faculty. This and other articles may be found in the University Archives.
Citation for this article is: "Claude Wayland Wilson," Training School Quarterly, Volume 9, pages 121-123.
Professor R.H. Wright: "I have known intimately Claude Wayland Wilson for 12 years and eight months. We have been associated for that length of time in work at the college. There has grown up a friendship that to me is so sacred I dare not attempt to open the door and talk about it.The last thing Mr. Wilson gave me was this little memorandum book, inscribed on which is 'We build for the childhood of Pitt county.' He was unselfish for humanity's sake; there was not a selfish thing in his life.As an educator, he had a true vision, and he realized the need of giving the children of North Carolina trained teachers. He went home and lay down, and just as the day's work closed -- he went to sleep!"
Claude Wayland Wilson was born in Chatham County, North Carolina, near the Wake County line, August 27, 1867, and died in Greenville, North Carolina, February 1, 1922, at the age of fifty-four years, five months and four days. The old home in which he was born still stands and is occupied by his mother, Mrs. Sidney G. Wilson, who is in her eighty-fifth year. His father, Sidney G. Wilson, died February 3, 1917.
Mr. Wilson graduated from Wake Forest College in 1893. He was a good student and was always on the alert for information that would assist him in helping others. He kept up with modern ideas, and particularly with the latest and best methods of teaching. He spent the summer of 1911 in study at Columbia University.
In 1896, Mr. Wilson taught in the Vine Hill Academy, a boys' boarding school, at Scotland Neck, North Carolina; after remaining here two years he became Principal of the Academy at Williamston, a position he held for two years. In 1900 he went to Rocky Mount, where he was a successful superintendent for three years, at the close of which time he returned to Scotland Neck to take charge of the school. He remained in Scotland Neck until 1909 when he was called to Greenville to take up his work with East Carolina Teachers Training School. During the first year of the school he was a member of the Board of Trustees. He had few classes as his time was taken up in helping to get the buildings and equipment in order and he also acted as Bursar. At the close of the first year he became Head of the Department of Education and was also chosen Secretary to the Board of Trustees, which positions he held till the close of his life. Few lives were as closely in touch with every phase of the Training School work as was his; he was dean in the fact though not in the name; he had charge of the administrtive work during the absence of the President.He was chairman of the two committees that have existed since the beginning of the school -- the Library Committee and the Appointment Committee; he was one of the chief organizers and advisers of the Model School and the Joyner School; he was a member of every Course of Study Committee since the foundation of the school; and he was Director of the Summer Term from 1915 until his death.
Mr. Wilson was a charter member of the Immanuel Baptist Church. He was Chairman of the Board of Deacons, Superintendent of the Sunday School, member of the Pulpit Committee, and Secretary of the Finance Committee.He was also Moderator of the Roanoke Baptist Association and a member of the Board of Trustees of Wake Forest College.
In addition to his church work, Mr. Wilson was connected with a number of organizations; he was a member of the Blue Lodge, and the Royal Arch Masons. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club and was district representative in North and South Carolina for that club.
On June 24, 1897, Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Carrie Josephine Mangum of Scotland Neck. There were no children. He is survived by his wife, his mother, his mother-in-law, Mrs. Lucy Mangum, who lived with him, one brother, Willis Wilson, of near Staunton, Virginia, and a host of friends who loved him for his pleasing personality and for his many good works.
