James E. Allen Jr.

James Edward Allen Jr. (April 25, 1911 – October 16, 1971) was the Commissioner of Education of the State of New York from 1955 to 1969 and served briefly as Richard Nixon's U.S. Commissioner of Education. He ordered New York school boards to comply with the 1962 U. S. Supreme Court order banning prayer in New York schools and began desegregation of New York Public Schools.

This article is about a New York Commissioner of Education. For the professional wrestler, see Paulie Gilmore.
James Allen
United States Commissioner of Education
In office
May 5, 1969 – June 10, 1970
PresidentRichard Nixon
Preceded byHarold Howe
Succeeded bySidney Marland
Personal details
Born
James Edward Allen Jr.

(1911-04-25)April 25, 1911
Elkins, West Virginia, U.S.
DiedOctober 16, 1971(1971-10-16) (aged 60)
Peach Springs, Arizona, U.S.
EducationDavis and Elkins College (BA)
Harvard University (MA, PhD)

Biography

Allen was born in Elkins, West Virginia, on April 25, 1911. His father was a Presbyterian minister and he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Davis & Elkins College in 1932. He worked for the West Virginia State Department of Education for six years before attending Harvard University, where he earned his master's degree in education in 1942 and his Ph.D. in 1945.[1] In 1947, he went to work for the New York Department of Education. He became Deputy Commissioner of Education in 1950 and Commissioner in 1955.[2]

In 1960, he was opposed to school districts drawn up along racial lines and began having local school boards redraw boundaries to end racial disparities in 1962. In June 1962, the Supreme Court banned prayer in New York public schools, an order Allen directed local school boards to follow. In 1969, President Richard Nixon appointed him U.S. Commissioner of Education.[3] His strong support for desegregation caused friction however, and President Nixon removed him the following year. He went from there to the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton.[1] He and his wife died in a plane crash on October 16, 1971, in Arizona.

Sources
  • Lichtenstein, Nelson et al. Political Profiles. Volume 3, "The Kennedy Years." pp 7–8. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 1976.

References
  1. "James E. Allen Personal Papers, 1955-1971 (finding aid)". New York State Library web site. New York State Library. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  2. "Speeches of New York State Commissioner of Education James Edward Allen." New York State Department of Education. Online. February 11, 2009.
  3. Nixon, Richard M. Statement Announcing the Nomination of Dr. James E. Allen, Jr., as Assistant Secretary for Education and Commissioner of Education. February 3, 1969. Online. February 11, 2009.
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