Jasper Newton Wilkinson (September 19, 1851 – January 11, 1933) was an American educator and businessman, most notable for serving as the Kansas State Normal School's (KSN) sixth president in Emporia, Kansas.[1]
Biography
Early life and education
Wilkinson, born September 19, 1851, to Jackson and Mary,[2] began his career in education at sixteen. In 1874, Wilkinson graduated from Illinois Normal School.[3] After graduating from college, Wilkinson was the principal of the Buda, Illinois school district until 1879. Wilkinson moved to Emporia, Kansas in 1884 to become a professor at the Normal school and later became vice-president.[4]
Kansas State Normal presidency
Wilkinson took over as the Kansas State Normal School's sixth president on June 7, 1901, following Albert R. Taylor's resignation.[5] Shortly after becoming president, Wilkinson decided that students who were failing would not continue at the Normal school and only those who completed a four-year program would graduate. In 1901, the school's first men's basketball event was played in Emporia.[6] In 1903, a library opened, along with new bleachers for the football fields in 1905.[7]
Later life
After resigning in June 1906 from the Normal School, Wilkinson bought and became the president of the Citizens Bank in Oklahoma until 1910.[8] In January 1911, Wilkinson died.
