Meany, Edmond S. (Edmond Stephen), 1862-1935

Edmond S. Meany was a historian, writer and collector.

From the guide to the Edmond S. Meany letter to T. C. Elliott, 1920 July 7, (Oregon Historical Society Research Library)

University of Washington professor of history, politician, editor and author, Edmond S. Meany was born in Michigan in 1862, but came to Washington Territory with his family in 1877. He enrolled in the University of Washington in 1880. His academic career was postponed by his father's death, but he graduated in 1885 and accepted a position with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. In 1890 he ran for the state legislature as a Republican. During his one term in office, as chairman of the univerity committee he was able to have the school's campus tranferred to a spacious location on the edge of Seattle. He was appointed secretary of the Board of Regents; Meany served as registrar, 1905-1907. In 1895 he became an instructor in history and forestry. He wrote many articles on Northwest history. He earned a master of arts in history from the University of Wisconsin, and a Ph.D from the University of Puget Sound. Although the author of several books, his best known work is "The History of the State of Washington" (1909). Meany was an avid outdoorsman, founding and serving aspresident of the Mountaineers. He also founded the Washington State Historical Society. He was a popular professor in history at the University of Washington for many years until his sudden death at age of seventy-two while preparing for a class.

From the description of Edmond S. Meany papers, 1877-1935. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 709916024

Edmond S. Meany (1862-1935) was a professor of botany and history at the University of Washington and a UW alumnus, having graduated as the valedictorian of his class in 1885. Meany further received a Master of Science from the University of Washington in 1899, a Master of Letters from the University of Wisconsin in 1901, and an honorary Doctor of Laws from the College of Puget Sound in 1926. He was a Washington state legislator for the 1891 and 1893 sessions. From 1906 until his death, he served as managing editor of the Washington Historical Quarterly (renamed the Pacific Northwest Quarterly the year after his death). From 1908 until his death, he also served as president of the Mountaineers. Mount Meany in the Olympic Mountains, Meany Crest on Mount Rainier, and Meany Hall for the Performing Arts on the Seattle campus of the University of Washington are all named in his honor. Edmond Meany died of a stroke in Denny Hall, on the University of Washington campus, on April 22, 1935, minutes before a lecture on the History of Canada.

From the description of Postcard sent to Prof. Ed Meany from Egbert, 1905 February 6. (Washington State Library, Office of Secretary of State). WorldCat record id: 213504363

Edmond S. Meany was a historian, writer and collector.

In 1894, Meany became the University of Washington first registrar while also holding positions as an instructor and secretary to the UW Board of Regents. In 1897, he became a full professor and head of the UW history department. He also served as a Washington State legislator.

From the description of Edmond S. Meany letter to T. C. Elliott [manuscript], 1920 July 7. (Oregon Historical Society Research Library). WorldCat record id: 759939194

Edmond Stephen Meany was born December 28, 1862 in East Saginaw, Michigan. He moved west with his family, arriving in Seattle in 1877. He started studying at the Territorial University of Washington, but his education was interrupted in 1880 by the sudden death of his father, Stephen E. Meany. Meany then moved with his mother and the rest of his family to California to stay with relatives. They returned to Seattle in 1882. By holding several jobs at once, Meany was able to support his family as well as put himself through school at the Territorial University. He graduated as valedictorian in the Class of 1885, with a bachelor's degree in science, and later obtained a master's degree in science in 1889.

One of the jobs at which Meany worked during this time was newspaper delivery. He soon worked his way up in the newspaper field to become editor and publisher for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer . By 1890, Meany had started his own news service called the Washington State News Bureau, and had been hired as press agent to represent Washington state at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Meany served as a state legislator in the sessions of 1891 and 1893 and he initiated legislation setting aside 355 acres to be used for the new campus of the University of Washington, as well as a bill making tuition at the University free. In 1894, Meany became the University's first registrar while also holding positions as an instructor and as secretary to the Board of Regents. He became a full professor and head of the Department of History in 1897, teaching courses in Forestry, American History and Pacific Northwest History. By studying summers at the University of Wisconsin he earned a Master of Letters degree in 1901, completing a thesis on Chief Joseph. Meany was always a friend of the Indians, and over the years became very close to Chief Joseph especially. In 1907 he traveled with Edward S. Curtis to South Dakota to do research and conduct interviews with the Indians of that area. Part of the history of the Sioux Indians in Curtis' North American Indian was written by Meany. Meany was also instrumental in having the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition located on the University's campus in 1909. This led to the clearing of portions of the new campus for the construction of buildings, some of which would later be used by the University.

Meany's activities were diverse and numerous. He was secretary of the Young Naturalist's Society, Vice President of the American Forestry Association, President of the Washington State Forestry Association and president of the Pacific Coast Branch of the American Historical Society. He was President of the Mountaineers from 1908 until his death in 1935, and was also founder and editor of the Washington Historical Quarterly . His specialty was Pacific Northwest history, especially Washington state history, on which he wrote several books and countless articles and speeches. Through his research and studies he became a collector of documents and photographs important to Pacific Northwest history. In 1929 he donated most of the rare and important documents which he had in his possession to the University of Washington Library.

The many honors that came to Meany during his lifetime attest to his great popularity. Mt. Meany in the Olympic Mountains and Meany Crest on Mount Rainier were named for him. The University Tower Hotel originally bore the name Hotel Edmond Meany and the University's auditorium and theatre were named for him in 1914--the first instance of a university building being named for a living person. In 1926 he was given an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the College of Puget Sound and in 1929 he was named Chevalier of the National Order of the French Legion of Honor. President Suzzallo called Meany "Keeper of Traditions," given the rituals and traditions, such as Campus Day or the giving of the Ephebic Oath, which he initiated and helped to maintain. Edmond S. Meany, the University's "Grand Old Man," died on April 22, 1935. He has, perhaps, been the University of Washington's most influential and beloved figure, for he gave so much of himself to the cause of a great university which he considered so very important.

From the guide to the Edmond S. Meany papers, (University of Washington Libraries Special Collections)