Zalmon Richards was a leader in both local and national public and private education, and one of the founders of the National Education Association and the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA); and served as the first president of each organization. He graduated from Williams College in 1836 where he was a founder of the Delta Upsilon Fraternity. From 1869 to 1871, he served as the first appointed superintendent of public schools in the District of Columbia. He was later appointed the city's auditor from 1872 to 1874. The Zalmon Richards house at 1301 Corcoran Street in Washington D.C. was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966 as an individual landmark, long before the surrounding neighborhood was considered for historic district status. Richards died in 1899 and was buried in a family plot in Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
His bio is chronicled in the book "Revealing the Non-Secrets: The History of the Founding and Founders of Delta Upsilon Fraternity"
OBITUARY:
The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) November 1, 1899 page 15
Mr. Zalmon Richards, an old resident of Washington city, died at his home, No. 1301 Corcoran street, at 4:15 this morning, aged eighty-eight years. Zalmon Richards was born in Cummington, Mass., August 11, 181, and was a graduate of Williams College. In early life he taught school in his native state and at Stillwater, N.Y. In 1849 he came to Washington and was employed two or three years as a teacher in the Columbian College of this city, and then started a high school of his own at the northwest corner of 14th street and New York avenue northwest, which he successfully conducted several years.
After the outbreak of the civil war he secured a clerkship in the United States treasury, until the department of education was established, and he was tendered and accepted a good position therein, which he held until Gov. Cook of the territorial government for this District appointed him District auditor. When Mr. Cook was succeeded by Alex. R. Shepherd as governor Mr. Richards became superintendent of public schools, in which position he continued for about two years.
When the National Education Association was organized Mr. Richards was unanimously elected as its first president, and has ever since been an active member of the association. Until prevented by advancing age, he attended the annual meetings of the association, no matter where held, in fact, for about seventy years he worked almost incessantly in the cause of education and religion, especially in Sunday school work.
For many years prior to the abolition of the old city form of government he served as an alderman in the city councils, to the satisfaction of his constituents.
Mr. Richards was twice married. His first wife, a Miss Todd of Massachusetts, died a good many years ago, and subsequently he married Miss Mary F. Mather of Connecticut, a descendant of the celebrated Cotton Mather, and who died about three and on-half years ago, leaving one son, George, an only child of the deceased. Mr. Zalmon Richards was the eldest brother of A.C. Richards, who for many years was the major and superintendent of the police department of the District of Columbia.
His bio is chronicled in the book "Revealing the Non-Secrets: The History of the Founding and Founders of Delta Upsilon Fraternity"
OBITUARY:
The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) November 1, 1899 page 15
Mr. Zalmon Richards, an old resident of Washington city, died at his home, No. 1301 Corcoran street, at 4:15 this morning, aged eighty-eight years. Zalmon Richards was born in Cummington, Mass., August 11, 181, and was a graduate of Williams College. In early life he taught school in his native state and at Stillwater, N.Y. In 1849 he came to Washington and was employed two or three years as a teacher in the Columbian College of this city, and then started a high school of his own at the northwest corner of 14th street and New York avenue northwest, which he successfully conducted several years.
After the outbreak of the civil war he secured a clerkship in the United States treasury, until the department of education was established, and he was tendered and accepted a good position therein, which he held until Gov. Cook of the territorial government for this District appointed him District auditor. When Mr. Cook was succeeded by Alex. R. Shepherd as governor Mr. Richards became superintendent of public schools, in which position he continued for about two years.
When the National Education Association was organized Mr. Richards was unanimously elected as its first president, and has ever since been an active member of the association. Until prevented by advancing age, he attended the annual meetings of the association, no matter where held, in fact, for about seventy years he worked almost incessantly in the cause of education and religion, especially in Sunday school work.
For many years prior to the abolition of the old city form of government he served as an alderman in the city councils, to the satisfaction of his constituents.
Mr. Richards was twice married. His first wife, a Miss Todd of Massachusetts, died a good many years ago, and subsequently he married Miss Mary F. Mather of Connecticut, a descendant of the celebrated Cotton Mather, and who died about three and on-half years ago, leaving one son, George, an only child of the deceased. Mr. Zalmon Richards was the eldest brother of A.C. Richards, who for many years was the major and superintendent of the police department of the District of Columbia.
Zalmon Richards was a leader in both local and national public and private education, and one of the founders of the National Education Association and the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA); and served as the first president of each organization. He graduated from Williams College in 1836 where he was a founder of the Delta Upsilon Fraternity. From 1869 to 1871, he served as the first appointed superintendent of public schools in the District of Columbia. He was later appointed the city's auditor from 1872 to 1874. The Zalmon Richards house at 1301 Corcoran Street in Washington D.C. was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966 as an individual landmark, long before the surrounding neighborhood was considered for historic district status. Richards died in 1899 and was buried in a family plot in Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
His bio is chronicled in the book "Revealing the Non-Secrets: The History of the Founding and Founders of Delta Upsilon Fraternity"
OBITUARY:
The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) November 1, 1899 page 15
Mr. Zalmon Richards, an old resident of Washington city, died at his home, No. 1301 Corcoran street, at 4:15 this morning, aged eighty-eight years. Zalmon Richards was born in Cummington, Mass., August 11, 181, and was a graduate of Williams College. In early life he taught school in his native state and at Stillwater, N.Y. In 1849 he came to Washington and was employed two or three years as a teacher in the Columbian College of this city, and then started a high school of his own at the northwest corner of 14th street and New York avenue northwest, which he successfully conducted several years.
After the outbreak of the civil war he secured a clerkship in the United States treasury, until the department of education was established, and he was tendered and accepted a good position therein, which he held until Gov. Cook of the territorial government for this District appointed him District auditor. When Mr. Cook was succeeded by Alex. R. Shepherd as governor Mr. Richards became superintendent of public schools, in which position he continued for about two years.
When the National Education Association was organized Mr. Richards was unanimously elected as its first president, and has ever since been an active member of the association. Until prevented by advancing age, he attended the annual meetings of the association, no matter where held, in fact, for about seventy years he worked almost incessantly in the cause of education and religion, especially in Sunday school work.
For many years prior to the abolition of the old city form of government he served as an alderman in the city councils, to the satisfaction of his constituents.
Mr. Richards was twice married. His first wife, a Miss Todd of Massachusetts, died a good many years ago, and subsequently he married Miss Mary F. Mather of Connecticut, a descendant of the celebrated Cotton Mather, and who died about three and on-half years ago, leaving one son, George, an only child of the deceased. Mr. Zalmon Richards was the eldest brother of A.C. Richards, who for many years was the major and superintendent of the police department of the District of Columbia.
His bio is chronicled in the book "Revealing the Non-Secrets: The History of the Founding and Founders of Delta Upsilon Fraternity"
OBITUARY:
The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) November 1, 1899 page 15
Mr. Zalmon Richards, an old resident of Washington city, died at his home, No. 1301 Corcoran street, at 4:15 this morning, aged eighty-eight years. Zalmon Richards was born in Cummington, Mass., August 11, 181, and was a graduate of Williams College. In early life he taught school in his native state and at Stillwater, N.Y. In 1849 he came to Washington and was employed two or three years as a teacher in the Columbian College of this city, and then started a high school of his own at the northwest corner of 14th street and New York avenue northwest, which he successfully conducted several years.
After the outbreak of the civil war he secured a clerkship in the United States treasury, until the department of education was established, and he was tendered and accepted a good position therein, which he held until Gov. Cook of the territorial government for this District appointed him District auditor. When Mr. Cook was succeeded by Alex. R. Shepherd as governor Mr. Richards became superintendent of public schools, in which position he continued for about two years.
When the National Education Association was organized Mr. Richards was unanimously elected as its first president, and has ever since been an active member of the association. Until prevented by advancing age, he attended the annual meetings of the association, no matter where held, in fact, for about seventy years he worked almost incessantly in the cause of education and religion, especially in Sunday school work.
For many years prior to the abolition of the old city form of government he served as an alderman in the city councils, to the satisfaction of his constituents.
Mr. Richards was twice married. His first wife, a Miss Todd of Massachusetts, died a good many years ago, and subsequently he married Miss Mary F. Mather of Connecticut, a descendant of the celebrated Cotton Mather, and who died about three and on-half years ago, leaving one son, George, an only child of the deceased. Mr. Zalmon Richards was the eldest brother of A.C. Richards, who for many years was the major and superintendent of the police department of the District of Columbia.
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