John C. Scarborough

John C. Scarborough
Engraving of Scarborough published in 1892
North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction
In office
1877–1885
Preceded byJohn Pool
Succeeded bySidney M. Finger
In office
1893–1897
Preceded bySidney M. Finger
Succeeded byCharles H. Mebane
Personal details
BornJohn Catre Scarborough
(1841-09-22)September 22, 1841
near Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, U.S.
DiedDecember 26, 1917(1917-12-26) (aged 76)
Murfreesboro, North Carolina, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
SpouseJulia Vass Moore (m. 1876)
Children5
OccupationEducator; educational administrator; public official

John C. Scarborough (September 22, 1841 – December 26, 1917) was an American educator and public official who served two nonconsecutive terms as North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction (1877–1885 and 1893–1897).[1] He helped build North Carolina's public-school system in the decades following the Civil War and served as superintendent for twelve years in total.[2]

Early life and education

John Catre Scarborough was born in Wake County, North Carolina, on September 22, 1841, the son of Samuel Scarborough and Cynthia Scarborough, and attended local common and district schools.[3] He went to Wake Forest College in 1866.[3]

Military service

He served in the American Civil War in North Carolina Confederate units, including service as a sergeant in the 44th Regiment, North Carolina Volunteers, and later in the 1st Regiment, North Carolina State Troops.[3]

Career

Educator and administrator

He served as principal of the Selma Classical and Mathematical School from 1871 to 1876.[1] He taught at Thomasville Female College in 1888–1889.[1][4] During this period, Scarborough served as an Assistant Principal and was hailed as "one of the brainiest men in the State". [5] He served as president of Chowan Baptist Female Institute (later Chowan University) from 1897 to 1909.[1] During his tenure as president, Scarborough made plans to enlarge the work of the school, to extend its benefits to even greater numbers of young women, to bring it into closer touch with the people, and to enlist the sympathies of all our people with the work of the school in its efforts to "bring the blessings of Christian education to every home". [6] And later served as superintendent of the Hertford County schools from 1910 to 1915.[1]

Superintendent of Public Instruction of North Carolina

He served as Superintendent of Public Instruction of North Carolina from 1877 to 1885 and from 1893 to 1897.[1] A compilation of North Carolina public school law issued in 1893 included administrative notes and instructions from the superintendent's office during his second tenure.[7] On May 6, 1893, the superintendent's office issued a letter describing a State Board of Education decision to retain the existing list of public-school textbooks, reflecting the department's role in statewide textbook adoption and administration.[8] Teacher preparation and instructional methods remained a central concern in state education work during this period, including calls for stronger normal instruction and improved teaching practice.[9] Furthermore, Scarborough helped draft a bill that proposed dividing the state into several educational districts. Each district would have a district superintendent responsible for conducting examinations, issuing certificates, holding county institutes for teachers, and inspecting schools.[10] Scarborough also proposed a general provision that would allow any township, any incorporated town, or any school district that included an incorporated town to levy a special school tax by popular vote, but the legislature ignored his recommendation and made only minor, largely insignificant changes to the law. [11]

Labor statistics and labor office work

He served as commissioner of labor statistics which was established in 1887[12] and resigned that position in late 1892 after his election as superintendent of public instruction.[13] He held the position of state commissioner of labor and printing for several years.[2]

Civic and religious work

He served on boards and agencies of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and held a long trusteeship with Wake Forest College.[1]

Personal life and death

Scarborough married with one of his teachers, Miss Julia Vass Moore.[14] They had five children.[1] He died at his home in Murfreesboro, North Carolina, on December 26, 1917, at age seventy-five.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Taylor, R. Hargus (1994). "Scarborough, John Catre". NCpedia. State Library of North Carolina. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c "J. C. Scarborough Dies". Asheville Citizen-Times. Asheville, North Carolina. December 27, 1917. p. 2. Retrieved February 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c "John C. Scarborough, Superintendent of Public Instruction". The News and Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. January 1, 1877. p. 2. Retrieved February 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "State News". The People's Press. Winston-Salem, North Carolina. February 9, 1888. p. 2. Retrieved February 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Weekly State Chronicle". Raleigh and Wake News. Raleigh, North Carolina. July 20, 1888. p. 3. Retrieved February 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Chowan Baptist Female Institute". The Biblical Recorder. Raleigh, North Carolina. May 22, 1901. p. 3. Retrieved February 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Public school law of North Carolina: Chapter 15 of the Code (as amended by laws of 1885, 1889, 1891 and 1893), with notes and instructions by the Superintendent of Public Instruction (PDF). Raleigh, North Carolina: J. Daniels, State Printer and Binder. 1893. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  8. ^ "Office of Supt. Public Instruction". The Progressive Farmer. February 19, 1895. p. 8. Retrieved February 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Very truly yours, John C. Scarborough, Supt. Public Instruction. Raleigh, N. C., May 6, 1893.
  9. ^ "State Normal Students and the Push to Improve North Carolina's Public Schools". UNCG University Libraries. June 10, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  10. ^ "Dr. Melver Preparing a Bill for the Next Legislature". The North Carolinian. January 7, 1897. p. 6. Retrieved February 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Noble, Marcus Cicero Stephens (1930). A History of the Public Schools of North Carolina. University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 978-0-8078-0092-8. Retrieved February 6, 2026. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  12. ^ "Capitalists refuse to answer questions". The Progressive Farmer. September 16, 1890. p. 2. Retrieved February 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "State Chronicle (item noting resignation of John C. Scarborough)". The Lenoir Topic. Lenoir, North Carolina. December 28, 1892. p. 2. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  14. ^ Highsmith, J. Henry (1918). "John C. Scarborough: An Appreciation". The High School Journal. 1 (2): 20–21. ISSN 0018-1498. JSTOR 26290334. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
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