The Marland Family

Sidney Marland Jr - US Education Commissioner

Sidney Percy Marland Jr was United States Commissioner of Education from 1970 to 1972, following his nomination by President Richard M. Nixon.

Born in Danielson, Connecticut on 19th August 1914, his career spanned five decades, from high school English teacher in West Hartford, Connecticut, in the late 1930s to the 1960s, through superintendent of schools in Darien, Connecticut, Winnetka, Illinois, and Pittsburgh. Following his term as Commissioner he was president of the College Entrance Examination Board, and Assistant Secretary of Education in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare from 1972 to 1973.

He received bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Connecticut in 1936 and 1950, and a doctorate in educational administration from New York University in 1955.

During World War II, he served in the Army in the Pacific theatre, where he directed military intelligence research, and was discharged with the rank of colonel, having been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit.

He died on 29th May 1992.

A fuller biography appears in Sidney Marland's obituary in the New York Times online archive at http://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/27/nyregion/sidney-marland-jr-77-former-us-school-chief.html?scp=1&sq=sidney+marland&st=nyt, and a note in Killingly Revisited by Natalie Coolidge, whence this photograph was taken.

We thank Sidney P Marland III for drawing our attention to his distinguished father.