An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., 
The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 456-457

	PROF. FRANK J. BARNARD, Superintendent of Public instruction or the city of
Seattle, was born in Medina, Ohio, March 26, 1852.
	The ancestors of the Barnard family were among the early settlers of
Connecticut. Later generations emigrated to Ohio, and in Medina county, that
State, Judge Samuel G. Barnard, the father of our subject, was born. At the age
of twelve years Judge Barnard began self-support, and by personal effort secured
a common-school education and an academic course of about eighteen months. With
mature years he began teaching school, at which he attained such prominence that
he subsequently opened at Medina a normal school which attracted wide attention
and proved a financial as well as an educational success. He was a member of the
County Board of School Examiners for seventeen years, except while occupying the
position of Probate Judge. At last broken health necessitated his giving up the
work, and in 1874 he resumed the practice of law, having been admitted to the
bar in 1852. In this profession he also made an enviable reputation. As
Presidential Elector he was elected by the Republican party in 1876, and was
made a member of the Judiciary Committee in the Ohio Electoral College, casting
his vote for Rutherford B. Hayes, President, and William A. Wheeler,
Vice-President. As a public speaker he was clear and logical in thought, steady
and apposite in expression, and forcible in delivery. He married Miss Malvina M.
Martin, a native of New Hampshire, who was granted a certificate at the age of
fourteen and began teaching in the public schools, which line of action she
pursued until after her marriage.
	Frank J Barnard is the eldest of four children. His primary education was
received in the public schools of his native town. He then entered the grammar
department of Kenyon College at Gambier. From there he went to Oberlin and began
the study of the languages, preparatory to a course in the classics. This
course, however, was not completed, but was changed to German, French and
philosophy. Offers came to him to teach, and he began in the country, "boarding
around," as was the custom. He was then sent to Celina, Ohio, at the suggestion
of Prof. Andrew J. Rickoff, one of the most distinguished educators of that
State. He remained in Celina two years, during which time he elevated the public
schools of that place from their primitive character to a graded condition.
Prior to going to Celina, Mr. Barnard had taken a partial course at Cornell
University, Ithaca, New York, to which place he returned from Celina. He
remained there till his funds were used up and his strength exhausted from
double work. Then he accepted the superintendency of the Middletown, Ohio,
schools. Before leaving Ithaca he was met on the street in that city by W.E.
Russell, Vice-President of the University, who offered to loan him money to
finish his course, but Mr. Barnard's word was out to go to Middletown, which he
did and there remained until 1890, when he came to Seattle to accept the
superintendency of the schools of this city.
	It was the wish of the citizens of Seattle to make their public-school
system second to none in the United States. The schools had reached a condition
when there was need of reorganization upon a more liberal plan, the school
registration, September, 1890, numbering 3,398 pupils and 85 teachers. The first
necessity was a head -- a master mind -- to organize the system in all its parts
and direct it harmoniously as a whole. He must be a man of thorough education, a
practical teacher, a trained and experienced administrator, and a man young
enough to adapt himself to local conditions and to bring strength and enthusiasm
to his work. There were many applicants for the place, and after long and
careful consideration Prof. Barnard was engaged for the work. He has met every
emergency with a steadiness of grasp and a tact that has illustrated his perfect
fitness for educational work. At the close of his first year the Board of
Education engaged him for a term of three years. The schools have largely
increased in attendance, having a registration at this date, June, 1893, of
6,426 pupils and 134 teachers. The progress of the schools has been marked, as
is well shown in the magnificent "Seattle School Exhibit" at the World's Fair.
One prominent feature of the Seattle schools is the plan of promotion and
classification, introduced by Mr. Barnard, whereby pupils are enabled to advance
in their work strictly according to their individual abilities -- the slow
thinkers not being hurried nor the rapid ones retarded. By this system large
numbers of the pupils complete the course of study in from six months to two
years less time, thereby not only saving to parents and taxpayers thousands of
dollars, but greatly increasing the thoroughness of the work done by both pupils
and teachers. The corps of instructors number graduates from many colleges of
the United States and thirty different normal schools.
	Mr. Barnard was married ill Cleveland, Ohio, to Miss Annah L. Fish, a former
teacher in the public schools of that city. They have two children, a son and
daughter.
	Mr. Barnard holds a life certificate from Ohio, which of itself is one of
the greatest rewards of merit, and in his present work he is erecting an
educational monument which will redound to his honor and to the distinction of
Seattle.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in October 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.