Francis Keppel
| Francis Keppel | |
|---|---|
| United States Commissioner of Education | |
|
In office December 10, 1962 – May 21, 1965 |
|
| President |
John F. Kennedy Lyndon Johnson |
| Preceded by | Sterling McMurrin |
| Succeeded by | Harold Howe |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
April 16, 1916 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 19, 1990 (aged 73) Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
Francis Keppel (April 16, 1916 – February 19, 1990) was an American educator. As U.S. Commissioner of Education (1962–1965) he was instrumental in developing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and in overseeing enforcement of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in the schools. In 1966, he became head of the General Learning Corporation. Keppel later served on the New York City Board of Higher Education (1967–1971) and on Harvard’s Board of Overseers (1967–73). In 1974 he became founding chairman of the Lincoln Center Institute and director of the education policy program at the Aspen Institute.
Keppel was born in New York City and attended the Groton School in Massachusetts. He entered Harvard University in 1934 where he received a bachelor's degree in English literature. While studying at Harvard, Keppel dabbled in sculpture. After graduation, he pursued art studies at the American Academy in Rome. He returned to the States after a year and was named assistant dean of freshmen at Harvard University.
During World War II, Keppel was secretary of the Joint Army-Navy Committee on Welfare and Recreation in Washington, D.C. He later entered the U.S. Army’s Information and Education Division. Following the war, Keppel returned to Harvard as assistant to the provost. James Bryant Conant, then president of Harvard, was so impressed with Keppel’s enthusiasm and character attributes that he named Keppel the dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 1948.
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