Zalmon Richards

Zalmon Richards
Photograph by Mathew Brady
Born	August 11, 1811 Cummington, Massachusetts
Died	November 1, 1899 (1899-12) (aged 88) Washington, D.C.
Resting place	Oak Hill Cemetery
Nationality	American
Occupation	Educator
Known for	First president of the National Education Association

Zalmon Richards (August 11, 1811 – November 1, 1899) was an American educator from Washington, D.C. He is best known as one of the founders and the first president of the National Teachers Association, now known as the National Education Association. Richards also played a large role in Congress passing a bill creating the Office of Education, precursor to the Department of Education. His former home in Washington, D.C. was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965.

Zalmon was born in 1811 in Cummington, Massachusetts, to Nehemiah and Elizabeth (née Packard) Richards. Regarding his unusual first name, Zalmon signed his name only with a "Z" and had "vials of wrath if one called him 'Zed'." His father was a farmer and descendent of English emigrant William Richards, a Plymouth colonist. Richards became interested in education and religion due to the influence of his first teacher, Sybil Bates. He regularly attended the local school from the ages of three to ten. For the next four years, he was only able to attend school for one semester a year due to him helping his family on their farm. Around this time Richards heard a lecture on temperance and made a vow to never consume alcohol, which according to him, he kept. When he was fifteen, Richards joined a local Baptist church his father had co-founded and regularly attended Baptist churches the rest of his life. He briefly attended Cummington Academy until the age of seventeen. At that point he began teaching at a small school for eight dollars a month plus room and board. While teaching at the school he decided to attend college and pursue a career in education. He attended Southampton Academy and received private tutoring before entering Williams College in 1832. Richards' family was unable to assist paying his tuition, so he continued teaching during college breaks and borrowed money which he later repaid. He graduated from Williams in 1836 and later earned his Master of Arts.