Dr. Nathan C. Schaeffer Scholarship Fund

Nathan C. Schaeffer was born on a Berks County farm February 3, 1849, a “Pennsylvania German” all the way through. While his career and leadership in education shaped Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and eventually the country, he was known to be unassuming and straightforward, guided by the principle that whatever was worth doing at all was worth doing thoroughly.

A member of the Franklin & Marshall class of 1867 and of the seminary class three years later, he subsequently became a graduate student at the University of Berlin and the University of Liepsic.  From 1875 to 1877 he held a professorship at Franklin & Marshall, and from 1877 to 1893 was Principal of the Keystone State Normal School at Kutztown.  Dr. Schaeffer earned his Ph.D. degree from Franklin & Marshall in 1879. 

Appointed State Superintendent of Public Instruction on June 1, 1893, by Governor Pattison, Dr. Nathan Schaeffer was reappointed by each incumbent of the governor’s office in 1897, 1901, 1905, 1909, 1913, and 1917.  He was president of the National Education Association 1905 to 1907, served as president of the Pennsylvania State Teachers’ Association; Secretary of the National Council of Education; President of the Department of Superintendents of the National Association; President of the Pennsylvania German Society; and Chancellor of the Pennsylvania Chautauqua at Mount Gretna.  He was a member of the commission on industrial education and a member of the medical council of Pennsylvania. 

In educational circles, Dr. Nathan Schaeffer was considered one of the biggest, brainiest and bravest school educators, lecturing on educational topics in almost every state across the United States. Dr. Schaeffer’s literary work included the editing of the Pennsylvania School Journal for 26 years, writing innumerable articles in many magazines, and authoring several books, including “Thinking and Learning to Think” and “History of Education in Pennsylvania.” 

He married Anna Ahlum in 1880, and together they had six children. Little is recorded of Anna’s life. Their children continued the family legacy of education and leadership, working as educators and volunteering for local causes.

Universally admired and respected, Public Schools of the entire Commonwealth were closed the afternoon of Dr. Schaeffer’s funeral ceremonies in honor of his 26 years serving as State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Thousands of public-school teachers and friends contributed small amounts to establish a $14,000 endowment that would provide future scholarships and honor Dr. Schaeffer’s legacy. 

Miss Erna Grassmuck was the first to receive the Dr. Nathan C. Schaeffer scholarship in 1928 – the very first grant made from the Lancaster County Community Foundation.