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John M. Kemper

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American military historian (1912–1971)
John Mason Kemper
United States Military Academy photograph of Kemper, 1935
11th Headmaster of Phillips Academy
In office
1948–1971
Preceded byClaude Fuess
Succeeded byTed Sizer
Personal details
BornSeptember 1, 1912
DiedDecember 4, 1971
Andover, Massachusetts
Spouse(s)Sylvia Pratt (died 1961); Abby Castle
Children3
EducationUnited States Military Academy (1935)
Columbia University (M.A.)

John Mason Kemper (September 1, 1912 – December 4, 1971) was a military historian and the 11th Headmaster of Phillips Academy Andover, serving for 23 years, from 1948 to 1971.

Kemper was born at Fort D.A. Russell in Wyoming into a military family. He graduated high school from Western High School in Washington, D.C. In 1931, he started at the United States Military Academy, and graduated in 1935.

Kemper later returned to West Point to teach history, and obtained a master's degree in history from Columbia University in 1942. He was serving in the historical division of the Army with the rank of lieutenant colonel when he was selected to be headmaster of Andover in 1948—the first chosen from outside the faculty ranks of the school in over 70 years. In the Army, Kemper had led the service's World War II historical program branch; the program today is now the United States Army Center of Military History.

In 1951, Kemper convinced the Lawrenceville School and Phillips Exeter Academy to join in what became the Advanced Placement program offering college level courses to high school students. Kemper also sought to dispel the view that private schools like Andover were "training grounds for snobs", and worked to diversify the student body. Kemper was featured on the cover of the October 26, 1962 issue of TIME.

In October 1971, at age 59, he announced his resignation, due to illness. He soon after died of cancer in December 1971, and is buried at the Phillips Academy Cemetery.

References

  1. Mrs. John M. Kemper, The New York Times, p. 60 (paywall) (died September 2, 1961 in London)
  2. (Spring 1972). John Mason Kemper (obituary), Assembly (Association of Graduates, United States Military Academy) p. 137
  3. (16 October 1948). Phillips Andover Installs Kemper, The New York Times, p. 17 (paywall)
  4. (14 March 1945). Col. John M. Kemper Gets Legion of Merit for Historial Work, The Evening Star, p. B10
  5. (22 December 1947). Found in the Pentagon, TIME
  6. Stewart, Lori S. (16 November 2022). Military intelligence sheds its historical branch, Dvids (U.S. Department of Defense publication)
  7. Historical Program Of The U S Army 1939 To Present, United States Army Center of Military History, Retrieved 6 December 2022
  8. ^ (6 December 1971). John Kemper, Headmaster to Andover, Is Dead at 59, The New York Times, p. 42
  9. (26 October 1962). Education:Well Begun Is Half Done, TIME

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Preceded byClaude Fuess Headmaster of Phillips Academy
1948-1971 		Succeeded byTed Sizer
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