ALFRED MONROE KENYON. 
Alfred Monroe Kenyon was born December 10, 1869, on a farm 
near Medina, Ohio, not far distant from Cleveland. His boyhood life 
was spent in a humble but very comfortable country home. He attended 
the district school near by and later the high school at Medina. After 
graduating from the high school he taught for two or three years in 
the country schools. In the fall of 1890 he entered Hiram College and 
four years later was graduated with highest honors, receiving the A. B. 
degree. The following two years were spent as principal of the high 
school at Wellington, Ohio. In 1896-97 he was a graduate student in 
Western Reserve University and a teacher of freshman mathematics in 
Case School of Applied Science. The next year he entered Harvard Uni- 
versity as a graduate student and university scholar and received his 
A. M. degree from that institution in the spring of 1898. 
Professor Kenyon came to Purdue University as an instructor in 
mathematics in 1898. On account of the efficient service he rendered 
the University his promotion was rapid. In 1900 he was made Registrar, 
an office requiring about an hour a day at that time. In 1901 he was 
promoted to be Assistant Professor and in 1908 to be Professor of 
Mathematics, giving up his duties as Registrar. In this year he suc- 
ceeded Professor C. A. Waldo as head of the department of mathematics, 
which position he occupied until his death. 
Professor Kenyon was called to his former home by the death of 
his mother. On the return to Lafayette he was taken suddenly ill on 
an interurban car which he left at Ashland, Ohio, to seek medical aid. 
His condition became worse and he died within an hour after leaving the 
car. This occurred on July 27, 1921. The unexpected death of Professor 
Kenyon coming in the same week with the news of the loss of President 
Stone added greatly to the shock of the university community. Pro- 
fessor Kenyon was buried at Lafayette on July 29, 1921. 
In 1897 Professor Kenyon was married to Grace Greenwood Finch. 
His wife and three children survive. 
The productive part of Professor Kenyon’s life was spent at Pur- 
due University and it might properly be said that he gave his life for 
the University. He had a great part in shaping the policies and in 
moulding the character of the institution. His logical analysis and fair 
judgment on all problems of administration were recognized by all. He 
served frequently on important committees of the faculty and at the 
time of his death was a member of the executive committee. He was 
most successful as head of the department of mathematics. He laid 
down no rules of conduct and did not insist on special methods of teach- 
ing or of class management, but by a kind brotherly friendship inspired 
each member of his department to do his best. He always revealed a 
genuine human interest in the man as well as in the instructor. This 
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