August 23: Happy Birthday! Rowland Hill Latham

Rowland Hill Latham was born on this day in 1880, in Plymouth, N. C., to Joseph Addison and Annie Reed Latham.

His father was a carpenter who had prepared to attend college, but had to forego his preparations because of the Civil War.

Rowland moved with his family to Virginia as a child, and attended private schools.  He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1903, with B. A. and M. A. degrees.  He intended to study engineering, but decided to pursue a career in education.

Rowland married Mamie Pollard Brown in 1905.

He worked as superintendent of schools in Weldon, then came to Winston-Salem in 1910 to be superintendent of Winston-Salem city schools.  He held this position until 1933, when he resigned over a disagreement with the Board of Aldermen.

During the time he was superintendent, the schools experienced a great period of expansion, resulting in several new schools being built.

He left Winston-Salem and became superintendent of schools in Asheville from 1934 to 1944.  He passed away in 1948.

Latham Elementary School on Hutton Street was named for Rowland Hill Latham.  The school is called Diggs-Latham Elementary Magnet School of Arts and Global Studies today.

Photo courtesy of Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection.