Devoted to educational work since he completed his education, Mr. Keyes has held various important educational positions in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. He has become known not only as a very able and successful teacher, but as an effective educational administrator, and during the twelve years, which he has served as head of the public school system of Barrington, he has gained for himself the respect and confidence of the community. Popular with his pupils and their parents and possessing the confidence of the entire teaching staff, his work represents a valuable contribution to the progress and welfare of the town. Though his work as an educator has received the major share of his time and attention, Mr. Keyes has found it possible to devote a certain amount of his time to civic and religious activities, and he is also a popular member of several fraternal and educational organizations.
Charles H. Keyes was born at Sterling, Massachusetts, September 30, 1884, a son of George H. and Malona (Cutler) Keyes. His father, now deceased, born also at Sterling, Massachusetts, was successfully engaged in farming until his death. His mother is a native of Boylston, Massachusetts. Mr. Keyes received his early education in the public schools of Sterling, Massachusetts, and then attended the Worcester Academy, at Worcester, Massachusetts, from which he was graduated in 1904. He then went to Amherst College, graduating from there with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, in 1908. Following his graduation he became vice-president and teacher of mathematics and science at the Dobbs Ferry, New York, Union Free School, and in this capacity he continued to serve very successfully until 1911. While thus engaged he took special courses in educational subjects at Columbia University, New York City, during the winter of 1909 and 1910. Next he held the position of vice-principal and head of mathematics department at the New Britain High School, New Britain, Connecticut, during 1911-13, and then spent six years, 1913-19, as principal of the high school and union school at Millbury, Massachusetts. During part of this period, too, he pursued post-graduate work, this time at Clark University, Worcester, where he took special courses in the winter of 1914 and 1915.
In 1919 Mr. Keyes came to Barrington and since then has been superintendent of the public schools of this town. In 1924 he received the degree of Master of Education from the Rhode Island College of Education, where he took special courses. He is a member of numerous educational organizations, including the following: National Education Association; The Department of Superintendence of the National Education Association of the United States; the Rhode Island Association of Public School Officials; the Rhode Island Institute of Instruction; the New England Association of School Superintendents; the Educational Research Association; the National Society for Study of Education; and the Rhode Island Mental Hygiene Society, of which he is a director. He is also a member of the Rhode Island Amherst Alumni Association, as well as the Barrington District Nurses’ Association and of the Barrington Parent-Teachers’ Association, of both of which he is a trustee. Ever since his college days he has been a member of Delta Upsilon Fraternity, and he also belongs to the Olive Branch Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Millbury, Massachusetts, and to the Washington Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. His religious affiliation is with the Congregational Church of Barrington. His principal hobby is genealogy.
Mr. Keyes married, in 1909, Carrie A. Bacon, a native of West Boylston, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Keyes are the parents of two children: Fredelle C., and George B.
Source: Carroll, Charles. Rhode Island: Three Centuries of Democracy, vol 3 of 4. New York: Lewis historical Pub. Co., 1932.