Biography of Norman D. Bailey

Though one of the younger generation of Rhode Island’s educational administrators, Mr. Brady is regarded as one of the most able and most successful. In his capacity as superintendent of public schools of North Kingstown. a position he has filled very capably for several years, he has brought the schools under his direction to a very high degree of efficiency and has greatly extended their usefulness to the community. His pleasing personality, his professional attainments and his many other fine qualities have combined to gain for him the liking, respect and confidence alike of the student body, the teachers and the community in general.

Norman D. Bailey was born at Methuen, Massachusetts, April 13, 1902, a son of the late Rev. Nathan and Alice N. (Murphy) Bailey. His father, who was born at Darwin, England, was active in the ministry of the Baptist Church until his death. Mr. Bailey’s mother was a native of Boston, Massachusetts. After having attended the public schools of Providence, Rhode Island, and of New Bedford, Massachusetts, Mr. Bailey became a student at Oberlin College, Ohio, which well known institution he attended for three years. In 1921 he left college and accepted a teaching position at Dartmouth, Massachusetts, continuing with this work until 1923. He then resumed his studies at Boston University, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1925. In that year he was appointed principal of the Junior High School at Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, where he remained until 1926. Next he spent one year as supervising principal of the Penniman district, Braintree, Massachusetts. Since 1927 he has been superintendent of public schools at North Kingstown, with headquarters at Wickford. In this position he has met with marked success and the schools in his charge compare most favorably with other schools of their type and size in Rhode Island. He is a member of the National Education Association, as well as of Washington Lodge, No. 5, Free and Accepted Masons. In politics, he is independent; while his religious affiliations are with the Baptist Church of Wickford, of which he is choir director. He is greatly interested in music, but he is also very fond of outdoor life, and especially of boating.

Mr. Bailey married, in 1929, Anna G. Coggeshall, a native of Bristol, Rhode Island.

Source: Carroll, Charles. Rhode Island: Three Centuries of Democracy, vol 3 of 4. New York: Lewis historical Pub. Co., 1932.

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