A. A. McDonald Biography


	This biography appears on pages 934-935 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				A. A. McDONALD. 

	A well known figure in educational circles is Professor A. A. 
McDonald, superintendent of schools of Sioux Falls. He was born upon a 
farm in O'Brien county, Iowa, February 11, 1876, a son of Archibald and 
Mary (Wallace) McDonald. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, 
became one of the early residents of O'Brien county, Iowa, where he 
settled in 1869. He was a soldier of the Civil war, enlisting for 
service as one of the "boys in blue" of Company D, Thirty-second Iowa 
Infantry. Following the cessation of hostilities he devoted his life to 
agricultural pursuits until his labors were ended in death in 1907. His 
wife passed away the same year. 

	A. A. McDonald was educated in the country schools of Iowa, in 
the Hartley high school and in the Oberlin (Ohio) College, from which 
he was graduated in 1900. He afterward took post-graduate work in 
Columbia University and all through his life he has remained a student, 
embracing every opportunity to broaden his knowledge and make his life 
a more effective force in advancing educational interests. He took up 
the profession of teaching in the country schools of Iowa, with which 
he was thus connected for two years, after which he entered Oberlin 
College. Later he taught in the high school of Yankton as assistant 
principal, and in the fall of 1901 came to Sioux Falls, where he has 
served as instructor in the high schools, as principal of the high 
school and, since 1907, as superintendent of schools. Under his 
direction substantial progress has been made along educational lines as 
not only has he proved an able instructor but he was also the most 
potent factor in securing the building of the new high school, together 
with three ward school buildings, and the introduction of free 
textbooks into the schools. He has likewise been instrumental in 
improving the methods of instruction and rendering of greater value the 
school work done. He introduced the semi-annual promotions and manual 
training and was active in securing an advance in the teachers, wages. 
In fact, his work has continuously been of benefit to the schools, for 
he adheres to the highest standards and is constantly reaching out 
along broadening lines. 

	On the 24th of June, 1903, Mr. McDonald was married to Miss 
Dorothy W. Connors, a daughter of John Connors, of Parker, and they 
have become the parents of four children, Jean W., Robert R., Dorothy 
C. and Archibald A. 

	The religious faith of the family is that of the Congregational 
church and in his fraternal relations Mr. McDonald is a Mason. He has 
taken the degrees of both the York and Scottish Rites. He is also a 
member of the Mystic Shrine and in his life exemplifies the beneficent 
spirit of the craft, which recognizes the brotherhood of mankind and 
the obligations of the individual to his fellows. In politics he is a 
republican, greatly interested in vital questions of citizenship, while 
as a member of the Commercial Club of Sioux Falls he takes an active 
and helpful part in promoting municipal progress and bringing about 
those things which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride. His 
attention, however, is chiefly directed in educational paths and his 
work in this direction cannot be overestimated, for he has done much to 
raise the standard and improve the methods of instruction and to secure 
more competent teachers. He studies the individual needs of the pupil 
and he has the ability to inspire pupil and teacher with much of his 
own zeal and interest in the work. His constant aim has been to render 
education more effective, for he believes the purpose of teaching is to 
develop capacity and holds with Kant that "the object of education is 
to train each individual to reach the highest perfection possible for 
him."