Harris, William Torrey (1835-1909), an American educator and school administrator, helped establish the first public school kindergarten in the United States in St. Louis in 1873. He worked with Susan E. Blow, who ran the program. Harris introduced many other reforms in schools and curriculum—including art, music, vocational education, and school libraries. His writings influenced educational practice.
Harris was born in North Killingly, Conn., on Sept. 10, 1835. He was superintendent of schools in St. Louis from 1868 to 1880 and U.S. Commissioner of Education from 1889 to 1906. Harris died on Nov. 5, 1909.
