Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
STOUT, James Huff
STOUT, James Huff. (Dubuque, IA, 1850--Menominee, WI, Dec. 8, 1910). Stout, the eldest son of Henry L. STOUT moved to Menomonie, Wisconsin in 1889 and handled the management of the Knapp, Stout Lumber Company's logging and milling activities on the Red Cedar River. A strong advocate for education, Stout founded the Wisconsin Training Center in 1898. This was renamed the Stout Training School in 1903 and in 1908 the Stout Institute devoted to the training of teachers of manual training and domestic science. The school was based on the idea that students need to learn practical, lifelong skills. (1)
After James Huff Stout's death in 1910, the school's ownership was transferred to the state of Wisconsin. In 1955, the school was again renamed to Stout State College. This institution was now under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents of State Colleges. In 1964, the institute was changed again. Under the name, Stout State University, this institution had increased enrollment and expanded in what they offered educationally. Finally in 1971, this institution was changed to be called The University of Wisconsin-Stout, joining the University of Wisconsin School systems. In 2007, Stout was officially registered as Wisconsin's first and only Polytechnic University. (2) It is the only school in the University of Wisconsin system named for an individual. Stout also started three kindergartens, a new idea in education at the time. Stout served as president of the Menomonie School Board.
Stout was elected a state senator and served from 1895-1910. He was president pro tem of the senate for eight years, served most of his time as chairman of the committee on education, and was instrumental in the 1899 passage of a law permitting counties to provide training schools for rural school teachers. His interest in education led to him being a member of the regents of the University of Wisconsin for many years. He served on the executive committee of the state forestry association and was president of the Wisconsin Free Library Commission. His business interests included being president of the First National Bank, the Bank of Menomonie, the Wisconsin Milling Company, Thornton and Alexandria Railroad Company, and the Stout Lumber Company of Thornton, Arkansas. (3)
His contributions to numerous libraries across the country and his dedication to libraries led to his inclusion in the Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame in 2008, along with having a day dedicated to him, the James Huff Stout Remembrance Day of December 8th, which is only celebrated in the state of Wisconsin. (4)
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Source:
1. Dictionary of Wisconsin History, Online: http://www.wisconsinhistory.org
2. "Menomonie, Wisconsin History." Online: https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Menomonie,_Wisconsin_History/El-MurrFudd
3. Dictionary of Wisconsin History
4. "Menomonie..."
