Ingram Burpee Oakes, Educator

Nova Scotia # 10 on August 20, 1867 cover from Windsor, Nova Scotia to Karsdale, Nova Scotia. Addressed to Mr. I. B. Oakes, Teacher. Karsdale, Lower Granville, Nova Scotia. Barred oval cancellation. Backstamps from WINDSOR NS, AU 20 ____, BRIDGETOWN NS, Au 23, 1867. Partial red wax seal on back.

Ingram Burpee Oakes was an 18-year old teacher in the one-room school at Karsdale, Nova Scotia when he received this letter from Windsor, Nova Scotia.

I.B. Oakes was born 16 November 1848 in New Albany, Annapolis County, N.S. the son of Jesse Oakes and Elizabeth Whitman. He married Elizabeth Jardine Smith, of Bass River, Kent County, N.B. in 1878. He died in Wolfville 28 June 1948, just shy of his 100th birthday.

I.B. Oakes was educated at Horton Academy and Acadia University (BA 1871, MA 1883, DCL 1914). Upon graduation he held the position of Principal in numerous schools in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, including Hantsport, N.S. (1871-1872), the Kent County High School, Richibucto, N.B. (1873-1876), and Northumberland Academy, Chatham, N.B. (1876-1879).

He resigned from Chatham in 1879 in order to be appointed Inspector of Schools in N.B. (1879-1886), and Inspector of Grammar and High Schools in N.B. (1886-1889). In 1889, he became Principal of Horton Academy, a position he held for ten years.

He later occupied different public offices, including Chief census officer for N.S. and P.E.I. (1901), Governor of Acadia University, 1904-1948. Canadian Government Agent for N.S. in England and Scotland (1907), Provincial Examiner in Geometry for N.S. (1893-1926), Prothonotary of Supreme Court, Clerk of County Court, and Clerk of the Crown (1916-1926).

Oakes was a member of Acadia University's Board of Governors from 1904 until his death, and from 1907 on, its secretary. Known as the "Grand Old Man of Acadia," Oakes bequeathed $70,000 to the university to be used as a scholarship fund for Acadia's best and brightest.