Luther Parker was a young man who was a graduate of the State Normal School in Chico, California. He arrived in the Philippines in 1901 and served in the Bureau of Education for twenty-five years in different capacities, the last 7 years as division superintendent of schools. He retired in 1926 but continued to live in the country until 1931. Parker was a man of many talents. A professionally trained teacher, he was also a poet, a prolific writer, an author, and a civic-minded person who was often involved in worthy causes and issues of interest to society.
Born at Missouri to James R. and Mary C. Parker, of old Southern family.
Studied at the State Normal School at Chico, California.
Interested in the struggle of the Negroes for equal rights as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
Appointed agent in the reservation by the Superintendent, Department of Interior, Indian School Service, with power to arrest runaway boys.
In his desire to attend Standford university, he and his best friend, Lyman Sampson went to the Sacramento Valley to work through the fruit drying season.
After studying at Standford University, he returned to the State Normal University School at Chico, California.
As a college student, he was a contributor of short stories, essays, and poems to the Normal Record, the school organ.
Member of the Young Mens Normal Debating Society.
Back at the Normal School, he became Associate Editor of The Normal Record.
Graduated from the Chico Normal School.
After graduation, it was in the Clayton District, Butte Co., California, that he first attend at the State and the first school that he ever taught.
His next school was in Oregin at Grande Ronde, an Indian reservation.
At about this time, he immersed himself in the study of the political education of the Indian.
While at the Grande Ronde, he and his friend and schoolmate became interested in the "Colored American" and their struggle for equal rights as guaranteed them by the U.S Constitution. He wrote some articles for the papers on the subject. He also wrote Booker T. Washington about their problems.
According to Parker, his "first few years were so busy in getting used to a new country and in establishing schools among Filipinos that there was little time for writing for publication."
Known as the "Thomasites," the contingent composed of one hundred sixty young women and four hundred men arrived on this rainy afternoon. These teachers were assigned to teach and establish public schools in defferent parts of the country.
Parker was transfered from Masantol to Arayat, Pampanga, as Supervising Teacher.
The office of Fourth Class Inspector, Constabulary of Pampanga issued Parker Permission to carry a revolver for his own protection.
In Addition to his duties as Supervising Teacher in Arayat, he also served as a Postmaster.
The Manila Times was the first American newspaper printed in the Philippines. It was the first paper Parker subscribed to. It was also in this paper where he became a constant contributor for many years, also began a friendship with McCulloch Dick, its editor, a friendship that was to last for 35 years. It was also this year that he drew the sketch for a copra dryer. He claimed to be the first to invent one in the Philippines.
He went to the United States on vacation and returned to the Philippines in the fall.
While in the U.S., the Twenthieth Century Club of Chico, California invited him to talk about the political, social and economic conditions in the Philippine Islands.
Born at Missouri to James R. and Mary C. Parker, of old Southern family.
Studied at the State Normal School at Chico, California.
Interested in the struggle of the Negroes for equal rights as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
Appointed agent in the reservation by the Superintendent, Department of Interior, Indian School Service, with power to arrest runaway boys.
In his desire to attend Standford University, he and his best friend, Lyman Sampson went to the Sacramento Valley to work through the fruit drying season.
After studying at Stanford University, he returned to the State Normal University School at Chico, California.
As a college student, he was a contributor of short stories, essays, and poems to the Normal Record, the school organ.
Member of the Young Mens Normal Debating Society.
Back at the Normal School, he became Associate Editor of the Normal Record.
Graduated from the Chico Normal School.
After graduation. It was in the Clayton District, Butte Co., California, that he first attend at the State and the first school that he ever taught.
His next school was in Oregon at Grande Ronde, an Indian reservation.
At about this time, he immersed himself in the study of the political education of the Indian.
While at the Grande Ronde, he and his friend and schoolmate became Interested in the "Colored American" and their struggle for equal rights as guaranteed them by the U.S. Constitution. He wrote some articles for the papers on the subject. He also wrote Booker T. Washington about their problems.
According to Parker, his "first few years were so busy in getting used to a new country and in establishing schools among Filipinos that there was little time for writing for publication."
His first assignment was Masantol, Pampanga.
Known as the "Thomasites." the contingent composed of one hundred sixty young women and four hundred young men arrived on this rainy afternoon. These teachers were assigned to teach and establish public schools in different parts of the country.
Parker was transferred from Masantol to Arayat, Pampanga, as Supervising Teacher.
The office of Fourth Class Inspector, Constabulary of Pampanga issued Parker Permission to carry a revolver for his own protection.
In Addition to his duties as Supervising Teacher in Arayat, he also served as a Postmaster.
The Manila Times was the first American newspaper printed in the Philippines. It was the first paper Parker subscribed to. It was also in this paper where he became a constant contributor for many years, also began a friendship with McCulloch Dick, its editor, a friendship that was to last for 35 years. It was also this year that he drew the sketch for a copra dryer. He claimed to be the first to invent one in the Philippines.
He went to the United States on vacation and returned to the Philippines in the fall.
While in the U.S., the Twenthieth Century Club of Chico, California invited him to talk about the political, social and economic conditions in the Philippine Islands.
He had a bad attack of cold and dengue fever.
He sent a collection of Filipino music to the World's Fair at St. Louis, Missouri
The Accounting General Manager of Merchants' Publishing Company invited Parker to write a narrative about the life of a school teacher in the provinces, including the difficulties and problems of the American teacher.
The Archbishop of Manila granted him permission to use the churches in the barrios for school purposes.
Worked on a Tagalog dictionary with a famous Tagslista. The manuscript, however, was burned in a fire.
Received a letter acknowledging a copy of the "excellent" Pampango-English dictionary that Parker wrote.
Vamos A. Ver is Parker's pen name.
"Dicolonariong Ingles, Kapampangan at Kastill," by Parker is advertised in the Manila Times.
In a program of a recital at the Pampanga Provincial High School was Parker's handwritten note "this program was made possible after only five years of American public schools."
The new trade school at Bacolor was inaugurated, Parker, principal, composed a dedicatory hymn for the occassion.
Assigned in-charge of carnival exhibit which culminated in his assignment from 1914-1916 in San Francisco in-charge of Philippine Island exhibit of school industrial work.
He directed the preparation of display for the carnival.
General inspector of school shops in the country.
Proposed to adopt Parker son of Pampanga Province.
Contributing editor to the Philippines Craftsman, published by the Bureau of Education.
Incorporator and president, American Mestizo Protective Association whose aim was to properly care for and educate the abondoned or neglected children of white American men and Filipino women.
For three successive years, Parker was on duty at San Francisco with the Philippine exhibit at the Palace of Education in the Panama Pacific International Exposition.
Parker's poem entitled "My Philippine Picture" was published in Cablenews-American. This poem adjudged first price won for him fifty pesos.
As industrial Superintendent of the school in Pangasinan Province, he took great interest in the food production campaign, especially in the matter of school and home gardens. Meanwhile, his wife was active in organizing women's clubs.
Writing from Laoag, Ilocos Norte where he was Superintendent of Schools, he organized many Bands of Mercy. He hoped to arouse among the children kindness to animals.
Division Superintendent of schools of Nueva Ecija. Parker said he knew of the people's desire for an education for their children. During his four years in the province they gave money, food and building to establish schools. Over fifty school sites of one hectare each were given free by the people and nearly a hundred school houses were built and repaired at their own expense.
In a published article, Parker expresses surprise that the plan to take over control of national educational policies, though the formation of a National Board on Education which he had advocated for years was handed to the educational people to mangle as a result of which it came out as a mere textbook board.
Retired as Division Superintendent of Nueva Ecija.
Persistent fighter for the use of vocational training even for the children in the public schools.
Even if he was retired, he continued to offer suggestions to Filipino legislators on how to improve education in the country. He was an instigator of autonomy in education who believed in character building in public schools. He pointed out defects in the educational system.
Devoted his time to study of Philippine linguistics and to writing.
He wrote about school anomalies.
In a Philippines Free Press aticle, he advocated teaching the youth about narcotics. He suggested the application of New York Mayor James Walker's article on drugs being the scourge of modern times which can be overcome only by education.
He wrote about the pioneers in vocational education in the country.
He and his wife left the country for good. They took up residence in Santa Cruz, California.
Upon his return to the U.S., he continued to be invited by civic organizations to give talks about the Philippines.
Involved in the identification, restoration, and preservation of historical landmarks in California, also in issues of interest to the community.
In Luther Parker's last will, he said that his library will be sold after he dies. It is possible that he died in 1948 or 1949 because his collection was sold in 1949.