Joseph Henry Hill, one of the best known educators in Kansas and president of the State Normal School at Emporia, was born at Stockton, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, May 21, 1858. In June, 1870, he came to Kansas with his father, who located near Williamsburg, Franklin county. In Williamsburg he attended the local schools, but in October, 1872, he came to Emporia, where he attended the public schools for one year and the State Normal School for three years. He was a member of the first organized high school class in Emporia. After graduating at the State Normal School he taught in Labette county until 1877 and from that time until 1881 in Lyon county, being high school instructor and assistant superintendent of the Emporia schools from 1879 to 1881. For about two years Mr. Hill was engaged in newspaper work on the "Emporia News," "Emporia Ledger," and "Emporia Republican." From 1881 to 1887 he was a student in the Northwestern University and the Garrett Biblical Institute, receiving from the Northwestern University the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts. In 1886 he was ordained to the Methodist Episcopal ministry by the Rock River (Ill.) conference, and for a time was pastor at Maywood, Ill. In September, 1887, he became professor of the Latin languages in the Kansas State Normal School. In 1901 he was made vice-president of that institution, and in 1906 was elected to the presidency, which position he still holds. Mr. Hill has been active in promoting education along various lines. In 1902 he was president of the Kansas State Teachers' Association; was vice-president of the National Educational Association in 1908, and in 1910 was chairman of the normal school department of that association. In 1906 Baker University conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity, and in 1909 the Kansas Agricultural College honored him with the degree of Doctor of Laws. As an instructor Mr. Hill has few superiors, and as the executive head of the State Normal School he is always on the alert to promote its interests and usefulness.