John W. Wayland,
the Man
Historian and
Teacher
In 1872 John Walter
Wayland was born in
Woodlawn in Shenandoah County, Virginia. He graduated from
Bridgewater College in 1899 and in 1907 he received a Ph.D. from the
University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Dr. Wayland was one
of the first faculty
members at the State Normal School in Harrisonburg, Virginia which
later became Madison College and is presently James Madison
University. He taught there until 1931 and also taught at various
times at Bridgewater College, University of Virginia and University
of Tennessee. He taught History and Social Science and was head of
the department while at the State Normal School.
During his lifetime,
Dr. Wayland published
about thirty books including A History of Rockingham County, How to
Teach American History and A History of Virginia for Boys and Girls.
Besides authorship of books, he wrote the lyrics to the song "Old
Virginia", set to music by Will H. Ruebush.
Learn more: "Old
Virginia" A
Catching Tune
Old Virginia
"Tell me of a land that's fair,
With the smile of heaven there,
Of a land that's e'er the dearest as I roam;
Where the hills encircling rise,
And blue mountains kiss the skies -
O that land is Old Virginia,
And my home!"
Tell me of a land where glows
Love's first blush upon the rose,
Where the lily springs the whitest
from the loam:
Where the "Daughter of the Sky"
And the James go rolling by -
O that land is Old Virginia,
And my home!
Birthland of story, Homeland of glory,
Thousands of voices are singing to thee;
With garlands fairest, With heart gems rarest,
We crown Virginia, sweet land of the free.
Tell me of a land that gave
Ever bravest of the brave,
First to hail the star of freedom in the gloam;
Where the deeds that men may do
Prove them truest of the true -
O that land is Old Virginia,
And my home!
Tell me of a land where love,
Fix'd in woman's heart doth prove,
Best of all the gifts to man 'neath heaven's dome;
Ah! the angels there awhile
Banish care with beauty's smile -
O that land is Old Virginia,
And my home!
A special thank you to Mary A Petit of the Reference
Dept. at JMU's Carrier Library.
JWES Home
Page