Charles Vosburgh, '46
Principal
Jamaica High School
1919-1946
Charles Albert Vosburgh (1876-1967) started his teaching career in 1896 at Jamaica High School, then located at Hillside Avenue, off 162nd Street. The institution in 1896 was a kindergarten through twelfth grade school, with four teachers and eighty students.
Vosburgh became principal of Jamaica High School in 1919 and remained there until his forced retirement at the age of 70 in 1946.
During his tenure as principal the new building on Gothic Drive was planned, constructed and occupied (in 1928), the large mural in the lobby, "A History of Colonial Long Island" was painted by Suzanne Miller (in 1931) and the organ was installed in the auditorium (in 1931). He also organized the planning, funding and construction of the impressive World War II Memorial at the foot of the hill in front of the building.
An overview of his tenure is contained in a brief history written by a student with his assistance and published in the 1940 Yearbook. Mr. Vosburgh had many other civic accomplishments, including presidency of the Long Island Branch of the Holland Society of New York, and being president of the Queens Council, Boy Scouts of America. He was a Mason for seventy years and lived at 68-07 Burns Street, Forest Hills.
