1927 1

Sylvanus Gilman Sargent ("S.G.S.") Dunbar (April 21, 1843 – July 23, 1927) was an early educator in Oakland. He was the principal of the Durant School for 34 years. 1

Dunbar was born April 21, 1843, in Waldo County, Maine, to Henry Kingman Dunbar and Phebe G. Cottrell. By 1860, the family had moved to Tuolumne County near Columbia. Henry, S.G.S. and his brother Joshua are listed as miners in the 1860 census.

According to his obituary, he was appointed master of a San Joaquin County school in September 1865. On August 11, 1868, Dunbar married Annie Sayre (Dunbar), and they had four children: Sylvanus Mortimer Dunbar, Sue Hodgdon Dunbar, Gladys Sayre Dunbar, and Esto Phoebe Dunbar (Linscott). They moved to Stockton, and the 1870 census lists him as a schoolteacher. In 1886, the family moved to Oakland where S.G.S. became principal of the Durant School. They lived at 445 Hawthorne.

Sylvanus Mortimer died in infancy.

Sue followed in S.G.S.'s footsteps; she was principal of the Maxwell Park school at the time of S.G.S.'s death in 1927. 1

In 1901, Gladys was prepared to enter the University of California. She and Sue were out riding near Fabiola Hospital when Gladys was thrown from her horse. She landed heavily and was knocked unconscious. She died the next day. 2,3

One notable headline from Dunbar's time as principal of Durant was "Bars Dancing From Durant School," in which he was quoted as saying, "Folk dancing is too spectacular and leads to the stage." 4

As was common at the time, Dunbar used capital punishment. Writers to The Knave recall:

"We had to transfer to Durant School for the Seventh Grade, where S.G.S. Dunbar was in complete command. I know there must be many old-timers who recall being whacked on the legs with his bamboo cane for some infringement of yard rules."
‐ Edna Joste Parry 5

"I remember well the rattan switch with built-in sting for the legs of any deserving charge of Principal S. G. S. Dunbar. Even more formidable, it seemed to me, were his prominent piercing eyes with which he often petrified a youngster who happened to get out of line. Principal Dunbar was indeed a fine man, but from a boy's view he was a strict disciplinarian."
‐ Edward L. Priest 6

Links and References

  1. Funeral Rites Held for Pioneer Oakland Teacher Oakland Tribune July 25, 1927
  2. Miss Dunbar Is Thrown From Horse Oakland Tribune August 8, 1901
  3. Death Summons Miss Dunbar Oakland Tribune August 9, 1901
  4. Bars Dancing From Durant School Oakland Tribune October 22, 1910
  5. The Knave Oakland Tribune November 8, 1964
  6. The Knave Oakland Tribune March 16, 1958
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