Lester Frank Ward
Wysox Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
"Father of American Sociology," geologist, and Civil War veteran, L.F. Ward (1841-1913), spent his youth in Myersburg working with his brother, Cyrenus Osborne Ward, labor historian, in their hub factory. He has been called "the American Aristotle."
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
Lester Frank Ward (1841–1913) spent his youth in this corner of Bradford County, working alongside his brother Cyrenus in a small hub factory before the Civil War, in which he served. He went on to become a pioneering geologist and paleobotanist and the founding figure of American sociology, arguing that human societies could be improved through reason and planning. So sweeping was his intellect that admirers dubbed him "the American Aristotle."
Why it matters
Ward helped establish sociology as a discipline in the United States, championing the idea that education and collective effort could shape a better society.
Plan your visit
NearbyMake a day of it — museums, food, and places to stay near this marker.
Museums & culture
- Tioga Point Museum12.8 mi away
- Sayre Historical Society14.5 mi away
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Related people
- · Lester Frank Ward
- · Cyrenus Osborne Ward
Themes & tags
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