John Ward Melville (January 5, 1887 - June 5, 1977) was an American philanthropist, and businessman. January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1887 is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar). ... June 5 is the 156th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (157th in leap years), with 209 days remaining. ... 1977 was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1977 calendar). ... A philanthropist is someone who devotes his or her time, money, or effort towards helping others. ...

John Ward Melville was born in Brooklyn in 1877, son of Frank Melville, Jr. Ward Melville attended college at Columbia University, where he was active in the school newspaper and the Philolexian Society, and he continued to be involved with the university after graduation. After college, Melville married Dorothy Bigelow while working in his father's shoe company (Thom McAn Shoes). Upon the United States' entrance in World War I, Melville enlisted (or was drafted?). For other meanings, see Brooklyn (disambiguation). ... Columbia University is a private university in New York City. ... The Philolexian Society of Columbia University in the City of New York is one of the oldest collegiate literary societies in the United States, and the oldest student group at Columbia. ... Womens shoes on display in a shop window, July 2005 A shoe is an item of footwear. ... World War I was primarily a European conflict with many facets: immense human sacrifice, stalemate trench warfare, and the use of new, devastating weapons - tanks, aircraft, machineguns, and poison gas. ...

After the war, Melville continued to work in his father's company Melville Corporation, eventually taking control of it in 1922. He would also serve as a member of the school board in Setauket, New York, a town on Long Island, where he donated the land for the high school which was named after him. Melville was very active in many philanthropic works around the "three village area" (Stony Brook, New York, Setauket, New York, Old Field, New York) and the surrounding towns. These ranged from restoring old buildings, to natural conservation to supporting education. Among these works was the donation of land that would be used for the site of Stony Brook University. Later, he would be made Chairman of the Council of that university by Governor Averill Harriman. Melville Corporation, formerly based in Rye, New York, was a large retail holding corporation incorporated in 1922 as the Melville Shoe company by Ward Melville. ... Setauket-East Setauket is a census-designated place located in Suffolk County, New York. ... Image of Long Island taken by NASA. Long Island is an island off the North American coast. ... Stony Brook is a hamlet (and census-designated place) located in the Town of Brookhaven on Long Island in Suffolk County, New York. ... Setauket-East Setauket is a census-designated place located in Suffolk County, New York. ... Old Field is a village located in Suffolk County, New York. ... Stony Brook University Stony Brook University (SBU) or the University at Stony Brook (USB), or the State University of New York at Stony Brook (SUNYSB), located in Stony Brook, New York, USA, is one of the premier public universities in the United States with more than 21,000 students enrolled. ... William Averell Harriman William Averell Harriman (November 15, 1891 – July 26, 1986) was a Governor of New York. ...

Melville died in 1977 and is buried in Setauket at the Caroline Church.

Ward Melville's legacy is well remembered in western Suffolk County. Numerous organizations that serve various needs are named after him, including a local high school (Ward Melville High School). The main library at Stony Brook University is named for his father. There is also a hamlet in Suffolk County named Melville since 1854, but that is likely named after Herman Melville. Location in the state of New York Formed 1683 Seat Riverhead Area  - Total  - Water 6,146 km² (2,373 mi²) 3,784 km² (1,461 mi²) 61. ... Ward Melville High School is the high school in the Three Village Central School District named after Ward Melville. ... Frank Melville Jr. ... Melville is a hamlet and census-designated place in the town of Huntington in Suffolk County on Long Island, New York, roughly half way between Manhattan and The Hamptons. ... Herman Melville Herman Melville (August 1, 1819 – September 28, 1891) was an American novelist, essayist, and poet. ...

External links

• The Ward Melville Heritage Organization
• Ward Melville High School