caption resting_place death_date death_place birth_place nationality birth_date known_for image article_title name occupation
photograph by mathew brady oak hill cemetery november 1 , 1899 washington , d.c. cummington , massachusetts american august 11 , 1811 first president of the national education association zalmon richards.jpg zalmon richards
 zalmon richards educator
zalmon richards

zalmon richards -lrb- august 11 , 1811 -- november 1 , 1899 -rrb- was an american educator from washington , d.c. .
he is best known as one of the founders and the first president of the national teachers association , now known as the national education association .
richards also played a large role in congress passing a bill creating the office of education , precursor to the department of education .
his former home in washington , d.c. was designated a national historic landmark in 1965 .
