Irving Melbo; Ex-USC Dean of Education

Irving R. Melbo, dean emeritus of the USC School of Education and a national authority on the organization and structure of school districts, is dead.

Guilbert C. Hentschke, current dean of the school, said that Melbo, who “defined the character of the school of education by bringing the scholarship of a research university to the practicing profession,” died March 31 in a Montebello hospital at age 86.

Melbo was a consultant for local, state and national education organizations and school districts. He was credited with pioneering the scientific study of administrative leadership skills and helping to forge standards and evaluate criteria for school administrators.

He was also a successful author. His first textbook, the “Social Psychology of Education,” was published in 1937. It was followed in 1941 by “Our America”; a two-volume work, “Our Country’s National Parks,” in 1964 and 1973, and “The World About Us” in 1949. His last book, “The Restoration of Confidence in Public Education” was published in 1973.

In 1941, the Los Angeles Unified School District published “Forward in the Fundamentals of Education,” Melbo’s examination of teachers’ education.

Melbo joined the USC faculty in 1939 after receiving his doctorate from UC Berkeley and then supervising teaching programs in New Mexico and in Oakland. He was named dean of the USC education school in 1953 and retired in 1973.

During his tenure the faculty tripled in size, and advanced USC study centers were established worldwide. The school also conferred more than 1,600 doctoral degrees during those 20 years in contrast with the 300 presented in the preceding 26 years.

From 1960 to 1962 he headed the State of California subcommittee on preparation of administrators and supervisors.

His many awards include the 1964 Freedom Foundations at Valley Forge for the training of teachers and school administrators.

Survivors include his wife, Virginia, two sons and 11 grandchildren.

A memorial service has been scheduled for April 22 at 1 p.m. at USC University Church.