Association/Department of Classroom Teachers, 1904-1985
Scope and Contents note
Series contains materials created within the Association/Department of Classroom Teachers. The files include biographies (including photos), Hilda Maehling Fellowship materials, correspondence, Executive Committee minutes, Joint Committee Conference and National Conference meeting materials, “News Bulletins”, photographs, publications and meeting transcripts.
The Association/Department of Classroom Teachers files are a very rich collection of materials reflecting the importance of the department to the NEA’s history. The biographies files provide vast insight into many influential individuals in the department. Also included are word-for-word transcripts of meetings which gives researchers details that may otherwise be absent in most other departments.
A significant amount of material was donated by retired NEA staff member Buena Stolberg, who served as president of the Department of Classroom Teachers from 1960 to 1961. The series includes material she gathered or created during her time with the Department, including both personal and official records.
Dates
- 1904-1985
Creator
- From the Fonds: National Education Association of the United States (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
As researchers request materials, a review of the documents will take place. Staff will remove any documents with social security numbers, employee numbers or other sensitive identifying information. Any document found including this information is closed for 90 years from date of creation, or until verifiable proof of a person’s death is given. After these documents are removed the folder will be available for research. In some cases, items may be photocopied and redacted. The redacted copy will then be placed in the publicly available folder. All other materials in a folder will be freely available for immediate use and will be marked as having been reviewed by Special Collections staff. After folders have been reviewed using these procedures and the confidential materials have been removed, the restriction shall be lifted..
Biographical/Historical note
The Department of Classroom Teachers was created in 1913, in response to petitions representing classroom teachers throughout the country. It was reorganized under its own constitution at the Boston NEA meeting in July 1922.
The division’s first yearbook was published in 1926. Permanent headquarters for the Department was created in 1940 and a fulltime secretary (Hilda Maehling) was brought to the NEA in 1942.
This department was influential in creating the National Commission on Teacher Education and Professional Standards in 1946 and the National Commission on the Defense of Democracy through Education in 1941.
Sources:
The 1949 NEA Handbook
Wesley, Edgar B. NEA: The First Hundred Years. New York: Harper, 1957.
Extent
33 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
From the Fonds: English
Arrangement note
Arranged alphabetically by title, and chronologically within the same title.
Ownership Note
Although all of the material in this series represents the official work of the Department of Classroom Teachers, a significant portion of the material was held by 1960-1961 Department President Buena Stolberg from her retirement until it was donated to Gelman Special Collections by her daughter Nancy Stolberg Finke in 2016.
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Repository
