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Kent State University School records

Special Collections and Archives

Kent State University School records

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Special Collections and Archives

Kent State University School records

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Repository: Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.
Title: Kent State University School records
Inclusive Date(s): 1914-1986
Author: Finding aid prepared by Penny White
Creation: Finding aid encoded by Penny White using the OhioLINK EAD Application in 2012
Origination: Kent State University School
Extent: 5.5 cubic feet (4 record storage boxes, 2 half size record storage boxes, 2 slim document boxes, 1 oversize folder)
Physical Location: 11th floor
Finding Aid Identifier: OhKeUSC0145
Abstract: This group of records, dating from 1914 to 1986, document the history of the Kent State University observation-based student teaching program known as the Kent State University School. Materials included consist of administrative records, photographs, student and staff publications, yearbooks, commencement programs, and organizational records.
Revision(s):
March 2022 - Revised by Anita Clary
June 2022 - Updated by Cara Gilgenbach
Language(s): The records are in English

History of Kent State University School

At times referred to as a "laboratory school," the Kent State University School was maintained on Kent State University's main campus from 1914 until 1982. Not a typical primary school, the University School provided individualized education to kindergarten through 12th grade students, while offering student teachers the opportunity for practical classroom experience. Additionally, the University School provided the University's College of Education with an opportunity for research, observation and experimentation in curriculum and practice.

The University School began as Kent Normal High School in 1914. The idea for a high school originated when eighth grade students from the existing Teacher Training School expressed their interest that a high school be formed to continue their studies. As a result, Kent State Normal School launched a high school program consisting of a single freshman class. The program proved successful and additional grades were added over the next three years. In 1918, the first class of seniors graduated Kent Normal High School with a total of 14 students.

Kent Normal High School became the William A. Cluff Training-School on March 23, 1929 with the dedication of a new building, the Teacher Training Building (now Franklin Hall). Previously housed in portions of Merrill Hall and Science Hall (now Kent Hall), the new building offered the school, comprised of kindergarten, elementary, junior high school and senior high school students, much needed space. Named for the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, the new building included a gymnasium, rooms for music and the industrial arts, home economics, locker rooms and showers.

A final move in 1956 relocated the school to the University School building (now the Michael Schwartz Center) and the observation-based teacher-training program became known as the University School. This new facility provided even more space for the growing school population as well as the addition of classrooms for hard of hearing and special education classes.

By 1972, the University School had closed the senior high school division, grades 10 though 12, due to financial and educational concerns. Nearly 300 students were affected by the change, leaving many to find new school districts for the following year. The closing of the upper three grades roused protests from parents and students alike, having enjoyed the individualized education provided by the school. One of only two on-campus student teaching programs left in the state, the University School found that it was no longer a significant part of the educational trend. On January 25, 1982, the Faculty Senate formally recommended that the program be ended after 68 years. For the first time in Kent State University's history, a major academic program was terminated.

Scope and Content

The Kent State University School records span from 1914-1986 and are organized alphabetically by series and chronologically within each series and subseries. This group of records documents the history of the Kent State University School through administrative records, photographs, student and staff publications, and organizational records. Records also document student life through commencement programs, event materials and yearbooks.

Statement of Arrangement

This group of records has been arranged into the following series and subseries. Please note, Subseries 3: Y-Teens was acquired as a scrapbook and has been disassembled for the purpose of preservation. As a result, these records housed in Box 3 maintain the original order of the scrapbook; page numbers have been noted in the scope and content section of each folder.
Series 1: Administrative Materials, 1922-1982
Subseries 1: Course Materials, 1956-1978
Subseries 2: Guides and Handbooks, 1922-1967
Subseries 3: Proposals and Reports, 1960-1982
Series 2: Commencement Programs, 1918-1972
Series 3: Event Materials, 1933-1980
Series 4: Organizations, 1961-1973
Subseries 1: KSUS Foundation, 1971-1973
Subseries 2: Pro Musica Society, 1961-1972
Subseries 3: Y-Teens, 1964-1965
Series 5: Photographs, 1936-1979
Series 6: Publications, 1914-1979
Series 7: Subject Files, 1931-1986
Series 8: Yearbooks, 1914-1974
Series 9: Artifacts, 1946


Restrictions on Access

The Student Publications found in folders 15 and 17 of Box 4 require the use of reading room copies due to the fragile nature of the originals. Reading room copies can be found in folders 16 and 17 of Box 4.

Preferred Citation

Kent State University School records. Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.

Acquisition Information

Materials donated by Thomas Smith, Elinor Miller, R. Thomas Myers, and the Pro Musica (Society) have been added to this collection based on their relationship to the Kent State University School. Henry A. Raup (class of 1951) donated photographs, the handkerchief map, and other items collected by his wife Ann Harbourt Raup (1933-1999), who was a member of the class of 1950.

Controlled Access Headings
The following are found in this collection:

Subjects:
Kent State University School -- Archives.
Kent Normal High School -- Archives.
Kent State High School -- Archives.
Kent State University. Child Development Center -- Archives.
Teachers, Training of -- Ohio -- Kent.
Teaching -- Ohio -- Kent.
Schools -- Ohio -- Kent.
Nursery schools -- Ohio -- Kent.
Elementary schools -- Ohio -- Kent.
Middle schools -- Ohio -- Kent.
High schools -- Ohio -- Kent.
Laboratory schools -- Ohio -- Kent.
Organizations/Corporations:
Kent State University. College of Education.
Functions:
School management and organization
Places:
Kent (Ohio)
Occupations:
School administrators
Teachers
Students
Material Types:
Annual reports
Brochures
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Correspondence
Handbooks, manuals, etc.
Minutes
Photographs
Programs
Proposals
Publications
Reports
Scrapbooks
Yearbooks
Manuscript maps
Maps



Detailed Description of Records

Series 1: Administrative Materials, 1922-1982

Subseries 1: Course Materials, 1956-1978
Box 1 / Folder 1
"How to Make a Sentence", 1956
Box 1 / Folder 2
Class Schedule, 1963-1964
Box 1 / Folder 3
A High School Humanities Course, 1968
Box 1 / Folder 4
Summer Youth Program, 1977-1978
Box 1 / Folder 5
Course of Study K-12, undated
Box 1 / Folder 6
Developmental Mathematics Supplement Exercises, undated

Subseries 2: Guides and Handbooks, 1922-1967
Box 1 / Folder 7
Guide: Elementary School Library Accession Book, 1922-1955
Scope and Content
In five volumes.
Box 1 / Folder 8
Guide: Training School Library Accession Book, 192[3]-1940
Box 1 / Folder 9
Guide: Paying for Education, 1953-1954
Box 1 / Folder 10
Guide: Admissions Policy, 1965
Box 1 / Folder 11
Guide: For the Evaluation of Institutions of Higher Learning, 1966
Box 1 / Folder 12
Handbook: Ohio Elementary Guidance, 1966-1967
Box 1 / Folder 13
Handbook: Elementary School, undated
Box 1 / Folder 14
Handbook: Research and Development Center, undated
Box 1 / Folder 15
Handbook: University School, undated

Subseries 3: Proposals and Reports, 1960-1982
Box 1 / Folder 16
Proposal: Changing Functions of the University School, 1960
Box 1 / Folder 17
Proposal: The Revision of Kent State University School, 1982
Box 1 / Folder 18
Report: Kent State University School Annual Report, 1964
Box 1 / Folder 19
Report: North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, 1969
Scope and Content
Folder 1 of 2
Box 1 / Folder 20
Report: North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, 1969
Scope and Content
Folder 2 of 2
Box 1 / Folder 21
Report: Kent State University School Utilization Summary, 1971

Series 2: Commencement Programs, 1918-1972
Box 1 / Folder 22
Commencement Program, 1918
Box 1 / Folder 23
Commencement Program, 1920
Box 1 / Folder 24
Commencement Program, 1930
Box 1 / Folder 25
Commencement Program, 1945
Box 1 / Folder 26
Commencement Program, 1946
Box 1 / Folder 27
Commencement Program, 1948
Box 1 / Folder 28
Commencement Program, 1954
Box 1 / Folder 29
Commencement Program, 1956
Box 1 / Folder 30
Commencement Program, 1958
Box 1 / Folder 31
Commencement Program, 1960
Box 1 / Folder 32
Commencement Program, 1961
Box 1 / Folder 33
Commencement Program, 1963
Box 1 / Folder 34
Commencement Program, 1965
Box 1 / Folder 35
Commencement Program, 1968
Box 1 / Folder 36
Commencement Program, 1970
Box 1 / Folder 37
Commencement Program, 1972

Series 3: Event Materials, 1933-1980
Box 1 / Folder 38
Elementary Department, Operetta and play program, 1924
Box 1 / Folder 39
Pupils of Leona Whisler, Dance Creations of 1927 program, 1927
Box 1 / Folder 40
Physical Education Festivals program for the Kent State Training School and Kent State College, The Mantle of Happiness and An English May Festival, 1930
Box 1 / Folder 41
Kent State High School and Junior High School class theatrical playbills, 1930, 1932, 1941-1942 and undated
Box 1 / Folder 42
Student Activities Ticket, 1933-1934
Box 1 / Folder 43
Kent State High School Class Night program, 1935
Box 1 / Folder 44
"Remember When?" Junior-Senior Dinner-Dance, 1951
Box 1 / Folder 45
"Rhapsody in Blue" Junior-Senior Dinner-Dance, 1958
Box 1 / Folder 46
Honors Day Program, 1962
Box 1 / Folder 47
Fine Arts Festival and Art Exhibit, 1964-1978
Box 1 / Folder 48
UN Day, 1977
Box 1 / Folder 49
Kent State University School Open House, 1980
Box 1 / Folder 50
Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet Company, undated
Box 1 / Folder 51
"Sparrow" presented by the Student Activities Board (SAB), undated
Box 1 / Folder 52
Spring Luncheon Invitation, undated
Box 1 / Folder 53
Used Sports Equipment and Toy Sale, undated

Series 4: Organizations, 1961-1973

Subseries 1: KSUS Foundation, 1971-1973
Box 2 / Folder 1
Correspondence, 1971-1973
Box 2 / Folder 2
Financial Records, 1971-1972
Box 2 / Folder 3
Minutes, 1971-1972
Box 2 / Folder 4
Fact Sheet, 1972
Box 2 / Folder 5
By-Laws, undated
Box 2 / Folder 6
Contact Sheet, undated
Box 2 / Folder 7
News Clippings, undated
Box 2 / Folder 8
Notes, undated
Box 2 / Folder 9
Paper: The University School: A Janus View, undated

Subseries 2: Pro Musica (Society), 1961-1972
Box 2 / Folder 10
Minutes, 1961
Box 2 / Folder 11
Minutes, 1962
Box 2 / Folder 12
Minutes, 1963-1964
Box 2 / Folder 13
Minutes, 1965
Box 2 / Folder 14
Minutes, 1966-1967
Box 2 / Folder 15
Minutes, 1968-1969
Box 2 / Folder 16
Minutes, 1970-1971
Box 2 / Folder 17
Minutes, 1972
Box 2 / Folder 18
Membership List, 1961-1963
Box 2 / Folder 19
Correspondence, 1962-1972
Box 2 / Folder 20
Financial Records, 1962-1972
Box 2 / Folder 21
Uniform Bid Forms, 1962
Box 2 / Folder 22
Schedule of Events, 1964-1965
Box 2 / Folder 23
Constitution and Amendment, undated
Box 2 / Folder 24
News Clippings, undated

Subseries 3: Y-Teens, 1964-1965
Box 3 / Folder 1
Purpose, Constitution and Officers, 1964-1965
Scope and Content
Album pages 1-3
Box 3 / Folder 2
Pledges, September, 1964
Scope and Content
Album page 4
Box 3 / Folder 3
Program and Service Project, October, 1964
Scope and Content
Album page 5
Box 3 / Folder 4
Formal Initiation Ceremony Program, October-November, 1964
Scope and Content
Album page 6
Box 3 / Folder 5
Program and Service Project, includes Kent High School Directory, December, 1964
Scope and Content
Album page 7
Box 3 / Folder 6
Christmas Program, December, 1964
Scope and Content
Album page 8
Box 3 / Folder 7
YWCA sponsored trip to Karamu, December, 1964-February, 1965
Scope and Content
Album page 9
Box 3 / Folder 8
Y-Teens and YWCA programs, February, 1965
Scope and Content
Album page 10
Box 3 / Folder 9
Y-Teens and HI-Y private "Mystic Twilight", February 20, 1965
Scope and Content
Album page 11
Box 3 / Folder 10
"The Curious Savage" program, April, 1965
Scope and Content
Album page 12
Box 3 / Folder 11
Service Project, April, 1965
Scope and Content
Album page 13
Box 3 / Folder 12
All County Dance, April 3, 1965
Scope and Content
Album page 14
Box 3 / Folder 13
Y-Teens and HI-Y Retreat, May 7-8, 1965
Scope and Content
Album pages 15-16
Box 3 / Folder 14
"Mr. Quaker", May, 1965
Scope and Content
Album page 17
Box 3 / Folder 15
Honor Society Initiation, May, 1965
Scope and Content
Album page 18
Box 3 / Folder 16
"The Sneety Times", February-March, 1965
Scope and Content
Album page 19
Box 3 / Folder 17
"YS Guys" Special Report, 1964
Scope and Content
Album page 20

Series 5: Photographs, 1936-1979
Box 4 / Folder 1
Seniors, 1936
Box 4 / Folder 2
Class of 1950-1951, 1945-1946 and undated
Box 4 / Folder 3
Photographs by Thomas Smith, 1952-1955
Scope and Content
Includes application materials for Photo-Journalism scholarship
Box 4 / Folder 4
Class Photograph, 1974-1975
Box 4 / Folder 5
Class Photograph, 1975-1976
Box 4 / Folder 6
Class Photograph, 1976-1977
Box 4 / Folder 7
Class Photograph, 1977-1978
Box 4 / Folder 8
Class Photograph, 1978-1979
Box 4 / Folder 9
Landmark Booklet, undated
Box 4 / Folder 10
Unidentified Students, undated

Series 6: Publications, 1914-1979
Box 4 / Folder 11
Staff Publication: University Training School Bulletin, 1948
Box 4 / Folder 12
Staff Publication: Teacher Education Bulletin, 1963
Box 4 / Folder 13
Staff Publication: "...A Laboratory School In Action", 1967
Box 4 / Folder 14
Staff Publication: The University School Newsletter, 1968
Box 4 / Folder 15
Staff Publication: College of Education Research and Development Center, 1972
Box 4 / Folder 16
Student Publication: Normal High-School News, 1914-1915
Box 4 / Folder 17
Student Publication: Normal High-School News, Reading Room Copy, 1914-1915
Box 4 / Folder 18
Student Publication: ???????, Kent State High School newspaper, 1930
Box 4 / Folder 19
Student Publication: The Statesman, 1931
Box 4 / Folder 20
Student Publication: The Little Kent Stater, 1937
Box 4 / Folder 21
Student Publication: The Senior Album, 1937
Box 4 / Folder 22
Student Publication: The Inkspot, 1950
Box 4 / Folder 23
Student Publication: The Elementary Buckeye Quarterly, 1960
Box 4 / Folder 24
Student Publication: The Stater, 1960
Box 4 / Folder 25
Student Publication: Echoes, Echoes, Echoes, 1966
Box 4 / Folder 26
Student Publication: Rapping Paper, 1971
Box 4 / Folder 27
Student Publication: The Fine Arts Magazine, 1971-1972
Box 4 / Folder 28
Student Publication: The Occasional, 1976-1977
Box 4 / Folder 29
Student Publication: The Thoughts of Tomorrow in the Stories of Today, 1979

Series 7: Subject Files, 1936-1986
Box 4 / Folder 30
Correspondence, 1936-1985
Box 4 / Folder 31
News Clippings, 1956-1986
Box 4 / Folder 32
Brochures, 1968
Box 4 / Folder 33
KSUS Television Services, 1970
Box 4 / Folder 34
Paper: The Wearers of Blue, 1970
Box 4 / Folder 33
University School Building Plans, 1971

Series 8: Yearbooks, 1914-1974
Box 5 / Folder 1
The Hilife, 1918
Box 5 / Folder 2
The Hilife, 1919
Box 5 / Folder 3
The Hilife, 1920
Box 5 / Folder 4
Hilife, 1921
Box 5 / Folder 5
Kent High School Alumni Directory, 1921
Box 5 / Folder 6
Commencement Number of The Live Wire, 1922
Box 5 / Folder 7
Hi-Life, 1924
Box 5 / Folder 8
Hilife, 1925
Box 5 / Folder 9
The Statesman, 1936
Box 5 / Folder 10
Devil's Diary, 1948
Box 5 / Folder 11
Devil's Diary, 1949
Box 5 / Folder 12
Devil's Diary, 1950
Box 5 / Folder 13
Devil's Diary, 1951
Box 5 / Folder 14
Devil's Diary, 1952
Box 5 / Folder 15
Devil's Diary, 1953
Box 5 / Folder 16
Devil's Diary, 1954
Box 5 / Folder 17
Devil's Diary, 1955
Box 6 / Folder 1
Devil's Diary, 1956
Box 6 / Folder 2
Statesman, 1957
Box 6 / Folder 3
Statesman, 1958
Box 6 / Folder 4
Statesman, 1959
Box 6 / Folder 5
Statesman, 1960
Box 6 / Folder 6
Statesman, 1961
Box 6 / Folder 7
Statesman, 1962
Box 6 / Folder 8
Statesman, 1963
Box 6 / Folder 9
Statesman, 1964
Box 6 / Folder 10
Statesman, 1965
Box 7 / Folder 1
Statesman, 1966
Box 7 / Folder 2
Statesman, 1967
Box 7 / Folder 3
Statesman, 1968
Box 7 / Folder 4
Statesman, 1969
Box 7 / Folder 5
Statesman, 1970
Box 7 / Folder 6
Statesman, 1971
Box 7 / Folder 7
Statesman, 1972
Box 7 / Folder 8
Kent State University Middle School, 1974

Series 9: Artifacts, 1946
Box 8 / Folder 1
Heat Tunnels of Kent State University, 1946
Physical Location: Filed in oversize map case
Scope and Content
Map drawn by Kenny Hahn (class of 1950) and Richard Pearson on a handkerchief. Folder includes a letter dated September 9, 1999, from Kathryn Burgess, transferring the map from her brother Ken to Ann (Harbourt) Raup. There is also a note of explanation about the map provided by Henry A. Raup dated April 24, 2015.
Box 8 / Folder 2
Amy Elizabeth Weaver Memorial Plaque, 1968
Physical Description: Brass text plate mounted on wood plaque.
Scope and Content
Accompanied by two clippings about Amy Weaver, one of which shows the plaque and a memorial tree planted in her memory. Also included is a background note on Amy Weaver and these materials by donor Paula A. Treckel.
Biography or History
Amy Weaver was a member of the University High School Class of 1970. In 1968, she was killed by a lightning strike while participating in a field hockey practice. Her life was memorialized by the planting of a tree near the University School grounds (no longer extant) and a plaque, which hung on a wall in the principal's office. The plaque and clippings were donated to Special Collections & Archives by Weaver's classmate and friend Paula A. Treckel in June 2022, on behalf of Jim Rinier, of the Geography Department (who had been entrusted with the plaque after its removal from the school) and the University School Class of 1970.