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Helen Parkhurst Asian Art Monographs

 Collection
Identifier: MS 043

Scope and Content Note

Contains 4 folios and 3 monographs presumably acquired by Parkhurst when visiting Japan in the 1930s.

Dates

  • Creation: 1850-1930s

Creator

Access Restrictions

Open for research without restrictions.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the:
Ruth A. Haas Library
Archives and Special Collections
181 White Street
Danbury, CT 06810
Phone: 203-837-8992
E-mail: stevensb@wcsu.edu

Historical/Biographical Note

Helen Parkhurst was born in 1886 in Wisconsin and became an influencial figure in child education. She began her career as teacher and from 1913 - 1915, she worked with Maria Montessori eventually becoming Montessori's representative in America.

Parkhurst visited and lectured in Japan on a number of occasions prior to World War II, and was decorated by the Japanese empire for her contribution to education in Japan. She made several childrens programs for radio and her books include: Education on The Dalton Plan (1922), and Exploring the Child's World (1951). Parkhurst was a character witness for folk singer and former student Pete Seeger in 1961 when the latter was being prosecuted for contempt charges stemming from his refusal some years before to provide information to the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Parkhurst's long-time companion while in Connecticut was Dorothy Luke who received a MS in Education from Danbury State College in 1967. Her thesis: Identity and Communication cites Parkhurst's work. Parkhurst owned a home near Lake Waramog in New Preston, CT.

Parkhurst died in 1973 in New Milford, CT. Her personal papers are maintained at the University of Wisconsin Archives.

Sources:

P.I. HELEN PARKHURST (1887-1973): A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. Journal of Special Education; Summer 1980, Vol. 14 Issue 2, p130, 1p.

"Helen Parkhust - Who was she?" [http://www.edith.nl/telmie2/reforped/theory/theory.html]

Judith T. Younger. Excerpt of Professor Younger's unpublished autobiography, Some of My Life. Minnesota Law Review. April, 1989. v 73, 829.

Marjan Schwegman. Kind van haar tijd Vrouw van de wereld: Maria Montessori. Amsterdam University press. 1999.

Extent

1 Linear Feet ( 1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

A small collection of art books presumably collected when Ms. Parkhurst travelled in Asia.

Arrangement

The files are grouped into 1 series:

Missing Title

  1. Inventory

Provenance

Books presumably donated to Western Connecticut State College library from the collection of Helen Parkhurst. Other English language material is can be found in WCSU's circulating collections.

Related Archival Materials note

Cultural context

Genre / Form

Topical

Title
Guide to the Helen Parkhurst Asian Art Monographs
Status
Unverified Full Draft
Author
Materials researched and finding aid by Brian Stevens and Ann Victor
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Description is in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Western Connecticut State University Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Haas Library
181 White St
Danbury 06810 USA US
203.837.8992
203.837.8322 (Fax)