Helen Parkhurst Asian Art Monographs

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 Excerpt of Professor Younger's unpublished autobiography, Some of My Life.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.