Headmistresses Association of the East Records, 1910-1983
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Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Brook Hopkins. 2003-07-01
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Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Headmistresses Association of the East Records
Creation of Headmistresses Association of the East Records
Time of Creation of Headmistresses Association of the East Records
Headmistresses Association of the East
Biographical History for: Headmistresses Association of the East Records
Historical Note Section of letter to potential members of the newly-formed Headmistress's Association of the East, November 16, 1910 The Headmistresses Association of the East (HMAE) was founded in 1911 by a group of headmistresses of schools in the Boston, New York, and Philadelphia areas. Agnes Irwin, dean of Radcliffe College, was the first president, serving until her death in 1914. Membership is open to the heads of girls and co-educational schools in New England and in other states on the Atlantic seaboard. The purposes of the organization are "to provide an opportunity for the furtherance of mutual acquaintance among heads of secondary or elementary schools...for the interchange of ideas of common interest or looking toward the advancement of standards...[and to provide] assistance to any head or teacher, active or retired."
Scope and Contents of the Collection The Records of the Headmistresses Association of the East consist of 10 linear feet of correspondence, financial records, proceedings, membership applications, memoranda, and reports. They span the years 1910 to 1983, and provide a good record of the activities of the association as well as insight into the educational and social philosophy of private education in America. The most informative material is contained is the first three series. There were several by-laws issues regarding a name change to allow headmasters of girls' schools to become active members (the name of the organization remained the same, but the word "head" was substituted in the by-laws). The minutes, agenda, and proceedings contain a complete record of the private and public activities of the HMAE. Among the most important committee activities were the establishment of academic standards for member schools and professional standards for their faculty (especially salary guidelines). In addition the Academic Standards Committee in 1934 requested members to state their educational philosophy. The resulting set of essays, "The Educational Faith That I Hold," provides an interesting historical look at some individual educational philosophies. Through its Irwin Memorial Fund and its Relief of Unemployed Teachers Committee the organization helped needy members, especially in the years before Social Security and school-sponsored retirement programs.
Education--United States--History--20th century--Sources
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Private schools--United States--History--Sources
School principals--Organizations--History--Sources
Women--Education--United States--History--Sources
Headmistresses Association of the East--History--Sources
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series
SERIES I. ORGANIZATION (1910-1970)
This series contains incorporation material (1910-14, 1944-54) and constitution and by-laws (1911-70).
SERIES II. MEETINGS (1910-1980)
This series contains minutes and agenda of Board of Directors meetings (1911-77) and proceedings, correspondence, and printed material related to the association's annual and biennial meetings (1910-80).
SERIES III. COMMITTEES AND OFFICERS (1914-1972)
This series contains material related to the President and Board of Directors, Secretary, Treasurer, and twenty-two committees that have been active at various times between 1914 and 1972.
SERIES IV. MEMBERSHIP (1914-1983)
Although membership is personal rather than institutional, the association kept these records by school name. This series contains membership applications and related correspondence for applicants from 126 private schools. These files include supporting information such as personal recommendations, statistics and general information about the schools. There are also some school catalogs.
Membership applications less than 40 years old are CLOSED
Incorporation material, 1910-14, 1944-54
Constitution and by-laws, 1911-70
Board of Directors: minutes and agenda, 1911-77
Minutes less than 40 years old are CLOSED
Annual and biennial meetings: proceedings, correspondence, printed material
Officers
President and Board of Directors: correspondence, memoranda, 1914-71
Secretary: duties, n.d.
Treasurer
Annual financial audits, 1920-72
Correspondence, 1944-68
Committees
Instructions for chairmen, members, 1947, n.d.
Academic Standards
Correspondence, reports, forms, 1934-40, n.d.
"The Educational Faith That I Hold," 1934
Administrative Problems: report, correspondence, 1937, 1942
Apprentice Teachers: reports, correspondence, 1937, n.d.
By-laws Revision: reports, correspondence, questionnaires, 1945-46, 1965, n.d.
College Board Delegate, 1921-28, 1957-59, 1972
Committee to Study Current Practices in Physical Education and Music: reports, n.d.
Fine Arts: reports, questionnaire, 1930-31
Forms (contracts): correspondence, forms, 1916-44
Information Blank: forms, reports, 1927-30
Insurance and Pension: correspondence, 1916
Irwin Memorial (SEE ALSO Relief of Unemployed Teachers Committee): correspondence, reports, 1915-18, 1939-70, n.d.
Joint Committee on Interchange of Teachers: correspondence, reports, 1922-45, n.d.
Mathematics Conference: correspondence, reports, 1933-43
Membership
Correspondence, 1919-1976, n.d.
Reports, miscellaneous, 1920-72, n.d.
Nominating: correspondence, miscellaneous, 1919, 1937-57
Professional Standards
Correspondence, 1937-71
Reports, questionnaires, forms, 1918-24
Public Issues: report, correspondence, 1918-24
Public Relations: memoranda, correspondence, 1937, 1947
Salaries, 1922-26
Scholarship (mathematics teachers): announcements, statistics, 1954-55, n.d.
Study on New Type Examinations in Mathematics: report, correspondence, 1928, n.d.
Relief of Unemployed Teachers: correspondence, reports, 1934-66
Abbot Academy, 1936-72
Agnes Irwin School, 1940-49, 1962
Albany Academy for Girls, 1927-42, 1966-70
Ashley Hall, 1939-50
Bancroft School, 1938-57
Barnard School for Girls, 1948-71
Beard's School, 1929-71
Beaver Country Day School, 1966-72
Bergen School, 1954-55
Berkeley Institute, 1947, 1969
Birch Wathen School, 1967
Bishop's School, 1954
Brearley, 1939-40
Brimmer and May School, 1942-81
Brookside School, 1967-73
Buckingham School, 1936-64
Buffalo Seminary, 1952-74
Calhoun School, 1918-69
Cathedral School of St. Mary, 1935-37
Charleton School, 1914
Chatham Hall, 1934-71
Chestnut Hill School, 1927-34
Columbia School, 1938-63
Concord Academy, 1940-63
Convent of the Sacred Heart, 1970-71
Dana Hall School, 1938-80
Day Prospect Hill School, 1960-63
Day School, 1947
Dwight School, 1961-71
Ellis School, 1971
Emma Willard School, 1942-74
Ethel Walker School, 1958, 1972
Ferry Hall, 1945
Foxcroft School, 1954-80
Fox Hollow School, 1970-71
Garrison Forrest School, 1929-61
Gill School, 1952-1963
Girls Latin School, 1930-45
Greens Farms Academy, 1972
Greenwich Academy, 1972
Greenwood School, 1938
Halsted School, 1942-68
Hammonasset School, 1972-73
Hannah More Academy, 1960
Hartridge School, 1952
Hewitt School, 1947-73
Hewlett School of East Islip, 1966-72
Holton Arms School, 1930-47
House in the Pines, 1919-44
Howard School for Girls, 1959-65
Kent Place School, 1926-53
Kimberley School, 1950-65
Kingswood School, 1936-50
Lankenau School, l960
Laurel School, 1929, 1962
Lenox School, 1919-58
Lincoln School, 1930-49, 1953
Louisville Collegiate School, 1939-49
Low-Heyward School, 1964
MacDuffie School for Girls, 1965-83
Madeira School, 1913-77
Maret School, 1950-52
Mary C. Wheeler School, 1954-55
Marymount School of New York, 1970-73
Masters School, 1923-71
Meadowbrook School, 1948-49
Milton Academy, 1928-50
Miss Fine's School, 1943-44
Miss Gill's School, 1947
Miss Hall's School, 1967
Miss Hewitt's Classes
Miss Porter's School, 1953-55
Moravian Seminary, 1951-68
Mount Vernon Seminary, 1938-69
Nashoba Country Day School , 1966-81
National Cathedral School, 1950-68
Nightingale-Bamford School, 1927-71
Northampton School for Girls, 1927-71
Northfield Mount Hermon School, 1962-80
Oldfields School, 1962
Oxford School, 1942-62
Phebe Anna Thorne School, 1928
Pingree School, 1966-74
Potomac School, 1939-75
Professional Children's School, 1948-60
Prospect Hill Country Day School, 1938-72
Prospect Hill School, 1937-51
Riverdale Country School, 1947, 1957
Rogers Hall, 1942-72
Roland Park Country School, 1950-75
Rosemary Hall, 1958-77
St. Agnes School Albany, NY, 1930-70
St. Agnes School, Alexandria, VA, 1951-77
St. Anne's School, 1952-73
St. Catherine's School, 1934-65
St. Hilda's School, 1954-55
St. John the Baptist School, 1950-72
St. Katherine's School, 1943
St. Margaret's School, Rappahonnock, VA, 1950-51
St. Margaret's School, Waterbury, CT, 1950-51
St. Mary's Hall, 1953-75
St. Mary's in the Mountains, 1946-59
St. Mary's School, 1960-72
St. Paul's School for Girls, 1975-76
St. Timothy's School, 1964
Salem Academy, 1962
Sandia School, 1941-42
Sanford Schools, 1964-75
Seven Hills School, 1971
Shady Hill School, 1927-63
Shipley School, 1913-75
Springside School, 1959-70
Stevens School, 1954-69
Stoneleigh-Burnham School, 1969-75
Storm King School, 1980
Stuart Hall, 1955-56, 1972
Tenacre School, 1944-45
Town School, 1970
Tudor Hall School, 1931-41
Vail-Deane School, 1942-65
Walnut Hill School, 1953-73
Westbridge School, 1954
Westover School, 1964-68
Williams School, 1978
Winchester-Thurston School, 1979
Winsor School, 1916-39
Wykeham Rise School, 1965-80