History of the Nursery School

The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools

History of the Nursery School

[1]

In 1916, under the leadership of Mrs. Frank R. Lillie, a small group of women established what would later become the University of Chicago Nursery School. The school began informally when a group of mothers, wanting to participate in war work, found that they could take turns supervising each other's children and thus have time to help with the needs of World War I. For three months, this small group of women and young children met daily outside in Scammon Gardens. Then, as winter approached, the "school" found a home in Lexington Gymnasium, the University's women's gymnasium. The Board of Trustees of the University of Chicago supported the group by providing funds for equipment as well as heat, light and janitor service.

This cooperative care of children continued in Lexington Gymnasium until 1923 when the University needed the building for other purposes. At this time, gifts from Mrs. Lillie and funds from the University Trustees, Faculty, neighborhood friends, and those raised by the parents made possible the purchase of a three-story house at 5750 Woodlawn Avenue. In 1929, funding from Dr. Walter H.O. Hoffman and the University provided for the acquisition of the adjoining property at 5740 Woodlawn Avenue. The latter building was to be used both by the Nursery School for educational purposes and by the Department of Home Economics and Household Administration for research in child care and development. At this time in the United States the influence of John B. Watson and Sigmund Freud made popular the idea that the early years of childhood were highly formative ones. The Nursery School was hence seen as a useful resource center for the University.

The Nursery School was incorporated in 1923 as the University Cooperative Nursery School. The new Co-op was governed and financed by a Board of twenty-one directors. Mrs. David Stevens, an early leader of the Nursery School project, was the first Chairman of the Board. Mrs. Dunlap Clark, Mrs. Horace Horton, Mrs. Harrison Dobbs and Mrs. Louis L. Thurstone followed as subsequent Chairmen. In 1923 the first professional staff member was employed. Among the early teachers of the Co-op were Helen Tupper, Clare Lyden, Martha Hall, Margaret Gilbert and Marian Jacobson. In the years to follow, additional professionally trained staff members were hired to advise in the field of child care. Among these new employees were Dr. Lydia Jane Roberts, Dr. Walter H.O. Hoffman and Dr. Helen L. Koch. Dr. Lydia Jane Roberts, Chairman of the Department of Home Economics, advised on matters of nutrition from 1925, when she joined the board, until 1942, when she retired from her chairmanship. Dr. Walter H.O. Hoffman gave the Nursery School many years of medical counsel and service, in addition to his generous financial gifts. From 1929 to 1933, Dr. Helen L. Koch, member of the Departments of Home Economics and Psychology, advised on matters of child guidance. Then, from 1933 to 1949, she served as a general supervisor to the Nursery School and directed practice teaching and psychological studies. Despite its professional staff, however, the School remained a cooperative in that the mothers of the students served at least half a day a week as "teacher assistants".

"Among those serving in the School under Dr. Koch at different times were Mrs. Helen Tupper Burnett, Miss Martha Hall, Miss Mame Dentler, Dr. Catherine Landreth, and from 1938 to 1949 Miss Mary Elizabeth Keister. Mrs. Barbara Merrill was Principal from 1949 to 1952. In serving on the Illinois Commission to set standards for schools for preschool children, some of these people helped to institute [Illinois] state regulations. They also served on the Committee of the Community Chest which allotted funds to the charity nurseries. During [World War II] they held special classes for in-service training of Nursery School teachers and served on the Office of the Defense Committee which supervised and staffed the war nurseries and day care centers. The school provided training for a large number of foreign students, a service further enlarged by Dr. Helen Koch's counseling of nursery teachers in Germany in 1948. Many of the staff members were active in the National Association of Nursery Education, leading discussions, workshop and demonstration sessions. Barbara Merrill, while principal, was program chairman for the Midwestern Association of Nursery Education in 1952 and other staff members presented papers and gave lectures at these annual meetings."[2]

The School was renamed the University of Chicago Nursery School in 1938 when it was taken over by the University of Chicago. Many changes resulted from this takeover, three of which are the following. First, the administration of the School was placed in the hands of the Child Development Committee, later renamed the Committee on Human Development. Second, the Nursery School's buildings and equipment were donated to the University. Third, the Nursery School's staff was made up entirely of professionally trained personnel.[3] (Meaning Mothers' services were dispensed with.)

In 1943 the Nursery School was placed in the University of Chicago's Division of Sub-Collegiate Instruction, under the direction of Dr. Ralph W. Tyler. Dr. Tyler held this position until 1954 when the Director of the University's Board of Pre-Collegiate Education became the supervisor of both the Nursery School and the Laboratory Schools.[4] These two schools remained separate institutions until 1955, when the Nursery School became the third member of the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, following the University Elementary School (1896) and the University High School (1903).

Other significant dates for the Nursery School are as follows: Fall 1978-Full Day Program first offered; Fall 1980-first class in Blaine Hall offered; Fall 1983- first Nursery-Kindergarten class added; Fall 1991-Afternoon Class offered for first time since the 1949-50 school year.[5]

[1]information taken from (unless otherwise noted) 1)brochure entitled "The University of Chicago Nursery School: Formerly the University Cooperative Nursery School" (1945-46 school year); 2)interview with Dr. Helen L. Koch entitled "The History of the Nursery School" by Ida B. DePencier (1965) 3)report to the Board of Pre-Collegiate Education, from Frances Prindle (November 8, 1955)

[2]report to the Board of Pre-Collegiate Education, from Frances Prindle (November 8, 1955)

[3](red) brochure entitled "Nursery School at the University of Chicago" (19??)

[4](red) brochure entitled "Nursery School at the University of Chicago" (19??)

[5]from Peggy Bevington's notes (July 1992)