mnsss136 Headmistresses Association of the East Records, 1910-1983 Finding Aid Finding aid prepared by Susan Boone. Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College
Northampton, MA
2003

Smith College. All rights reserved.

 Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Brook Hopkins. 2003-07-01 Finding aid written in English. 2005-09-23 mnsss136 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02-5c.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Sophia Smith CollectionSmith College Headmistresses Association of the East Records, 1910-1983 Finding Aid MS 369 Susan Boone 1991 Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

© 2003 Smith College. All rights reserved.

 Collection Overview Headmistresses Association of the East Headmistresses Association of the East Records1910 - 1990 MS 369 20 boxes (9.25 linear ft.) Sophia Smith Collection
Smith College Northampton, MA
Professional organization. The purpose of this organization was to provide an opportunity for the furtherance of mutual acquaintance among heads of secondary or elementary schools for the exchange of ideas and advancement of standards. The collection provides insight into the educational and social philosophy of private education in America. Materials include correspondence, proceedings, membership applications, memoranda, and reports. English. 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.

 Organization of the Collection

This collection is organized into four series:

I. Organization II. Meetings III. Committees and Officers IV. Membership Information on Use Terms of Access and Use

With the exceptions of the Board of Directors minutes and the membership applications, both of which are closed for 40 years from the date of creation, all material is open according to the rules of the Sophia Smith Collection.

The Sophia Smith Collection owns copyright to the records of the Headmistresses Association of the East. Copyright to materials created by others may be owned by those individuals or their heirs or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Permission must be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use."

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

Headmistresses Association of the East Records, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.

 Additions to the Collection

Periodic additions to collection are expected.

History of the Collection

The records were donated in June 1990 through the efforts of Agathe Crouter, headmistress of the Hewitt School and Evelyn J. Halpert, headmistress of the Brearley School and president of the HMAE.

Processed by Susan Boone, 1991.

Recent additions to this collection are unprocessed and not reflected in the finding aid.

 Search Terms Headmistresses Association of the East--History--Sources Education--United States--History--20th century--Sources Private schools--United States--History--Sources School principals--Organizations--History--Sources Women--Education--United States--History--Sources SERIES I. ORGANIZATION (1910-1970) .12 linear feet

This series contains incorporation material (1910-14, 1944-54) and constitution and by-laws (1911-70).

 SERIES II. MEETINGS (1910-1980) 4.5 linear feet

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) 2 linear feet

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.

The committees are arranged alphabetically by title.

 SERIES IV. MEMBERSHIP (1914-1983) 3.5 linear feet

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.

The files are arranged alphabetically by school.

Membership applications less than 40 years old are CLOSED

 SERIES I. ORGANIZATION (1910-1970) 1 1 Incorporation material, 1910-14, 1944-54 1 2 Constitution and by-laws, 1911-70 SERIES II. MEETINGS (1910-1980)

This series is arranged chronologically.

 1 3-10 Board of Directors: minutes and agenda, 1911-77

Minutes less than 40 years old are CLOSED

 Annual and biennial meetings: proceedings, correspondence, printed material 2 1-12 1910-25 3 1-12 1926-37 4 1-10 1938-47 5 1-7 1948-54 6 1-5 1955-59 7 1-6 1960-65 8 1-4 1966-69 9 1-11 1970-80 SERIES III. COMMITTEES AND OFFICERS (1914-1972) Officers 10 1-4 President and Board of Directors: correspondence, memoranda, 1914-71 10 5 Secretary: duties, n.d. Treasurer 10 6-9 Annual financial audits, 1920-72 10 10 Correspondence, 1944-68 Committees 10 11 Instructions for chairmen, members, 1947, n.d. Academic Standards 10 12 Correspondence, reports, forms, 1934-40, n.d. 10 13 "The Educational Faith That I Hold," 1934 11 1 Administrative Problems: report, correspondence, 1937, 1942 11 2 Apprentice Teachers: reports, correspondence, 1937, n.d. 11 3 By-laws Revision: reports, correspondence, questionnaires, 1945-46, 1965, n.d. 11 4 College Board Delegate, 1921-28, 1957-59, 1972 11 5 Committee to Study Current Practices in Physical Education and Music: reports, n.d. 11 6 Fine Arts: reports, questionnaire, 1930-31 11 7 Forms (contracts): correspondence, forms, 1916-44 11 8 Information Blank: forms, reports, 1927-30 11 9 Insurance and Pension: correspondence, 1916 11 10 Irwin Memorial (SEE ALSO Relief of Unemployed Teachers Committee): correspondence, reports, 1915-18, 1939-70, n.d. 11 11 Joint Committee on Interchange of Teachers: correspondence, reports, 1922-45, n.d. 11 12 Mathematics Conference: correspondence, reports, 1933-43 Membership 12 1-6 Correspondence, 1919-1976, n.d. 12 7 Reports, miscellaneous, 1920-72, n.d. 13 1 Nominating: correspondence, miscellaneous, 1919, 1937-57 Professional Standards 13 2 Correspondence, 1937-71 13 3 Reports, questionnaires, forms, 1918-24 13 4 Public Issues: report, correspondence, 1918-24 13 5 Public Relations: memoranda, correspondence, 1937, 1947 13 6 Salaries, 1922-26 13 7 Scholarship (mathematics teachers): announcements, statistics, 1954-55, n.d. 13 8 Study on New Type Examinations in Mathematics: report, correspondence, 1928, n.d. 13 9 Relief of Unemployed Teachers: correspondence, reports, 1934-66 SERIES IV. MEMBERSHIP (1914-1983) 14 1 Abbot Academy, 1936-72 14 2 Agnes Irwin School, 1940-49, 1962 14 3 Albany Academy for Girls, 1927-42, 1966-70 14 4 Ashley Hall, 1939-50 14 5 Bancroft School, 1938-57 14 6 Barnard School for Girls, 1948-71 14 7 Beard's School, 1929-71 14 8 Beaver Country Day School, 1966-72 14 9 Bergen School, 1954-55 14 10 Berkeley Institute, 1947, 1969 14 11 Birch Wathen School, 1967 14 12 Bishop's School, 1954 14 13 Brearley, 1939-40 14 14 Brimmer and May School, 1942-81 14 15 Brookside School, 1967-73 14 16 Buckingham School, 1936-64 14 17 Buffalo Seminary, 1952-74 14 18 Calhoun School, 1918-69 14 19 Cathedral School of St. Mary, 1935-37 14 20 Charleton School, 1914 14 21 Chatham Hall, 1934-71 14 22 Chestnut Hill School, 1927-34 14 23 Columbia School, 1938-63 14 24 Concord Academy, 1940-63 14 25 Convent of the Sacred Heart, 1970-71 15 1 Dana Hall School, 1938-80 15 2 Day Prospect Hill School, 1960-63 15 3 Day School, 1947 15 4 Dwight School, 1961-71 15 5 Ellis School, 1971 15 6 Emma Willard School, 1942-74 15 7 Ethel Walker School, 1958, 1972 15 8 Ferry Hall, 1945 15 9 Foxcroft School, 1954-80 15 10 Fox Hollow School, 1970-71 15 11 Garrison Forrest School, 1929-61 15 12 Gill School, 1952-1963 15 13 Girls Latin School, 1930-45 15 14 Greens Farms Academy, 1972 15 15 Greenwich Academy, 1972 15 16 Greenwood School, 1938 15 17 Halsted School, 1942-68 15 18 Hammonasset School, 1972-73 16 1 Hannah More Academy, 1960 16 2 Hartridge School, 1952 16 3 Hewitt School, 1947-73 16 4 Hewlett School of East Islip, 1966-72 16 5 Holton Arms School, 1930-47 16 6 House in the Pines, 1919-44 16 7 Howard School for Girls, 1959-65 16 8 Kent Place School, 1926-53 16 9 Kimberley School, 1950-65 16 10 Kingswood School, 1936-50 16 11 Lankenau School, l960 16 12 Laurel School, 1929, 1962 16 13 Lenox School, 1919-58 16 14 Lincoln School, 1930-49, 1953 16 15 Louisville Collegiate School, 1939-49 16 16 Low-Heyward School, 1964 16 17 MacDuffie School for Girls, 1965-83 16 18 Madeira School, 1913-77 16 19 Maret School, 1950-52 16 20 Mary C. Wheeler School, 1954-55 16 21 Marymount School of New York, 1970-73 16 22 Masters School, 1923-71 17 1 Meadowbrook School, 1948-49 17 2 Milton Academy, 1928-50 17 3 Miss Fine's School, 1943-44 17 4 Miss Gill's School, 1947 17 5 Miss Hall's School, 1967 17 5 Miss Hewitt's Classes 17 6 Miss Porter's School, 1953-55 17 7 Moravian Seminary, 1951-68 17 8 Mount Vernon Seminary, 1938-69 17 9 Nashoba Country Day School , 1966-81 17 10 National Cathedral School, 1950-68 17 11 Nightingale-Bamford School, 1927-71 17 12 Northampton School for Girls, 1927-71 17 13 Northfield Mount Hermon School, 1962-80 17 14 Oldfields School, 1962 17 15 Oxford School, 1942-62 17 16 Phebe Anna Thorne School, 1928 17 17 Pingree School, 1966-74 17 18 Potomac School, 1939-75 18 1 Professional Children's School, 1948-60 18 2 Prospect Hill Country Day School, 1938-72 18 3 Prospect Hill School, 1937-51 18 4 Riverdale Country School, 1947, 1957 18 5 Rogers Hall, 1942-72 18 6 Roland Park Country School, 1950-75 18 7 Rosemary Hall, 1958-77 18 8 St. Agnes School Albany, NY, 1930-70 18 9 St. Agnes School, Alexandria, VA, 1951-77 18 10 St. Anne's School, 1952-73 18 11 St. Catherine's School, 1934-65 18 12 St. Hilda's School, 1954-55 18 13 St. John the Baptist School, 1950-72 19 1 St. Katherine's School, 1943 19 2 St. Margaret's School, Rappahonnock, VA, 1950-51 19 3 St. Margaret's School, Waterbury, CT, 1950-51 19 4 St. Mary's Hall, 1953-75 19 5 St. Mary's in the Mountains, 1946-59 19 6 St. Mary's School, 1960-72 19 7 St. Paul's School for Girls, 1975-76 19 8 St. Timothy's School, 1964 19 9 Salem Academy, 1962 19 10 Sandia School, 1941-42 19 11 Sanford Schools, 1964-75 19 12 Seven Hills School, 1971 19 13 Shady Hill School, 1927-63 19 14 Shipley School, 1913-75 19 15 Springside School, 1959-70 19 16 Stevens School, 1954-69 19 17 Stoneleigh-Burnham School, 1969-75 20 1 Storm King School, 1980 20 2 Stuart Hall, 1955-56, 1972 20 3 Tenacre School, 1944-45 20 4 Town School, 1970 20 5 Tudor Hall School, 1931-41 20 6 Vail-Deane School, 1942-65 20 7 Walnut Hill School, 1953-73 20 8 Westbridge School, 1954 20 9 Westover School, 1964-68 20 10 Williams School, 1978 20 11 Winchester-Thurston School, 1979 20 12 Winsor School, 1916-39 20 13 Wykeham Rise School, 1965-80