Research


New York State Commissioner of Education's Addresses, Press Releases, and Publications


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Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:
The series consists of outlines, drafts, and final copies of addresses, speeches, lectures, press releases, and proclamations by Spaulding as Commissioner of Education from 1946-1950. Most of these speeches were given as commencement addresses or before public or professional organizations. They address a variety of education-related topics, including: school district organization, school financing, adult education, school curricula, educating returning World War II and other matters of statewide or local concern.
Creator:
Title:
Commissioner of Education's addresses, press releases, and publications
Quantity:

1.5 cubic feet

Inclusive Dates:
1940-1956
Bulk Dates:
1946-1950
Series Number:
A2043
Sponsor:
This series' description was enhanced as part of the States' Impact on Federal Education Policy Project (SIFEPP), in February 2009. The New York Community Trust - Wallace Special Projects Fund provided funding for this project.

Arrangement

Chronological by date presented.

Administrative History

The office of Commissioner of Education was created in 1904 by the so-called Unification Act (Chapter 40) which established the State Education Department and replaced the Superintendent of Public Instruction and Secretary to the Board of Regents with the Commissioner. Since 1913 the Commissioner has also carried the title of President of the University of the State of New York, conferred by the Board of Regents.

Francis T. Spaulding was born in Ware, Massachusetts on November 23, 1896. He studied at Harvard University, earning his Ph.D. in education in 1926. He then became a member of the faculty of the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University, eventually becoming Dean of the school in 1940. While at Harvard, he directed numerous studies on secondary school education, including one for the New York State Board of Regents' Inquiry into the Character and Cost of Public Education. During World War II, Spaulding served as the chief of the Army Education branch of the Information and Education Division of the United States War Department. Spaulding was elected President of the University of the State of New York and Commissioner of Education by the New York State Board of Regents on November 15th, 1945, and took office on July 1, 1946.

Much of Spaulding's time as Commissioner of Education was devoted to dealing with the challenge of providing education for former soldiers returning from service in World War II. During his tenure, construction of facilities at state colleges and universities was greatly expanded, as were off-campus extension programs. In addition, he focused on increasing the number of teachers in the New York State school system, and on increasing the capacity of teachers colleges to increase the level of professionalism among its graduates. Furthermore, Spaulding was instrumental in drafting and enacting regulations for the implementation of the Feinberg Law barring people deemed to be "subversives" from employment in New York State public schools.

Spaulding died of a heart attack at his summer home in Center Harbor, N. H. on March 25, 1950.

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of outlines, drafts, and final copies of addresses, speeches, lectures, press releases, and proclamations by Francis T. Spaulding during his term as Commissioner of Education, 1946-1950. Some files contain more than one revised version of an address or memoranda relating to its revision. Most of these speeches were given as commencement addresses or before public or professional organizations. They are a source of department policy on a variety of education-related topics, including school district organization, school financing, adult education, school curricula, and other matters of statewide or local concern. In addition, they document education issues of national importance, such as civic education, the link between education and military preparedness, and the education of veterans of World War II. At the end of the series is: a portrait of Commissioner Spaulding; a file containing duplicate copies of addresses that apparently was sent to Commissioner James E. Allen circa 1956, and then added to this series; and printed memorials to Commissioner Spaulding.

Related Material

15080-7815080-78Series 15080-78 contains the subject files of Commissioner Francis T. Spaulding.

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.

Access Terms

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Detailed Description

Dates Contents Box

Accretion: A2043-77
1940 May-1949 January Miscellaneous Address Material 1
1946 June Graduation Address, Van Hornesville Central School, 6-24-46 1
1946 July Greetings to the Assembly of the National Education Association, Buffalo, 7-3-46 1
1946 April-July Guidance & School Administration, N.Y. State Counselors Association, Syracuse, 7-19-46 1
1946 July Letter of Greeting sent The Yorker, School Magazine of New York State Historical Association, 7-25-46 1
1946 July War-Time Training for Peace-Time Schools, Cornell University Summer Lecture Series, 7-31-46 1
1946 August Council of Teachers College Presidents, Remarks at Meeting, Aug. 6, 1946 1
1946 August The Role of the School Youth Commission Summer Institute, Albany, 8-16-46 1
1946 September Bulletin to the Schools, Sept. 1946 Message to the Schools 1
1946 September-October New York State Education, Sept. 1946, Greetings to the Teachers of New York State 1
1946 August New York State Community Service Council, Van Curler Hotel, Schenectady, Aug. 31, 1946, Introductory message at opening Assembly 1
1946 September New York State Committee Service Council - Broadcast with Great Britain, WGY, Sept. 1, 1946, "What is the Civic Responsibility of the Young Adult" 1
1946 September New York State Council of Retail Merchants, Saratoga Springs, Sept. 9, 1946, New York State Postwar Educational Program 1
1946 September Scholarship in the Secondary School Conference on the Future of Nuclear Science, Princeton Bicentennial, Sept. 23, 1946 1
1940 October-1946 September New York State Association of District Superintendents of Schools, Saranac Inn, Sept. 21, 1946 1
1946 September Council of Schools, Superintendents, Saranac Inn, Sept. 24, 1946 1
1946 October The Army as an Educator, Albany Torch Club, Oct. 7, 1946 1
1946 October Education Department Talk before Men's Group, Oct. 7, 1946 & Council of Women, Oct. 21, 1946 1
1946 October New York Association of State Teachers, College Faculties, Buffalo, Oct. 11, 1946 1
1946 October-November The School & Teacher, Inaugural Address Convocation, Oct. 17, 1946 1
1946 October The Council & the Department Conference on Rural Education, Albany, Oct. 17, 1946 1
1946 November The Education of a Business Man, City College of New York Educational Conference, November 22, 1946 1
1946 October New York State School Boards Association, Syracuse, Oct. 28, 1946 1
1946 November-1947 January Teachers in Present Crisis, House of Delegates, New York State Teachers Association, New York, Nov. 25, 1946 1
1946 November Need & Opportunity for Public Adult Education, Central High School of Needle Trades, New York City, Nov. 21, 1946 1
1946 December A Continuing Inquiry, Educational Research Association of New York State, Syracuse, Dec. 26, 1946 1
1946 December Principals Association & the State Education Department, New York State Association of the Secondary School Principals, Syracuse, Dec. 26, 1946 1
1946 December The Social Studies in the Postwar Educational Program New York State Council for the Social Studies, Syracuse, Dec. 27, 1946 1
1947 January Post-Secondary Education, American Association of University Women, Albany Branch, Jan. 23, 1947 1
1947 January New York State Congress of Parents & Teachers, Albany District, Broadcast over WABY, Jan. 30, 1947, re: emergency colleges 1
1947 February The Regents Inquiry & Postwar Education, Public Education Association, New York, Feb. 3, 1947 1
1947 February Post-Secondary Education & the Veteran, Rochester City Club, Feb. 8, 1947 1
1946 December Principals, Teachers & Community, New York State Association of Elementary Principals, Syracuse, Dec. 27, 1946 1
1947 March Obstacles to Education for Democracy, Bureau for Intercultural Education, New York 1
1947 May Accreditation of Service Experiences, American Council on Education, Washington, May 2, 1947 1
1947 April-May Dinner of John E. Wade, New York, May 15, 1947 1
1947 May-June The Professional Teacher, Frank Ellsworth, Spaulding Lecture, Yale University, May 23, 1947 1
1947 June New York State Agricultural & Technical Institute, Canton, Commencement exercises, June 6, 1947 1
1947 June State Teachers College, Oswego Commencement Address, June 9, 1947 1
1947 June How Much Education for Everybody, Schenectady Rotary Club, June 12, 1947 1
1947 June The College Graduate Faces the Future, Alfred University Commencement address, June 16, 1947 1
1947 June Pathways to Better Rural School Services 2
1947 May The Future of New York State College for Teachers, Chapter of American Association of University Professors, May 27, 1947 2
1947 September Men's Group, Education Department, Sept. 15, 1947 2
1947 September Message to the Schools, Bulletin to the Schools, Sept. 1947 2
1947 September New York Library Association, West Point, Sept. 17, 1947 2
1947 September Council of School Superintendents, Saranac Inn, Sept. 22, 1947 2
1947 September Educational Issues in New York State, 1947, Vocational Education Conference, Lake Placid Club, Sept. 28, 1947 2
1947 September-October Conference of Beginning Secondary Schools, Principals, Regents Room, Oct. 8, 1947 2
1947 September-October Chautauqua County Teachers Association, Jamestown, Oct. 3, 1947 (notes for address F.T.S. didn't give) 2
1947 October Financing Public Education in New York State, American Association of University Women, Albany, Oct. 8, 1947 2
1947 October The Crisis in Teaching: New York State View, New York State Teachers Association, Western Zone, Oct. 24, 1947; Southeastern Zone, Oct. 31, 1947 2
1947 October-November State Aid & Local Support in Financing the Public Schools, New York State School Boards Association, Syracuse, October 29, 1947 2
1947 November How Much Education for Everybody? Albany Kiwanis Club, November 14, 1947 2
1947 November Public Education Association, Buffalo, Nov. 17, 1947 2
1947 November American Agriculturist, Statement on 25th Anniversary 2
1947 November House of Delegates, New York State Teachers Association, Rochester, Nov. 24, 1947 2
1947 December New York State Freedom Exhibit in State Library, Dec. 4, 1947, Statement for Knickerbocker News, Albany 2
1947 December New York Times Statement, re: Educational Program of New York City, Dec. 9, 1947 2
1948 January Understanding the Department, Civil Service Employees Association, Education, Jan. 9, 1948 2
1948 January Thw New York State Teachers Salary Program, New York State Churchmen's Legislative Seminar, Jan. 20, 1948 2
1948 February Bird Day, Arbor & Wildlife Day, 1948 2
1948 April Rochester School Administrators Council, April 7, 1948, The Merit Increment Provisions of the New Salary Law 2
1948 April Schoolman's Week, University of Pennsylvania, April 14, 1948, The place and function of the State Superintendent of Schools and the State Department of Education 2
1948 April Albany's Rotary Club, the Fourth Branch of Government, April 23, 1948 2
1948 May Public Administration in Terms - The Organization and Operation of the State Department of Education at Albany, N.Y. 2
1948 May State Teachers College President 2
1948 May Albany's Schoolmen's Association, May 6, 1948, The Merit Increment Provision of the New Salary Law 2
1948 May State Historical Association Junior Members, May 8, 1948 2
1948 May Women's Needs and Women's College, Skidmore College, May 16, 1948 2
1948 May Plattsburgh Chamber of Commerce, May 24, 1948 2
1948 May Responsibility of Public Schools in Adult Education, N.Y. State Conference 2
1948 June What is to become of Small Colleges?, Bard College Commencement, June 12, 1948 2
1948 June Brooklyn College Commencement, Education for Everyone, June 15, 1948 2
1948 June New Education versus Old, Hannibal High School, June 28, 1948 3
1948 June Address at Commencement of N.Y. State Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences, Utica, June 29, 1948 3
1948 August The Place of Secondary Boarding School in American Education (Address given before 75th Anniversary of St. Mark's School) 3
1949 October Men's Group Luncheon, Oct. 3, 1949 3
1949 October Greetings from the University of the State of New York, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Convocation, Oct. 14, 1949 3
1949 September Council of School Superintendents, Saranac Inn, Sept. 26, 1949, Major Educational Needs: A Tentative definition 3
1949 May-September Council of School Superintendents, Saranac Inn, 1949, in honor of Arvie Eldred 3
1950 February-June Contemporary Living (Broadcase Feb. 4 and 7, 1950), "50 Years of Education", How Citizens Can Act to Help Their Schools 3
1950 February School District Centralization - Good or Bad, Association of Towns, Feb. 6, 1950 3
1956 March Spaulding, Francis T. 3
1946 October-1947 November Addresses and Papers - copies 3
1947 December Teacher - Rating and Salaries - Article by F.T.S. in Phi Delta Kappan - copies 3
1948 The Professional Teachers: Salaries and Standards in the Public Schools 3
1950 April In Memoriam... Francis Trow Spaulding 3
1950 April In Memoriam... Francis Trow Spaulding 3
1954 April Announcing... Francis T. Spaulding Memorial, with photograph 3
Negative of photograph of Francis T. Spaulding, Signature of James E. Allen, Jr. (note in folder: "Given to Museum") 3
1946 July-1956 May Papers Sent to Dr. Allen [Folder #1 of 2] 3
1947 May-1950 February Papers Sent to Dr. Allen [Folder #2 of 2] 3