Norman Studer papers,
- Author:
- Studer, Norman.
- Call Number:
- MSS APAP-116 local
- Abstract:
- Papers of Norman Studer, educator, folklorist, and writer. The papers primarily document Studer's activities as an educator at the Little Red School House and Elisabeth Irwin High School, an educator and administrator at the Downtown Community School, founder and Director of Camp Woodland, and his various writing projects. The papers reflect Studer's two principal life-long interests: progressive education and folklore. The collection is particularly strong in its representation of Catskill folklore and folk music, including manuscript material, photographs, reel-to-reel audio recordings, and 16mm movies documenting interviews with indigenous Catskill informants, folk festivals, and life at Camp Woodland. The inclusive dates of the collection are 1817-1988, with the bulk of the material dating 1952-1978.
- Historical Note:
- Norman Studer, educator, folklorist, author, was born in Whitehouse, Ohio on September 7, 1902. Studer completed his A.B. in History at Columbia University in 1929. He continued his studies at Columbia earning an A.M in Political Science in 1931. Studer taught at the Little Red School House, a cooperative, experimental school founded by Elisabeth Irwin, located in lower Manhattan. Studer chaired the committee founding the Elisabeth Irwin High School, and worked there as both teacher and administrator. Studer co-founded Camp Woodland in Phoenicia, New York. Camp Woodland strove to create a democratic environment where children of varying religions, socioeconomic, and ethnic backgrounds from the New York City area could steep in the rich ecology of the Catskill region for two months each summer. In 1951 Studer became director of the Downtown Community School in lower Manhattan. The Downtown Community School was a progressive, cooperative, racially integrated school, founded in 1944 by a group of parents and educators. As Director, Studer attempted to create a curriculum that was aimed at promoting a healthy concept of self, an understanding of human society and a feeling of identity with people and culture. To that end, Studer brought many of the ideas and philosophies of the Little Red School House/Elisabeth Irwin High School and Camp Woodland to the Downtown Community School, particularly his interest in ethnic studies, folklore, field trips, and racial integration. Studer was the author of numerous articles, two books, and one poem, related to folklore and education. Norman Studer died October 27, 1978.
- Physical Description:
- 22 cu. ft
- Access Terms:
- Access to the collection is unrestricted.
- Notes:
- Part of the Archives of Public Affairs and Policy Collection. local
- Subjects:
- Progressive education New York (State), Camps New York (State), Folklore New York (State), Folk music New York (State) Catskill Mountains, Folk drama, Folk festivals New York (State), Camps, Folk drama, Folk festivals, Folk music, Folklore, and Progressive education
- Genres/Forms:
- Minutes. aat, Diaries. aat, Photographs. aat, Sound Recordings. aat, Motion pictures (visual works) aat, Litigation. aat, Manuscripts. aat, Correspondence. aat, Annual reports. aat, Reprints. aat, Clippings. aat, and Folklore
- Names:
- Edwards, George, Rogers, Grant, 1907-1979, Siemsen, Harry, Van Kleeck, George, Van Wagner, Etson, Yale, Marvin, and Siemsen, Harry
- Corporate Names:
- Little Red School House, Elisabeth Irwin High School, Downtown Community School, Camp Hilltop, Camp Woodland, and State University of New York at New Paltz. Carl Cramer Center for Catskill Mountain and Hudson River Studies
- Geographic Terms:
- Catskill Mountains (N.Y.) Folklore, New York (State), and New York (State) Catskill Mountains
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