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The Subject Files series is an accumulation of material representing Studer's two primary interests: folklore and progressive education. Materials include notes, reprints, typescripts, news clippings, bound newspapers, journals, and writings of others. Of particular interest is a master's thesis by Marilyn Kimball entitled George Edwards: Catskill Folksinger. There is a typescript copy of "Merry Ditties: A Collection of Delectable Songs" from various traditional sources and a reprint of "Catskill Lockup Songs," both by Norman Cazden. Also located in this series is a copy of Herbert Haufrecht's "Woodland Serenade." There are three bound volumes of The New Student, a student run newspaper published and printed out of New York City during the 1920s and edited by Studer prior to his entering Columbia University.

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The Norman Studer Papers document his career as both an educator and ardent Catskill folklorist. The collection includes significant material relating to his work as director of the Downtown Community School in New York City and Camp Woodland in the Catskills.
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This subseries contains manuscript and typescript drafts, typescripts, notes, reprints, monographs, and a small amount of correspondence related to Studer's writing projects. Of interest are two typescript drafts of unpublished projects: Community Life and Woodland Story both of which are reflective pieces examining Studer's life and work at the Downtown Community School and Camp Woodland respectively. Please note that Studer published some Woodland Story chapters separately. For instance, "Folklore from a Valley that Died" (Chapter 9) was a standalone article in New York Folklore Quarterly in 1956. The standalone article "Yarns of a Catskill Woodsman" (Chapter 16) appeared in New York Folklore Quarterly in 1955. "Mike Todd's Story" (Chapter 11) later evolved into and was published as A Catskill Woodsman. A draft of Woodland Story's Chapter 17 entitled "Our Catskill Teachers" also appears as a section of a draft of Chapter 3. Therefore draft text is found in both files. This collection is missing later draft chapters of Woodland Story so there are gaps in the order.

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This series contains Norman Studer's curriculum vitae, a partial autobiography, a brief biography, memorial tributes, family photographs, family records, and correspondence. The correspondence has been identified by correspondent's name only when the volume or significance warrants such separation; however, the bulk of the correspondence is arranged chronologically. Notable correspondents include Pete and Toshi Seeger and David Dunaway, Seeger's biographer as well as a former Camp Woodland camper.

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Norman Studer was an educator and administrator at the Little Red School House and Elisabeth Irwin High School from the early 1930s until 1951. There is a relatively insignificant amount of material related to Studer's teaching activities, with the exception of a folder entitled "Slavery and the Negro Problem." The folder contains notes, bibliographies, and analyses of an educational unit Studer developed addressing the historical and cultural position of the "American Negro" in the late 1930s and early 1940s. The material documents Studer's early interest in the concept of American democracy and interracial relations, as well as his collaborative approach to the subject, which includes portions of student interviews revealing their attitudes toward African Americans, the Civil War and slavery. Also of interest is the folder entitled Our Voice, containing several copies of a student run publication featuring articles, prose, drama, poetry, and opinions of students at the Little Red School House.

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The Administration subseries documents the functions of the director, Board of Trustees, and staff of Camp Woodland as they relate to the operation of the Camp. Materials include annual reports, meeting minutes, correspondence, litigation, counselor in training handbooks, as well as documents related to the Larkin Committee and an investigation of Norman Studer and Camp Woodland for possible subversive activities and ties to the Communist Party. The annual reports provide fiscal summary data related to the operation of the Camp, including, but not limited to, tuition costs, expenditures, operating costs, tax liability, fixed assets and accumulated depreciation, and accumulated funds. These reports were prepared by certified public accountants and record the fiscal state of Camp Woodland in great detail. The folder entitled "Board of Director's Dispute" documents an effort by three of Camp Woodland's founders and Board members - Mrs. Ferber, Mrs. Sydney, and Mrs. Abramson - to separate themselves, legally and financially, from the Camp. It is unclear what precipitated the dispute, but ultimately, it appears there were philosophical differences as well as divergent financial interests.

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The Activities subseries consists primarily of publications, event announcements, writings, and art produced by campers, or counselors of Camp Woodland. Notable materials include copies of the Camp magazine, Neighbors; programs, announcements, news clippings, and correspondence related to the Folk Festival of the Catskills; ephemeral publications; and various creative writings. There also are materials about the Folk Museum.

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The Camp Woodland audio recordings may be one of the more significant components of the collection. While at Camp Woodland, Norman Studer recorded numerous oral histories of many of the indigenous Catskill residents as well as the annual Folk Festival of the Catskills. Studer was acutely aware that he was in a position to capture the ethnographic folk culture, music, and ecology of a fading era. In many instances, the tapes represent the only extant recordings and variations of a number of songs.

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The Activities subseries contains material produced by or involving the students of the Downtown Community School, as well as Norman Studer, beyond his administrative responsibilities. Materials include notes from field trips, graduation dramas, student writings, and Downtown Community School publications, the Downtowner and Scribbler. The Downtowner was an internally published periodical containing a calendar of events, an editorial from Studer, announcements, and student writings. The Scribbler differed in that it was solely composed of student writings from each grade level. This subseries is particularly strong in its representation of field trips sponsored by Studer, many of which were taken to the Catskill Mountains. The folders often include itineraries, curricular guides, local history and maps, as well as student reflections and drawings. Many of the Downtown Community School graduation dramas were predicated on the field trip experiences. Also of interest are a number of folders containing general student writings and drawings and a file on the successful 1965 efforts by the children to help save the historic Old Merchant's House in New York City from demolition.