Alexander N. Charters Paper 1939-1991

The Adult Education History Project

Based on Information in the Syracuse University Library Archives

Translated for the WWW by Roger Hiemstra

ALEXANDER N. CHARTERS

Alexander N. Charters was born on August 22, 1916 in

Verdant Valley, Alberta, Canada. He earned a B.A. in history and

English from the University of British Colombia (1938) and a Ph.D

in adult education from the University of Chicago (1948). At the

University of Chicago he studied under Cyril O. Houle. His

interest in adult education was encouraged by his aunt and uncle,

Jessie and W. W.(Wallace) Charters, . both of whom were active

in the field. It was during his service in the Canadian Navy that

reading material provided by his aunt and uncle sparked his

interest in adult education. When Dr. Charters decided that he

wanted to attend graduate school, he discussed career

possibilities with his Uncle Wallace. Dr. Charters began his

career in the field of adult education in 1948 when he was

appointed Assistant to the Dean of University College at Syracuse

University. Since that time he has served Syracuse University as:

Assistant Dean of University College (1950-1952)

Assistant Professor of Adult Education (1950-1954)

Head/Director of Library of Continuing Education [LCE] (1950-

1965)

Chairman Adult Education, School of Education (1950-1980)

Dean of University College (1952-1964)

Associate Professor of Adult Education (1954-1959)

Professor of Adult Education (1959-1983)

Vice President for Continuing Education (1964-1973)

Head/Editor, Syracuse University Publications in Continuing

Education [SUPCE] (1964-1983)

Director/Head, Syracuse University Resources in Continuing

Education [SUREA] (1965-1983)

During his tenure at Syracuse University, Dr. Charters was

instrumental in facilitating the establishment of the Adult and

Continuing Education Research Collection housed in the George

Arents Research Library, E.S. Bird Library, Syracuse University,

Syracuse, New York. The collection is considered the largest

English-language adult and continuing education archives in the

world.

Charters has been involved in community activities

including: the Council on Aging; the Metropolitan Syracuse

Committee on Adult and Continuing Education; Urban League and the

Thursday Morning Roundtable. He has been a long standing member

of Rotary and an active member of Park Central Presbyterian

Church, Syracuse, New York.

Dr. Charter has participated in and provided leadership to

national adult education organizations including:

ACHE Association for Continuing Higher Education

(president, vice president)

CAEO Coalition of Adult Education Organizations (chair)

CPAE Commission of Professors of Adult Education

CSLEA Center for the Study of Liberal Education for

Adults (board member, chairman, secretary)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

UCEPR University Concil on Education for Public

Responsibility (chair)

Galaxy Conference (chair)

United States National Commission on UNESCO (steering committee)

He has been involved with international organizations including:

the following:

CSRCAE Committee for the Study and Research in Comparative

Adult Education (1st chair)

ICAE International Conference on Adult Education (board,

documentation chairman)

ICUAE International Congress of University Adult Education

(executive committee)

UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization

WCOTP World Confederation of Organizations of the Teaching

Profession

Throughout his career Dr Charters has attended and provided

leadership for numerous international conferences including those

sponsored by the following organizations:

ICAE in Tanzania (1976); Buenos Aires (1985); Bangkok (1990)

ICUAE in Denmark (1965); Montreal (1970) Accra, Ghana (1976)

UNESCO in Sydney (1964); Geneva, (1972); Tokyo (1972); Paris

(1985);

Since his retirement in 1983 Dr. Charters has maintained a

leadership role in adult education organizations, including

presentations at: ACHE (1989), at the University of Jerusalem and

in Leningrad, USSR (1990). Charters has been involved in the

planning committee of the CSRCAE World Conference on Comparative

Adult Education to be held in Ibadan, Nigeria in 1991.

Alexander Charters has served as a consultant to Middle

States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools [MSA],

Universidad Simon Rodriquez (Caracas, Venezuela), Kingsborough

Community College (New York) and Zimbabwe Distance Education

College. He has authored numerous articles on adult education

including many dealing particularly with comparative adult

education. He has been honored with, among others, the Bittner

Award (NUEA), the Pioneer Award (AEA/USA), the William Pearson

Tolley Award for Distinguished Leadership in Adult Education

(Syracuse University). Upon his retirement from Syracuse

University in 1983 he was honored with the title Professor

Emeritus.
THE ALEXANDER N. CHARTERS PAPERS

Arrangement

The material contained in the Alexander N. Charters Papers

relates to both his personnal life and his relationship with

various adult education organizations. The material reflects his

professional involvement with adult education organizations and

their committees, conferences, and meetings. The inclusive dates

of the collection are 1939-1991, bulk dates are 1955-1980.

The collection is organized in alphabetical order, with adult

education organizations filed by acronym preceding individual

folder titles. For example:

AAACE American Association for Adult and Continuing Education

ACHE Association for Continuing Education

AEA/USAAdult Education Association of the U. S. A.

Accessibility to Resources for Educators of Adults." May 1977

Aker, George F. 1974

Associations for Higher Education. 1965-1966 (2 folders)

Dr. Charters has been an active member and served in leadership

capacities of many organizations in the field of adult education.

Material of length and substance will be found on the following

organizations:

ACHE - Association for Continuing Higher Education

AEA/USA - Adult Education Association/United States of America

AEAC - Adult Education Action Council

AFCE - American Foundation for Continuing Education

AUEC - Association of University Evening Colleges

CAEO - Coalition of Adult Education Organizations

CPAE - Commission of Professors of Adult Education

CSLEA - Center for the Study of Liberal Education for Adults

CSRCAE - Committee for the Study and Research in Comparative

Adult Education

ERIC - Educational Resources (Research)Information Center

FAE - Fund for Adult Education

ICAE - International Conference for Adult Education

ICUAE - International Congress of University Adult Education

LLI - Laubach Literacy Incorporated

MSA - Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

NUEA - National University Extension Association

The collection includes the following types of material:

Correspondence: General correspondence is filed chronologically,

correspondence related to specific individuals is filed

alphabetically, in general A-Z folders and in some instances

under individual names. The order of filing is: Chronological,

general A-Z and individual names. Correspondence may also be

found in organizational and individual names files.

Directories: Directories are filed under Directories and under

various adult education organizations and includes names of

individuals in the adult education field.

Memos: Memos which were sent by Dr. Charters to the School of

Education, Syracuse University from 1972-1979, they are filed in

numerical order.

Microfiche: Microfiche is filed in alphabetical order by title

and includes material produced by Alexander N. Charters;

Resources for Educators of Adults: and Syracuse University.

Minutes: Minutes are included under the various organizations.

Photographs: Photographs include both personal and those related

to adult education.

Reports: Organizational reports are found under the organization.

Writings: Writings by Alexander N. Charters are primarily listed

in HISTORICAL AND RESEARCH MATERIALS RELATED TO ADULT AND

CONTINUING EDUCATION prepared by Jane B. Frost. Materials listed

in this guide are filed in the order set forth by Mrs. Frost and

are in boxes 46-49 of the collection.

The collection also includes various newsletters, notes,

proposals and speeches.

More information on Alexander N. Charters may be found in the

following collections housed at Syracuse University.

Adult Education Association of the U.S.A. [AEA\USA]

American Foundation for Continuing Education [AFCE]

Association of University Evening Colleges [AUEC]

Center for the Study of Liberal Education for Adults [CSLEA]

Coalition of Adult Education Organizations [CAEO]

Commission of Professors of Adult Education [CPAE]

Educational Resources Information Center [ERIC]

Fund for Adult Education [FAE]

Galaxy Conference of Adult Education Associations

International Congress of University Adult Education [ICUAE]

Laubach Literacy International [LLI]

National University Extension Association [NUAE]

University Council on Education for Public Resposibility [UCEPR]

In the Syracuse University Archives information may be found

under the following headings:

Bureau of School Services. 1964-1973

Clearinghouse of Resources for Educators of Adults [CREA]. 1975-

1979

Dean of University College. 1952-1964

Division of Summer Session; Division of International Programs

Abroad [DIPA]. 1964-1973

East European Language Program. 1964-1967

School of Education. 1964-1985

Syracuse University Publications in Continuing Education [SUPCE].

1964-1985

Syracuse University Resources for Educators of Adults [SUREA].

1965-1985

University College. 1948-1954, 1964-1973

Vice President for Continuing Education 1964-1974
ACRONYMS USED IN THE

ALEXANDER N. CHARTERS COLLECTION

AAACE American Association for Adult and Continuing

Education

AAEA African Adult Education Association

AAHE American Association of Higher Education

AAUP American Association of University Professors

ABC Automated Beverage Control

ABE Adult Basic Education.

ACE American Council on Education

ACHE Association for Continuing Higher Education

ADELL Adult Education and Life Long Learning

AEA\USA Adult Education Association / United States of

America

AEAC Adult Education Action Council

AED Academy for Educational Development

AEP Adult Education Program

AERC Adult Education Research Committee

AFCE American Foundation for Continuing Education

AFPE American Foundation for Political Education

ALA American Library Association

AMA American Management Association

ARCAE Associated Resource Center in Adult Education

ASPA Adult Student Personnel Association

ASPBAE Asian South Pacific Bureau of Adult Education

AUEC Association of University Evening Colleges

AUUP American Association of University Professors

CAAE Canadian Association for Adult Education

CACE Council of Associates for Continuing Education

CAEO Coalition of Adult Education Organizations

CAETA Commonwealth Association for Continuing Higher

Education

CAO Council of Affiliated Organizations

CASAE/ACEEA Canadian Association for the Study of Adult

Education/L'association Canadienne Pour L'etude

de L'education de Adults.

CATV Community Antenna Television

CAUCE/AEPUC Canadian Association University Continuing

Education/Association L'education Permanente

dans les Universities du Canada.

CCE Council on Continuing Education

CEDE Centro Europe Dell'Educazione

CEEA Continuing Education for Educators of Adults.

CEEB College Entrance Examinatin Board.

CEHM Continuing Education for Health Manpower.

CESE Comparative Education Society in Europe

CHE Commission of Higher Education

CIES Comparative and International Education Society

CNY/T&T Central New York/ Trinidad and Tobago

CPAE Commission of Professors of Adult Education

CREA Clearinghouse of Resources for Educators of Adults

CSAE Center for the Study of Adult Education

CSLEA Center for the Study of Liberal Education for Adults

CSRCAE Committee for the Study and Research in Comparative

Adult Education

DIPA Division of International Programs Abroad

EPRC Educational Policy Research Center

ERIC Education Research Information Center

ERIC/AE Educational Resources Information Center/Adult

Education

ERIE Eastern Regional Institute for Education

ETS Educational Teaching Service

FACS Foreign and Comparative Studies

FAE Fund for Adult Education

FIDEA Federation Internacionale De L'education des Adults

GARL George Arents Research Library

ICAE International Conference for Adult Education

ICAUE International Congress of University Adult Education

ICCE International Council of Correspondence Education

ICED International Council for Educational Development

ICIT Instructional Center on Instructional Technology

ICUAE International Congress of University Adult Education

IIALM International Institute for Adult Literacy Methods

IIC International Intercultural Center

IMDD International Management Development Department

IPA International Platform Association

KCC(CUNY) Kingsborough Community College (City University of

New York)

LCE Library of Continuing Education

LLI Laubach Literacy International

METRO Metropolitan Committee on Adult and Continuing

Education

MIDNY Cooperative Extension Mid New York Project

MOBRAL Ministerio da educacioe cultura movimento brasiliero

de alfabetizacao

MSA Middle States Associaiton of Colleges and Schools

NABAE National Association of Black Adult Educators

NACAE National Advisory Conference on Adult Education

NACAE North American Conference on Vocational Education

NACCE National Advisory Council on Continuing Education

NACECE National Advisory Council on Extension and Continuing

Education

NACVE National Advisory Council on Vocational Education

NAPCAE National Association for Public Continuing Education

NCAE National Community Education Association

NCEA National Community Education for Adults.

NCSIE National Council of States Inservice Education

NDEA National Defense Education Act.

NEA National Education Association

NEH National Endowment for the Humanities

NGO Non-Government Organizations

NIACE National Institution of Adult Continuing Education

(England and Wales)

NIAE National Institute for Adult Education

NOAE National Organization for Adult Education

NORCECA North America, Central America and Caribbean

NUCEA National University Continuing Education Association

NUEA National University Extension Association

NYACCE New York Association for Continuing \ Community

Education, Inc.

NYAEC New York Adult Education Council

NYSACCHE New York State Advisory Council on Continuing Higher

Education.

NYSED New York State Education Department

OCDE Organization de Cooperation e de Development

Economique

OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

OEF Overseas Education Fund

PC\USA Presbyterian Church U.S.A.

RLS Regional Learning Service

SAGE State Association of Gerontoloy Educators

SCUTREA Standing Conference on University Teaching and

Research in the Education of Adults

SED Department of Education (New York)

SU Syracuse University

SUIAE Syracuse University Institute for Adult Education

SUNY State University of New York

SUPCE Syracuse University Publications in Continuing

Education

SURC Syracuse University Research Center (Educational

Policy Research Center)

SUREA Syracuse University Resources for Educators of Adults

TAP Teachers of Adults Program

UCEPR University Council on Education for Public

Responsibility

UNA\CNY United Nations Association of Central New York

UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization

US/HEW United States Department of Health, Education and

Welfare

USR Simon Rodriguez University

WCOTP World Confederation of Organizations of the Teaching

Profession

YMCA Young Men's Christian Association

ZDECO Zimbabwe Distance Education College
Alexander N. Charters Collection

Box 1

AAACE [American Association for Adult and Continuing

Education]. 1979-1988 (2 folders)

AAEA [African Adult Education Association]. 1973

AAHE [American Association for Higher Education]. 1967-1971

AAUP [American Association of University Professors]. 1977-

1978

ABC [Automated Beverage Control].

1979-1982

"An Automated Management Information System for

Marine Corps Clubs and Recreation."

Unsolicited Proposal. 1980

Lill, Kenneth. 1979-1981

Miscellaneous. c. 1980

Resumes.

ABE [Adult Basic Education]. Dekalb, Illinois.

1973

Literature Search

ACE [American Council on Education].

Correspondence. 1965-1968 (2 folders)

"Fact Book on Higher Education". 1970

ACHE [Association for Continuing Higher Education].

1970-1989 (8 folders)

Committees. 1988-1989

AEA\USA [Adult Education Association of the U.S.A.].

1971-1979 (3 folders)

Acceptances. 1971

Box 2

AEA\USA (continued)

Annual Conferences, 1952-1955 (4 folders)

Correspondence and Memos. 1955-1958 (3 folders)

Delegate Assembly. 1966-1967

Handbook Series In Adult Education.

1975-1980 (2 folders)

Correspondence. 1975-1980 (2 folders)

Kroll, Joachim. 1975-1980

Miscellaneous. 1975-1980

Public Relations Education. 1950-1951

AEAC [Adult Education Action Council].

1970-1971 (2 folders)

Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws. 1970, 1973 (2

folders)

Calling cards

Contributors. 1972

Correspondence. 1970-1974 (4 folders)

Future Directions. 1971-1972

Meetings. 1970-1972

Minutes. 1970-1972

Box 2 (continued)

Promotions.

White House Conference on Aging. 1971

AEP [Adult Education Programs]. 1982

Box 3

AERC [Adult Education Research Conference].

1977-1982

Meetings. 1973-1977

"Processes for Determining Educational Needs of

Adults" by William D. Dowling and Douglas H.

Smith. 1978 (2 folders)

AFCE [American Foundation for Continuing Education].

1968-1973

"Arms and Foreign Policy in the Nuclear Age." 1972

(3 folders)

Board of Directors. Minutes. Oct. 1963-May 1983 (4

folders)

Copyright transfers. 1959-1964

Financial Records. 1967-1971

History

Inventory and Sales. 1969-1970

Permissions. 1960-1970 (3 folders)

Tax Return. 1971-1973

Transfer to Syracuse University. 1969

AFCE \ AFPE [American Foundation for Continuing Education \

American Foundation for Political Education]

Contracts. 1961-1966

ALA [American Library Association] - Arlie House Conference

Box 4

ARCAE [Associated Research Centers in Adult Education].

1983-1988 (2 folders)

ASPA [Adult Student Personnel Association]. 1973

AUEC [Association of University Evening Colleges].

1947-1951, 1961-1967 (6 folders)

Brochures, Correspondence. 1953-1974

Convention. Buffalo. Oct. 30-Nov.3, 1966

Correspondence. 1951-1957 (3 folders)

General. 1953-1954, 1956-1960 (2 folders)

General newsletter information. 1955-1956 (2

folders)

Papers. 1960-1961

Proceedings. 1964-1965

Reports. 1959-1960, 1963

AUEC \ NUEC [Association of University Evening Classes

\National University Extension Association].

1955, 1960-1962 (3 folders)

Committees. 1956-1958 (3 folders)
Box 5

"Abstracts of Dissertations and Thesis: Syracuse University

Graduates in Adult Education." Oct. 1979

Academic Planning Study. May 1967

Academy for Educational Development. 1981-1989

"Accessibility to Resources for Educators of Adults." May

1977

"Acquisitions List Clearinghouse of Resources for Educators

of Adults: by Descriptive Subject Headings." with Donald

P. Holmwood. June 1978.

Adams, Felix.

"Adult and Continuing Education Collection at Syracuse

University"

Adult Education Associations. 1963-1964

Adult Education Associations. Directory. 1965

"Adult Education Collection at Syracuse University." 1989 (3

folders)

Adult Education Collections. 1972

Adult Education Collections at Syracuse University. 1985-1989

Adult Education Courses at Syracuse University. Outlines.

1973- 1974

Adult Education in American Society, draft 1. 1974

Adult Education in American Society, draft 3. April 1974

Adult Education in American Society, final draft. April 1974

Adult Education in the Public School

Adult Education in the United States of America. Jan. 7, 1964

Adult Education Masters' Thesis and Doctoral Dissertations -

On Microfilm - In Syracuse University Libraries. June 1977

Adult Education Peace Network. 1988

Adult Education Response to Selected Crisis Situations in the

United States of America. April 1990

Adult Education Staff Development Project. Region III. 1972-

1973

Adult Education Students at Syracuse University.

Adult Education Task Force. 1963

Adult Education 203 - Lectures. Feb. 8 - Apr. 20, 1966 (2

folders)

Adult Education Worldwide. 1977

"Adult Education World-wide - Revisited. 1989

Africa tour. 1976

"Aids to Access Resources for Educators of Adults." Feb. 1978

Aker, George F. 1974

Alumni Education. 1961-1963

American Universities in Transition & the New Role of Adult

Education. William P. Tolley. 1967

Ampene, Kwasi. 1977

Box 6

"Analysis of Comparative Adult Education Resources With

Annotated Guide. 1988 (2 folders)

"Analysis of Comparative Adult Education Resources With

Annotated Guide. Correspondence. 1988

Andrews, Michael F. "