Center for the Study of Liberal Education for Adults Records 1951-1969

The Adult Education History Project

Based on Information in the Syracuse University Library Archives

Translated for the WWW by Roger Hiemstra

- Item_Number-

50

Record_type-

Collection

RLIN_ID-

NXSV428-A.

Main_entry-

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

Title-

Records, 1951-1969.

KLARS_source-

Phys_descrip-

45.5 linear ft.

Strategy_hints-

See also the following collections at Syracuse University:

Association of University Evening Colleges [AUEC].

Charters, Alexander N.

Fund for Adult Education [FAE].

Houle, Cyril Orvin.

International Congress of University Adult Education [ICUAE].

Liveright, Alexander Albert.

National University Extension Association [NUEA].

Parkinson, George.

Sheats, Paul H.

Bio/hist_note-

Established by a grant from the Fund for Adult Education [FAE] in 1951, the Center for the Study of Liberal Education for Adults [CSLEA] worked with universities seeking to initiate or to improve adult education programs. Its purpose was to help American higher education develop greater effectiveness and a deeper sense of responsibility for the liberal education of adults. It's purpose was fulfilled through projects, consultations, publications (e.g. Notes and Essays, Reports, Research Reports, and Occasional Papers) and a newsletter, Continuing Education for Adults, and a clearinghouse on adult education information. CSLEA's first headquarters was on the University of Chicago campus. In 1964, the Center became affiliated with Boston University [BU] which was the Center's home until its demise in 1968. During its tenure the center had three directors: John Simeon Diekhoff (1952-1953), John B. Schwertman (1953-1956) and Alexander Albert Liveright (1956-1968).

Summry_descrip-

The records are arranged into five series; correspondence, organizational files, publication files, writings, and miscellany. The collection contains correspondence and printed material (dittoes and mimeographs) which represents the bulk of the material in addition to published material, periodical and newspaper clippings, some computer print-outs, galley proofs, typescript copy of material published by the Center for the Study of Liberal Education for Adults [CSLEA], and financial data.

Three-quarters of the collection is correspondence and organizational files. The correspondence contains incoming and outgoing letters from 1951-1969. Correspondents include CSLEA staff, its board of directors, key staff from the Fund for Adult Education [FAE], as well as adult education administrators and organizations.

Key correspondents mostly from the center are James T. Carey, Alexander N. Charters, Roger DeCrow, John Simeon Diekhoff, C. Scott Fletcher, Freda H. Goldman, Morton Gordon, Kenneth Haygood, Cyril Orvin Houle, Alexander Albert Liveright, Harry L. Miller, John B. Schwertman, Peter E. Siegle, Marilyn M. Vaughan, and James B. Whipple.

The organizational files are divided up into administrative, financial, legal and project categories. Administrative files include board of directors meeting reports, meeting files, memoranda, personnel files, general reports and staff files. Financial records include budgets along with various other forms of financial data. Legal records are primarily agreements, articles and by-laws. The project files are devoted to conferences, workshops, institutes, meetings, and grants. Files of interest in this category are the Arts Project, Carey Study, Evaluation Project, Leadership Conferences, Liberal Education for Specialists (Operation Micro), Negro College Program, Special Degree Programs, and Study of University Extension.

Publication files include brochures, curriculum materials, publication lists and schedules,and the CSLEA newsletter. Writings are divided into two sections: adresses, and articles & books. Authors given special recognition because of the volume of their work are Freda H. Goldman, Morton Gordon, Kenneth Haygood, Alexander Albert Liveright, Peter E. Siegle, and James B. Whipple. The collection concludes with miscellany such as brochures, announcements, reprints, and clippings.

Series-

Correspondence.

Miscellany.

Organizational Files.

Publication Files.

Writings.

Folder_title-

Set_title-

Begin_date-

19510000

Source_B_date-

End_date-

19690000

Source_E_date-

Form/genre-

Annual reports.

Correspondence.

Drafts (preliminary versions).

Memoranda.

Questionnaires.

Reports.

Speeches.

Education-

Work_history-

Assoc_subjects-

Adult education.

Art -- Study and teaching.

Correspondence schools and courses.

Education, Higher.

Education, Humanistic.

Universities and colleges, Black.

University extension.

Assoc_people-

Carey, James T., 1925-.

Charters, Alexander N.

DeCrow, Roger.

Diekhoff, John Simeon.

Fletcher, C. Scott.

Goldman, Freda H.

Gordon, Morton.

Haygood, Kenneth.

Houle, Cyril Orvin, 1913-.

Liveright, Alexander Albert, 1907-1969.

Miller, Harry L., 1920-.

Schwertman, John B.

Sheats, Paul H., 1907-1984.

Siegle, Peter E.

Vaughan, Marilyn M.

Whipple, James B.

Assoc_organiz-

Association of University Evening Colleges (U.S.) [AUEC].

Fund for Adult Education (U.S.) [FAE].

International Congress of University Adult Education [ICUAE].

National University Continuing Education Association (U.S.) [NUCEA].

Assoc_evnt/prj-

Carey Study.

Center for the Study of Liberal Education for Adults [CSLEA]. Leadership Conference (2nd, 4th, 6th-8th : 1954, 1956, 1958-1960).

Evaluation Project.

Humanistic Institute For Women in Business (1956 : Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY).

Liberal Education for Specialists Programs (Operation Micro).

Metropolitan Education Project.

Negro College Project.

Study of University Extension.

Assoc_places-

Publications-

Continuing Education for Adults (Center for the Study of Liberal Education for Adults [CSLEA]).

References_to-

Location-

George Arents Research Library for Special Collections at Syracuse University,

Manuscript Collections,

Bird Library,

Room 600,

Syracuse, N.Y. 13244-2010.

Provenance-

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

Restrictions-

Pref_citation-

In addition to following normal manuscript citation conventions, include these elements when citing records found "electronically" through The Adult Education History Project: Main entry, Title, Item number, and, if a specific image is being cited, Component number. Mention, too, that the record was found in "http://www-distance.syr.edu/history.html, an Electronic Source for Syracuse University Library's database for archives and manuscripts".

OCRd_text-

CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF LIBERAL EDUCATION FOR ADULTS, 1951-1968

RECORDS, 1951-1969

85 boxes, 19 packages (45.5 linear feet)

Background Sketch

The Center for the Study of Liberal Education for Adults

(CSLEA) was established in 1951 with a grant from the Fund for

Adult Education that had been awarded on the basis of a proposal

submitted by the Committee on Liberal Education of the Association

of University Evening Colleges. Throughout its history the

Center's primary source of financial support was the Fund for Adult

Education. Established to work with universities seeking to

initiate or to improve adult education programs, the Center's

general purpose was to help American higher education develop

greater effectiveness and a deeper sense of responsibility for the

liberal education of adults. The Center fulfilled this purpose of

working with university adult education administration through

Center projects, consultation services of the Center staff, four

publication series (Notes and Essays, Reports, Research Reports,

and Occasional Papers), a semi-monthly newsletter, "Continuing

Education for Adults," which contained information gathered from

the field, and services of the Center clearinghouse on adult

education information.

The Center produced experimental study-discussion guides for

adult use in evening colleges and later shifted focus by studying

the quality of administrative leadership, faculty performance, and

status of continuing education in colleges and universities.

Increasingly the Center's activities concerned national leadership

conferences, the development of special degree programs

specifically for adults, and seminars for faculty, deans, and

presidents. Its research resulted in an extensive and influential

list of publications. The Center also made numerous small "seed"

grants to try out experimental ideas. In 1956, upon formal

invitation, the Center's services were extended to the institutions

of the National University Extension Association. In 1958 it began

to work with a special committee of black colleges and universities

and in 1959 with a newly formed Committee on Liberal Education of

the Association of American Colleges. Thus the Center's work of

liberally oriented higher education for adults had spread across

the spectrum of higher education. It was influential in the

development of international adult education also, providing the

International Congress of University Adult Education with a

secretariat during the formative years.

James B. Whipple points out in his history of the Center that

the distinguishing characteristics of the Center included its

quasi-independence. The Center was established on the campus of

the University of Chicago, but remained independent of that

institution. From 1964 until its termination in 1968, the Center

Background Sketch (continued)

was affiliated with Boston University but retained its

independence. There were three directors of the Center:

John Simeon Diekhoff, 1952-1953

John B. Schwertman, 1953-1956

Alexander Albert Liveright, 1956-1968

In the collections, see also Association of University Evening

Colleges (AUEC); Charters, Alexander N.; Fund for Adult Education;

International Congress of University Adult Education; Liveright,

Alexander Albert; National University Extension Association (NUEA);

Parkinson, George; and Sheats, Paul H.

Description

The Center for the Study of Liberal Education for Adults

(CSLEA) Records are arranged into categories of correspondence,

organizational files, publication files, writings, and miscellany.

The inclusive dates of the collection are 1951-1969; the 1969

materials consists exclusively of correspondence dealing with the

termination of the Center. Besides correspondence, the collection

contains printed material including dittoed and mimeographed

material, published material, periodical and newspaper clippings,

some computer print-outs and galley proofs, typescript copy of

material published by the CSLEA, and financial material. The

categories of correspondence and organizational files contain 78%

of the material in the collection.

The correspondence contains incoming and outgoing letters from

1951 t0 1969. Incoming letters are arranged ahead of paired

outgoing letters, regardless of which ones are the responses.

Arrangement is chronological according to the date of the letter or

the date of the incoming letter where two or more letters are

attached. Undated correspondence is located at the end of the

category. Correspondence dated only to the year is placed at the

end of the year folder, and correspondence dated only to the month

is placed at the end of that month.

Correspondents include members of the CSLEA staff, members of

the Center's board of directors, key staff members of the Fund for

Adult Educatiobn, as well as administrators of adult education

programs throughout the country and staff members of other adult

education organizations. Significant correspodents, often key

CSLEA staff members, include

Carey, James T.

Charters, Alexander N.

DeCrow, Roger

Description (continued)

Diekhoff, John Simeon

Fletcher, C. Scott

Goldman, Freda H.

Gordon, Morton

Haygood, Kenneth

Houle, Cyril Orvin

Liveright, Alexander Albert

Miller, Harry L.

Schwertman, John B.

Sheats, Paul H.

Seigle, Peter E.

Vaughan, Marilyn M.

Whipple, James B.

These names were selected for the volume of their letters, their

authority with and within CSLEA, and the subject matter of their

letters.

The organizational files of CSLEA are divided into

administrative, financial, legal, and project categories. The

administrative files contain board of directors meeting reports,

meeting files, memoranda, personnel files, general reports, and

staff files. Board of directors meetings from 1951 to 1967

generated agendas, minutes, and meeting reports. Meeting files

include material dealing with meetings of bodies within CSLEA,

meetings sposored by the Center, and meetings not held under the

Center's auspices but attended by CSLEA staff members. Other files

were generated by the annual CSLEA staff meetings. Among the

minutes are informal reports of meetings, as well as recorded and

approved minutes and minutes of staff meetings from 1951 to 1967.

There are resolutions passed at meetings, conference proceedings,

and transcripts. There are memoranda that are often staff reports

on Center projects, institutional visits, conferences, and

interviews. These memoranda, by their individual and collective

bulk and for their wide range of content, detailed information, and

sometime confidential nature, provide an important source

concerning the activities and philosophy of the Center. Personnel

files, general reports, and staff files complete the administrative

section of organizational files.

Financial and legal data are included in the collection.

Financial files include proposed budgets, an accounts payable and

receivable journal, cash receipts and disbursement journals,

payroll records, compensation vouchers, payroll checks, bank

statements, auditor's reports, income tax records, salary lists,

petty cash records, and bank signature authorizations. Legal files

consist primarily of articles, agreements, and by-laws.

The projects files complete the organizational category and make up

the largest part of the collection. These folders relate to

Description (continued)

various projects, including conferences, workshops, institutes, and

meetings, as well as grants for basic support of CSLEA and its

programs. Although it includes reports and proposals both by and

to CSLEA, the bulk of the material was prepared by CSLEA. Reports

include staff reports on Center projects, research, and

institutional visits, as well as committee reports and Center

reports to the Fund for Adult Education. In addition to more

formal reports and proposals, these files include general material

dealing with areas of interest to CSLEA, listed by subject.

Several of the more important groups of material are the Carey

Study (the Center's report of AUEC and NUEA to the Fund), the Arts

Project, the Evaluation Project, Liberal Education for Specialists

(Operation Micro), Negro College Program, the Leadership

Conferences of CSLEA, and special degree programs. The folders are

arranged alphabetically by project titles.

Publication files include brochures, curriculum materials,

publication lists and schedules, and material relating to the CSLEA

newsletter. The group of adult education curricular materials

prepared by the CSLEA staff dates mostly from 1951 and 1952. This

material is arranged chronologically, with undated material placed

at the end of the group.

The writings are divided into two sections, addresses, and

articles and books. Because of the prominence of Alexander Albert

Liveright in the field of adult education, the presence of his

manuscripts here should be noted. Also here are manuscripts of

James B. Whipple, former assistant director of the Center and

author of its history. The addresses section includes speeches

delivered by members of CSLEA, by non-CSLEA personnel at meetings

sponsored by CSLEA, as well as speeches dealing with subjects of

interest to the Center. The addresses are arranged alphabetically

by author, with those whose authors are unidentified placed at the

end. The date given for an address may be the date it was typed,

but it is more often the date it was delivered. The section for

articles and books contains manuscripts of CSLEA staff members,

members of its board of directors, consultants to the Center, and,

in a few cases, students of Liveright. Also here are manuscripts

of books published by CSLEA, some of them written or edited by

members of the Center's staff. The arrangement of the drafts of

these books does not necessarily correspond to their order of

revision. However, where there are large-format typescript

printer's copies of manuscripts, these are identified as the last

draft. Material is arranged alphabetically by author or editor,

and the manuscripts of each individual are arranged alphabetically

by title. Manuscripts, the authors of which are unidentified, are

placed at the end of the group. The date given for each article is

generally the date it was typed. For books the date is either

Description (continued)

the publication or copyright date.

The category of miscellany is arranged by type. Brochures and

announcements include descriptions of the Center and its programs.

Reprints of articles by CSLEA staff members are arranged

chronologically. Periodical clippings of articles by CSLEA staff

members or about the Center are arranged chronologically.

Newspaper clippings, also arranged chronologically, contain

articles about the Center and its activities.

Shelf List

Box 1 CORRESPONDENCE

1951 Mar-Aug

Sep-Dec

1952 Jan-Apr

May-Aug

Sep-Oct

Nov-Dec

1953 Jan-Mar

Apr-Jul

Aug-Dec

Box 2 1954 Jan-Apr

May-Jul

Aug-Oct

Nov-Dec

1955 Jan-Mar

Apr-May

Jun-Aug

Sep-Oct

Nov

Dec

1956 Jan-Apr

May-Jun

Jul-Sep

Box 3 Oct-Dec

1957 Jan-Mar

Apr-Jun

Jul-Sep

Oct-Dec

1958 Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Box 4 Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

1959 Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Box 5 CORRESPONDENCE (continued)

1959 Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

1960 Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Box 6 Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

1961 Jan

Feb

Box 7 Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Box 8 Nov

Dec

1962 Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Box 9 Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

1963 Jan

Feb

Box 10 Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Box 10 CORRESPONDENCE (continued)

1963 Aug

Sep

Oct

Box 11 Nov

Dec

1964 Jan 1-15

Jan 16-31

Feb 1-15

Feb 16-29

Box 12 Mar 1-15

Mar 16-31

Apr

May

Jun

Box 13 Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

1965 Jan 1-15

Box 14 Jan 16-31

Feb 1-15

Feb 16-28

Mar 1-14

Mar 15-31

Apr

May

Box 15 Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Box 16 Nov

Dec

1966 Jan

Feb

Box 17 Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Box 18 Sep

Oct

Box 18 CORRESPONDENCE (continued)

1966 Nov

Dec

Box 18A 1967 Jan 1-15

Jan 16-31

Feb

Mar 1-16

Mar 17-31

Box 19 Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Box 20 Oct

Nov

Dec

1968 Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

Box 21 May-Jun

Jul-Dec

1969

Undated

Box 22 ORGANIZATIONAL FILES

Administrative Files

Board of Directors Meeting Reports

1951

1953 Jun 4-6

Nov 16-17

1954 May 16 (special)

Nov 12-14

1955 Mar 5 (special)

Nov 17-18

1956 Jun 30-Jul 1 (special)

Sep 8 (special)

Nov 11

1957 Mar 7 (special)

Nov 10

1958 Mar 4-7

Nov 15-16

Box 23 1959 Mar 3-4

Oct 4 (special committee on broadening

the base of private support for

higher adult education)

Nov 7-8 (2 folders)

1960 Mar 12-13

Box 23 ORGANIZATIONAL FILES (continued)

Administrative Files (continued)

Board of Directors Meeting Reports (continued)

1960 Jul 24-25

Dec 3-4

1961 Mar 11-12

Nov 4-5

Box 24 1962 Mar 9-11

Nov 3-4

1963 Mar 9-10

Jun 14 (special)

Sep 26 (special committee on

affiliation)

Oct 26-27

1964 Mar 12

Oct 31

Dec 14

Box 24A 1965 Mar 10

Nov 20

1966 Mar 16

Oct 29

Dec 14

1967 Mar 20 (2 folders)

Sep 15-16

Dec 17-18

Box 25 Meetings

Agendas and Programs

1950-1958

1959-1960

1961-1962

1963-1964

1965-1966

1967

Undated

Lists of Participants

1954-1960

Box 26 1961-1962

1963-1965

1966-1968

Memoranda

Index, 1953-1963

1951-1954

1955

1956

Box 27 1957 Jan-Jun

Jul-Dec

1958 Jan-May

Jun-Dec

Box 28 ORGANIZATIONAL FILES (continued)

Administrative Files (continued)

Memoranda (continued)

1959 Jan-May

Jun-Oct

Nov-Dec

1960 Jan-Mar

Apr-Jun

Jul-Dec

Box 29 1961 Jan-May

Jun-Aug

Sep-Dec

1962 Jan-Apr

May-Aug

Sep-Dec

Box 30 1963 Jan-Jul

Aug-Dec

1964 Jan-Mar

Apr-Dec

1965

1966

Box 31 1967

Undated

Personnel Data

A-G

H-L

M-W

A-k

Box 32 L-W

Reports

Annual Reports

1953-1964, to the State of Illinois

1956-1958, printed annual reports

1961-1965, to the Fund for Adult

Education

1965, semi-annual report to the Fund

for Adult Education

1967, annual report to foundations

1967, to the Commonwealth of

Massachusetts

Board of Directors, Interim Reports to the

Fund for Adult Education

1952-1954

1955-1957

Box 33 Conference Reports

1954 (2 folders)

1955

1956

1966 NUEA business meeting

Box 33 ORGANIZATIONAL FILES (continued)

Administrative Files (continued)

Staff Files

Committee on Staff and Personnel, 1958-1959

Consultation and field work, 1964-1967

"Focus," 1967

Monthly field reports, 1964

Notes by A. A. Liveright, n.d.

Box 34 Notes by Peter Siegle, n.d.

Notes by J. B. Whipple, n.d.

Notes by other staff members, n.d.

Notes on "Teaching the Liberal Arts to

Adults," ca. 1955

Office procedures and job descriptions,

1956-1967

Resolution on retirement plan, 1961