Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Guide to the Susan B. Crossman Kindergarten Collection
NMAH.AC.1208
Table of Contents
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Archives Center, National Museum of American History 2011
Smithsonian InstitutionP.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C., 20013-7012
Phone: 202-633-3270
Email: archivescenter@si.edu
Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use note
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning intellectual property rights. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Collection donated by Crossman's grandson, John L. Menke, in 2010.
Processing Information note
Processed by Alison Oswald, archivist, September, 2011.
Summary Information
- Repository
- Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Creator - (collector).
- Crossman, Susan
- Title
- Susan B. Crossman Kindergarten Collection
- ID
- NMAH.AC.1208
- Date
- 1902-1932
- Extent
- 1.0 Cubic feet (2 boxes)
- Language
- English
- Abstract
- Papers document the training and career of Susan B. Crossman as a kindergarten teacher in the early twentieth century. The collection includes workbooks that were part of the Friedrich Froebel method of kindergarten teaching, which are filled with cut and folded paper and needlecraft projects that were part of a kindergarten teacher's training; a 1932 photograph of Crossman; her 1902 graduation program; class notes from 1903-1904; and a manual of Froebel's teaching methodology, undated.
Preferred Citation note
Title and date of item, Susan B. Crossman Kindergarten Collection, 1902-1932, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, box number X, folder number XX, digital file number XXXXXXX
Biographical/Historical note
Susan B. Crossman Gray (d. early 1960s) was a kindergarten teacher at the Washington City Normal Kindergarten Institute in Washington, D.C., where she trained from 1902-1903. Crossman married Leslie Gray in 1906 and they had one daughter, Dorothy.
Crossman studied the "Froebel Method" of early childhood education developed by Friederich Froebel (1792-1852)a German teacher. Froebel created the "Froebel Gifts," a series of activity-based playthings ranging from simple sphere-shaped objects to geometric wooden blocks for instructing children. More advanced Gifts relate to sewing, cutting, weaving and the modelling of objects in clay.
Scope and Contents note
Papers documenting the training and career of Susan Crossman as a kindergarten teacher in the early twentieth century. The collection includes workbooks that were part of the Friedrich Froebel method of kindergarten teaching, which are filled with cut and folded paper and needlecraft projects that were part of a kindergarten teacher's training program; a 1932 photograph of Crossman; her 1902 graduation program from the Washington City Normal Kindergarten Institute of Washington, D.C.; class notes from 1903-1904; and a manual of Froebel's teaching methodology, undated.
Arrangement note
The collection is arranged topically.
Controlled Access Headings
Genre(s)
- Manuals--1900-1950
- Workbooks
Personal Name(s)
- Froebel, Friedrich Wilhelm August, 1782-1852
Subject(s)
- Education
- Kindergarten
- Teachers
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note
Stored off-site. Arrangements must be made with the Archives Center staff two weeks prior to a scheduled research visit.
Collection Inventory
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Photograph of Susan B. Crossman, 1932
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Washington City Normal Kindergarten Institute commencement exercises, 1902 January
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College program book (class notes), 1903-1904
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Friedrich Froebel Manual of "Gifts," undated
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Kindergarten workbook (bound volume), undated
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Kindergarten work (bound volume), undated
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