Guide to the Theodore R. Sizer Papers, 1939-2009

(Bulk 1980-2001)

John Hay Library , Special Collections
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
email: hay@brown.edu

Published in 2012

Collection Overview

Title:	Theodore R. Sizer papers
Date range:	1939-2009, (bulk 1980-2001)
Creator:	Sizer, Theodore R., 1932-2009
Extent:	70.5 Linear feet
Abstract:	The collection consists of correspondence, research materials and reports, manuscripts, and subject files which document the work of Theodor R. Sizer and his involvement with the Coalition of Essential Schools (CES).
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	John Hay Library , Special Collections
Collection number:	OF.1UF.S7

Scope & content

The Theodore R. Sizer papers are composed mostly of correspondence. This correspondence consists mainly of personal papers and the advocation of the Essential Schools movement. Series IV through VIII contain fundamental Coalition of Essential School studies and results. The development of Theodore Sizer's book, Horace's Hope can also be found in the collection. The Additions Series consists of more correspondence, printed materials, and other assorted media, much of it related to the Coalition of Essential Schools and the Annenberg Institute at Brown University.

Access Points

Subject Organizations

• Annenberg Institute for School Reform.
• Coalition of Essential Schools. -- History
• School ethnography project

Subject Topics

• Education, Secondary--Curricula--United States
• Education--Research
• Educational change

Document Types

• Administrative records
• Correspondence
• Manuscripts
• Publications

Subject Topics

• Education

Arrangement

The collection is organized in fifteen series:

• I. Correspondence, 1984-1991
• II. Correspondence with universities, 1984-1992
• III. Correspondence, 1992-1993
• IV. Coalition of Essential Schools: School Change Study, 1990s
• V. Coalition of Essential Schools: Teacher Change Study
• VI. Coalition of Essential Schools: Taking Stock Study, circa 1985-1995
• VII. Coalition of Essential Schools: National Center for Science Teaching and Learning, 1992-1994
• VIII. Coalition of Essential Schools: School Ethnography Project
• IX. Correspondence, 1994-1996
• X. Correspondence with universities, 1994-1996
• XI. July 2005 Accession, circa 1980-2001
• XII. CES Foreign/Horace's Hope, 1990-2001
• XIII. Atlas, 1994-1995
• XIV. Subject files, circa 1993-2000
• XV. Additions

Biographical Note

Founder of the Coalition of Essential Schools, Theodore R. Sizer was one of the 20th century's leading educational visionaries and reformers.

Theodore "Ted" R. Sizer received his B.A. from Yale and his doctorate from Harvard. After a career that included U.S. Army service, classroom teaching, serving as the Dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and leading Phillips Academy Andover as its Headmaster, Ted Sizer came to Brown University as chair of its education department.

There, in 1984, Ted founded the Coalition of Essential Schools to bring together examples of the radical school restructuring that was the focus of Horace's Compromise, his work about the state of American high schools. Ted served as executive director of the Coalition of Essential Schools until 1996; during that time, he also established and led the Annenberg Institute for School Reform.

He retired from Brown as Professor Emeritus in 1996, returning to Massachusetts to accept an appointment as Visiting Professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he taught, along with Nancy, until very recently.

In 1994, Ted and Nancy helped to found the Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School, in Devens, Massachusetts, where they served as trustees, and for one year as co-principals. With Nancy and other educators, Ted also co-founded the Forum for Education and Democracy. Until his death, Ted remained an active part of many of the institutions of which he was affiliated and organizations that he founded, including CES, of which he was Chairman Emeritus.

Employment

• U.S. Army, 1953-1955
• Roxbury Latin School, Teacher of English and Mathematics, 1955-1956
• Melbourne Australia Grammar School, Teacher of History and Geography 1958
• Harvard University:
• Assistant Professor of Education and Direct, Master of Arts in Teaching Program, 1961-1964
• Dean, Graduate School of Education 1964-72
• University of Bristol (U.K) Visiting Professor 1971
• Phillips Academy (Andover), Headmaster and Instructor in History, 1972-81
• A Study of High Schools, Chairman, 1981-84
• Brown University:
• Education Department-Visiting Professor, Spring 1983
• Professor of Education, 1984-1996
• Department Chairman, 1984-1989
• Walter H. Annenberg Professor, 1993-94
• Coalition of Essential Schools, Chairman, 1984- 2009
• Annenberg Institute for School Reform, Director 1994-1996
• University Professor, 1994-1996
• University Professor Emeritus, 1996-2009
• Harvard University, Visiting Professor, 1997-2006
• Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School: Trustee, 1995-2002
• Acting Principal (With Nancy Faust Sizer), 1998-99

Honors

• Ped.D. Lawrence University, 1969
• Guggenheim Fellow, 1971
• Litt.D., Union College, 1972
• Anthony Wayne Award, Wayne State University, 1981
• L.L.D., Connecticut College, 1984
• L.H.D., Williams College, 1984
• L.H.D., University of Massachusetts / Lowell, 1985
• L.H.D., Dartmouth College, 1985
• L.H.D., Lafayette College, 1991
• L.H.D., Webster University, 1992
• L.H.D., Indiana University, 1993
• L.H.D., Mount Holyoke College, 1993
• L.H.D., University of Maine, 1993
• L.H.D., Iona College, 1995
• L.H.D., Long Island University, 1996
• L.H.D., Bridgewater State College, 1996
• L.H.D., Wheaton College, 1997
• L.H.D., Stat University of New York-Potsdam, 1997
• L.H.D., Brown University, 1998
• L.H.D., Marymount Manhattan College, 1999

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials:	Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Theodore R. Sizer, OF.1UF.S7, Brown University Archives.
Contact information:	John Hay Library , Special Collections Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Tel: 401-863-2146 email: hay@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Charles Matley
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2012 December 20
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)
Sponsor:	Processing funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Additional Information

Related material:

Related materials can be found in the Coalition of Essential Schools Records, UA-2010-12-30, Brown University Library.

Inventory

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