Curiosity Cabinets: On Correspondence, In Conversation
Third Floor
Introduction
On Correspondence, In Conversation embraces the historical efforts of Teachers College to make a global impact in teaching, learning, and research. Written by faculty, students, and staff in different countries throughout the twentieth century, their letters unwittingly show the value of correspondence as a medium for continuing dialogue, while revealing certain human truths and universal themes -- love, friendship, family, nature, death, conflict, change, freedom, and identity. Portrayed is a rich and fascinating kaleidoscope of educational contributions and human experiences through service undertaken in the vast savannah plains of East Africa, arid desert and jagged mountains of Afghanistan, European Theater of Operations, upper north island of New Zealand, and our very own campus on 120th Street.
Featured are letters and accompanying materials, including photographs and textbooks from select historical collections: Joan Hollobon Correspondence (East Africa); Teachers in East Africa Correspondence (Sue Nanka Bruce); Teachers for East Africa - Elsa Meder Letters/Diary; Richard Chisholm Correspondence / Afghanistan Projects; Edgar Klugman / Afghanistan Projects; Aileen Hogan Correspondence / World War II (Europe); Maxine Greene and Sue Middleton Correspondence, George D. Strayer Testimonials (upon his retirement); and the Letterbook of Charles R. Richard, 1899 / School of Manual Arts.
Curation, Design, and Acknowledgements
Curated by Conrad Lochner, Special and Digital Collections Librarian, and designed by Kai Oh, Library Associate for Art and Design, this archival display offers question prompts that invite your submission of a personal letter touching upon our narrative as teachers and lifelong learners.
Also be sure to read the accompanying blog post, Reflecting History, for deeper insight into the curation of this cabinet display. Conrad Lochner offers a contextualized historical framework to encourage several potential avenues for a broad, yet critical, engagement.
On Correspondence, In Conversation builds upon the relevance of dialogue in the adjoining Offit Gallery exhibitions, Joy Cometh in the Morning: A Celebration of Artistic Practice, by Ligel Lambert, and Artivism: Reimagining the Future: Nurturing Change for a More Dignified and Meaningful Co-Existence.
The display and accompanying art exhibitions are generously supported by the Myers Foundations.
Inventory of Works Displayed
Aileen Hogan Correspondence / World War II (Europe)
1.
Your October 21 V-Mail. November 7th, 1944.
2.
Say New York Nurses. Newspaper clipping with photo of Aileen Hogan. No date.
3.
Miss K. Hogan. Envelope. November 8th, 1944.
4.
Nurses Overseas. Photograph. February 1st, 1944.
5.
We Have All Four Seasons... August 1st, 1944.
6.
Photos in France. November 7th, 1944.
7.
Yesterday I Had a Birthday... November 11th, 1944.
8.
Just a Line... January 19th, 1945.
9.
"The Zipper". June 1st, 1945.
10.
Invaluable... January 1st, 1945.
11.
Hearts Across the Ocean. January 1st, 1944.
12.
Missing You / How's Everything? June 1st, 1944.
13.
I Hope Your Sinus Situation... Jun2 20th, 1944.
14.
WW II Service Bars. Each gold embroidered bar represents 6 months spent in overseas theater of operations.
15.
WW II US Army Insignia for European Theater of Operations.
16.
We Had Decided to Sit Down... March 12th, 1943.
17.
Letters from the Second General 1942-1945. Transcription of letters by Ruth M. Lee.
Faculty Related
18.
Testimonial to George D. Strayer. Presented by the American Association of School Administrators upon the retirement of Dr. Strayer in 1942.
19.
Letterbook of Charles R. Richard, 1899. April 26th, 1899.
Teachers for East Africa-Elsa Meder Letters/Diary
20.
Driving Car... February 19th, 1965.
21.
My Little Office. April 20th, [xxxx].
22.
Low Opinion... January 22nd, 1965.
Joan Hollobon Correspondence Collection (East Africa)
23.
Hi Sweetie... April 16th, 1968. Folder 5 (1968).
24.
It Was Good to Hear Your Voice... March 15th, 1969. Folder 6 (1969).
25.
Am Sorry I Have Been So Long Writing You... August 20th, 1966. Folder 3 (1966).
26.
Have Just Arrived Back from Safari... July 4th, 1965. Folder 2 (1965).
P2016-P2020 & Teachers for Education in East Africa
27.
Donald Fahnline. Kololo Secondary School, Kampala, Uganda.
28.
Dean McHenry. Mpwapwa Secondary School,Mpwapwa, Tanganyika.
29.
Kenyon Neal Griffin. Alliance Secondary School, Dadoma, Tanganyika.
30.
Arthur Bull, Karl Bigelow, Freeman Butts, and David Scanlon. P2017.
Teachers in East Africa Correspondence/Sue Nanka Bruce
31.
Mr. Newman Jeffrey and I Have Discussed... by Freeman Butts. February 8th, 1963. Kampala, Uganda. TEA Box 7a (#7).
32.
Please Excuse My Handwritten Note... by Art Lewis. July 29th, 1963. Kericho, Kenya. TEA Box 7a (Kenya Project 1963-1964.
33.
I Regret That We Are Not Able... by Freeman Butts. December 15th, 1961. Livingstone, South Rhodesia. TEA box 7b (Freeman Butts while overseas).
34.
Teachers for East Africa, 1962. P2020.
35.
Teachers for East Africa, 1964. P2019.
36.
Teachers for East Africa, 1961. P2016.
Edgar Klugman/Afghanistan Projects
37.
Letters from Ahmed Ali Motamedi, with Itineraries from France, Rome, and Afghanistan. November 11th, 1957; January 16th, 1958; April 2nd, 1959, and others. Folders 13, 18, 31.
Additional Material—Afghanistan
38.
Photo of Mr. Mujaddadi. Afghan Pictures. Kabul.
39.
Professor Atkins and David Ment. 1984. Afghanistan Textbooks-1984 (Folder).
40.
Afghanistan Textbooks. Produced during the USAID-TC Project.
41.
Classroom Photo, Afghanistan . Afghan Pictures. Kabul.
42.
The Journal of Education. Founded by Gulam Hassan Mujaddidi.
43.
An Introduction to Colloquial Kabul Persian.
44.
Remote Views of Us in Remote Lands.
45.
Wedding Invitation.
Richard Chisholm Correspondence / Afghanistan Projects
46.
English for Afghans. Institute of Education, Kabul University.
47.
These are Grapes. Folder 8.
48.
Letters from Students to Teachers. Folder 8.
49.
This Is a Horse. A drawing of a horse and a written description by a student. Folder 8.
50.
Postcard-Hope to Get Up Here Soon... To Dick and Jean Chisholm.
51.
Book of Science and Physics.
52.
Money and Prayer Book.
53.
Quran in Urdu. 20th Century.
Maxine Greene & Sue Middleton Correspondence (North America - New Zealand)
54.
Envelope.
55.
Yes, I Will Vote for George. By Maxine Greene. October 19th, 1990. Folder 1. Letter 26.
56.
I Have, of Course, the Election Material... By Maxine Greene. July 27th, 1990. Folder 1. Letter 17.
57.
Photo of Maxine Greene in Office.
58.
I Hope All Is Well... By Maxine Greene. January 1st, 1991. Folder 2. Letter 31.
59.
Congratulations! By Maxine Greene. Folder 1. Letter 28.
60.
Your Life Seems to Sparkle... By Maxine Greene. August 3rd, 1990. Folder 1. Letter. 19.
61.
Your Voice Is Heard... By Maxine Greene. No date. Folder 8. Letter 208.
62.
Photo of Sue Middleton in Car.
63.
I Want to Beg You to Stop Faxing... By Maxine Greene. December 14th, 1991. Folder 2. Letter 63.
64.
I Don't Know How to Answer... By Maxine Greene. Folder 1. Letter 33.
65.
I Probably Was Impolite... By Maxine Greene. January 27th, 1999. Folder 8. Letter 206.
66.
Photo of Sue Middleton and Maxine Greene at AERA, 1993.
67.
Did It All Really Happen? By Sue Middleton. 1990. Folder 1. Letter 3.
68.
Wish I'd Been at AERA with You All... By Sue Middleton. April 28th, 1992. Folder 3. Letter 69.
69.
Disciplining Sexuality: Foucault, Life Histories, and Education.
70.
Women's Studies Women . Folder 1. Letter 2.
71.
Photo of Sue Middleton and Maxine Greene at AERA Conference.
72.
Just a Very Quick Note. By Sue Middleton. November 14th, 1990. Letter 29.
73.
Photo of George Middleton, Maxine Greene, and Sue Middleton, AERA 1998.
74.
Not Delivered-Return to Sender. By Sue Middleton. 2012. Folder 8. Letter 225.
75.
Now I Have Your Wonderful Book. By Maxine Greene. No date. Letter 196.
76.
Book Is Quite Fabulous... By Maxine Greene. No date. Letter 186.
77.
Your Accounts of Your Wonderful Procedure. By Maxine Greene. January 4th, 1997. Letter 177.
78.
I Do Treasure Your Accounts... By Maxine Greene. November 26th, xxxx. Letter 165/166/167.
About the Curiosity Cabinets
The Curiosity Cabinets showcase interesting and insightful material from the historical collections to inform and enhance concomitant art exhibitions and book displays. Read more here.
Where: Third Floor Reading Room
When: Summer
