Child psychology

Boys Republic Records

aergas — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 11:28:47 -0400

Boys Republic was originally incorporated in 1890 as the Home of Industry with the express purpose of providing food, clothing, shelter and employment to prisoners discharged from Michigan correctional institutions. Around 1909, the Home acquired the unofficial name, Ford Republic. This reflected both the generosity of Mrs. E. L. Ford and her daughters, who provided money for a dormitory, power plant and water and sewage systems at the Home's new 70-acre farm northwest of Detroit (now Farmington Hills), and the treatment theories of its new superintendent, Homer T. Lane, a proponent of self-government and character building in the institutionalized care of problem boys. It was officially renamed Boys Republic in 1944. The records of Boys Republic document the history of Lane's innovative approach to the institutional care of anti-social and emotionally disturbed children. They also provide insight into the social and moral issues raised by the debate, especially among members of the social welfare establishment, over the cause and treatment of juvenile delinquency.

Elise Hatt Campbell Papers

drice — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 10:47:56 -0400

Elise Hatt Campbell was a staff member of the Merrill-Palmer Institute. During her tenure she conducted studies and wrote articles concerning childhood development and education, as well as taught courses at Wayne University. Campbell was also a consultant in the Detroit Council for Youth Service and Chairman of the Committee of the Detroit Council of Social Agencies.

The papers of Elise Hatt Campbell reflect her work within the Merrill-Palmer Institute and as an instructor at Wayne University. Included are notes, outlines and handouts from various speeches and lectures she gave, any correspondence regarding those lectures, and forms, charts, and test data from research completed at Merrill-Palmer. Also included are research for her articles, some published works written by Elise and an unpublished manuscript related to her work at Merrill-Palmer.

Merrill-Palmer Institute Records

drice — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:18:00 -0500

The Merrill-Palmer Institute was founded in 1920 by an endowment from Lizzie Merrill Palmer. Throughout its 61years of independent operation, the Institute was greatly respected and internationally known as one of the top institutions for education, training and research in Child Development. Merrill-Palmer staff conducted and published studies on families and children, operated a nursery school, children’s camps and clubs, offered marriage and family counseling, and performed community service work. The Institute accepted undergraduate and graduate students from the U. S. and internationally and taught courses and provided research and laboratory experience unavailable elsewhere.

The collection illustrates the Institute’s commitment to research, education, and outreach through documentation of its programs, projects, and administration. It includes research and studies the Institute undertook, course information, nursery school, camp and club information, correspondence with students, individuals and organizations, presidential and faculty files, and day to day operational information.

Merrill-Palmer Institute: Dr. Francis H. Palmer Records

drice — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:20:21 -0400

Dr. Francis H. Palmer was president of Merrill-Palmer from 1978-1981, prior to which he
worked at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He received his education
at the University of Pittsburg, published widely, mainly on preschool and early
educational child development and was very active in the Headstart program. Palmer’s
records reflect his emphasis on the psychology of preschool and elementary age children
and his direction of institutional focus to research.

Subject Focus: Merrill-Palmer Institute

drice — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 10:40:52 -0400

With the 2013-2014 school year in full swing, it seems an appropriate time to reflect on the American educational system and, in particular, how it all begins – preschool. As the topic of high quality preschool becomes increasingly relevant in the 21st century, it is important to note that it is not a new concept. The Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute (MPSI), an active research center on Wayne State University's campus, was a pioneer in addressing these early formative years of a child's education. read more »

Subject Focus: Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp

drice — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 00:00:00 -0400

With the school year now upon us, the Reuther Library presents a look back at summers past as recorded in the Merrill-Palmer collections. As Edna Noble White, first director of the Merrill-Palmer Institute, once said, "The children of a nation are its greatest potential asset." This belief was reflected in the Institute's main role, which was the understanding and interpretation of the individual from birth to adulthood. read more »