RGXXI: Committee on School Science

Historical Note

The Committee on School Science (later Educational Activity Committee, 1959-1964) operated from 1947-1964. The Committee was established on April 9, 1947, at the 1317th Stated Meeting of the Academy. Academy President Howard Mumford, by the authority of the Council, appointed a Committee to “concern itself with the discovery, encouragement, and development of latent scientific talent in New England…and that this Committee be instructed to explore ways for encouraging our potential young scientists.” Nine different chairs served during the life of the Committee.

Initially, the Committee was largely concerned with the New England School Science Fair but later was involved with the Thayer Academy Summer Science program. Symposia included a 1961 Summer Study of African Education sponsored by Educational Services Incorporated, the Ford Foundation and the State Department; and a joint symposium with Brandeis University on the Economics of Educational Television, held May 23-26, 1963. Coinciding with the resignation of Bruce Chalmers as chair at an April 8, 1964 meeting of the Council, it was suggested that the Committee be allowed to lapse at the end of the academic year.

Committee Chairs included R. Bruce Lindsay (1947-1950); Robert Ulich (1950-1951); John Welsh (1951-1952); Francis Bitter (1952-1953); Fletcher G. Watson (1953-1957); Sanborn C. Brown (1957-1961); Edwin C. Kemble (1961-1962); Francis L. Friedman (1962-1963); and Bruce Chalmers (1963-1964).

Name Variations

Committee on School Science, 1947-1959
Committee on Educational Activities, 1959-1964

Scope and Content

The series is contained within the Academy Archives’ Record Group XXI: Academy Projects and Programs. This series contains the administrative and project records of the Committee, from 1947 to 1964 by the executive office of Ralph Burhoe and held with project files. Included among administrative records are correspondence, minutes, and memoranda. Included among project records are correspondence, transcripts, and planning materials. 

A significant amount of material includes the Academy's involvement with the New England School Science Fair Governing Board. See also related archival materials on the Academy's Committee for the Elizabeth Thompson Award for excellence in science teaching.

Arrangement

Processing for the series utilized MPLP principles, thus minimum preservation steps were taken, and folder titles listed in the finding aid are as they appear on the actual folders. Original order was maintained using CEO Ralph Burhoe’s numeric filing system, with few exceptions. Some files were created outside the filing system and were incorporated with like materials. 
 
The series is divided into two subseries: Subseries 1: Administrative Records; and Subseries 2: Projects.

Subseries 1: Administrative Records is further divided into three sub-subseries: Sub-subseries 1.1: Committee on School Science; Sub-subseries 1.2: New England Committee on School Science; and Sub-subseries 1.3: Committee on Educational Activities.

Subseries 2: Projects is further divided into three sub-subseries: Sub-subseries 2.1: Science Fair; Sub-subseries 2.2: Thayer Academy; and Sub-subseries 2.3: Other Projects.

Volume

2 records center cartons (2 linear feet).

Preferred Citation

[Item title, date]. Record Group XXI: Academy Projects – Committee on School Science/Educational Activities Committee, 1947-1964. Archives, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Subjects

Bitter, Francis, 1902-1967
Friedman, Francis L. (Francis Lee), 1918-
Brown, Sanborn C. (Sanborn Conner), 1913-1981
Condé, Bruce, 1913-1992
Kemble, Edwin C. (Edwin Crawford), 1889-1984
Lindsay, Robert Bruce, 1900-1985
Ulich, Robert, 1890-1977
Voss, John, 1917-
Watson, Fletcher G. (Fletcher Guard)
Welsh, John H. (John Henry), 1901-2002
New England School Science Council
Thayer Academy
Educational television programs--Economic conditions
Education
Education--Africa
Education--New England
Science fairs
Science--Study and teaching