Kiwanis-Felt Boys and Girls Club
Series
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The Anne Marie Fox Felt papers (1874-1967) contain histories, research notes, correspondence, news articles, and scrapbooks documenting the development of kindergartens and kindergarten organizations in the late nineteenth century and the activities and expansion of the Utah State Association for Childhood Education (ACE) through the first half of the twentieth century. Also included are biographical materials regarding women associated with Utah kindergartens; the minutes, letters, and research notes of ACE branches; and other documents, such as programs and manuals.
Throughout her life, Marie Fox Felt involved herself in organizations and activities whose purposes lay in benefitting children. She was instrumental in establishing the Kiwanis-Felt Boys and Girls Clubs. As a teacher, author, and community figure, her contribution to the welfare of children in Utah has been significant. Her principal involvement was in the kindergarten movement in Utah, and more specifically, the ACE of which she served as president for three terms. This organization, established in Utah in 1937, grew out of previous kindergartens and kindergarten organizations. It was through the combined efforts of the early pioneers, the eventual support of the State Legislature, and the later leadership of women like Marie Fox Felt that Kindergartens in Utah became firmly established.
Since the opening of the first kindergarten in Utah by Camilla C. Cobb in 1874, the kindergarten movement has had a rich and interesting history. Leaders of the movement recognized this and many became involved in writing short histories of what they remembered of the early kindergartens and their involvement in them. In the 1940s, the ACE formed a committee whose function was to write a history of the kindergarten movement in Utah. As the instigator of this idea, Marie Fox Felt later continued this work as her thesis for her Master of Arts degree in Education. Although the thesis was not completed, she did write a partial history dealing with the pioneering period of the kindergarten movement and collected a great deal of research material from 1874 through the 1960s. These materials relating to the people and organizations of kindergartens in Utah comprise the bulk of the Anne Marie Fox Felt papers.
The collection contains original histories, research notes, correspondence, newspaper articles, and scrapbooks. The material is organized chronologically beginning with the first independent kindergartens and the various kindergarten organizations of the late nineteenth century. The collection follows the activities and expansion of the ACE through the first half of this century and although the ACE had several names prior to 1937, the materials relate to the growth of one organization.
Also included are biographical materials of several women associated with Utah kindergartens, the minutes, letters, and research notes of the branches of the ACE, and original documents of the movement such as programs and manuals.
The majority of the correspondence has been organized chronologically in one group, except where it is related to some other specific subject in the collection. For example, the correspondence of the Camilla C. Cobb branch of the ACE is to be found in those folders dealing with branch material rather than in general correspondence.
Although the collection is complete in many areas, there are gaps in the continuity of the kindergarten's history, especially after World War II. This is due primarily to the advanced age of many of the women who had been leaders in the 1930s and 1940s, and for this reason there is almost no material from the 1950s and very little of the 1960s.
As well as research materials and original documents, the collection contain Mrs. Felt's thesis proposal and her own history of the early kindergarten years, "History of Kindergartens in Utah During the Pioneering Period, 1874-1898." In addition, there is also material relating to the establishment of the Kiwanis-Felt Boys and Girls Clubs and other materials related to schools and kindergartens.
Throughout her life, Marie Fox Felt involved herself in organizations and activities whose purposes lay in benefitting children. She was instrumental in establishing the Kiwanis-Felt Boys and Girls Clubs. As a teacher, author, and community figure, her contribution to the welfare of children in Utah has been significant. Her principal involvement was in the kindergarten movement in Utah, and more specifically, the ACE of which she served as president for three terms. This organization, established in Utah in 1937, grew out of previous kindergartens and kindergarten organizations. It was through the combined efforts of the early pioneers, the eventual support of the State Legislature, and the later leadership of women like Marie Fox Felt that Kindergartens in Utah became firmly established.
Since the opening of the first kindergarten in Utah by Camilla C. Cobb in 1874, the kindergarten movement has had a rich and interesting history. Leaders of the movement recognized this and many became involved in writing short histories of what they remembered of the early kindergartens and their involvement in them. In the 1940s, the ACE formed a committee whose function was to write a history of the kindergarten movement in Utah. As the instigator of this idea, Marie Fox Felt later continued this work as her thesis for her Master of Arts degree in Education. Although the thesis was not completed, she did write a partial history dealing with the pioneering period of the kindergarten movement and collected a great deal of research material from 1874 through the 1960s. These materials relating to the people and organizations of kindergartens in Utah comprise the bulk of the Anne Marie Fox Felt papers.
The collection contains original histories, research notes, correspondence, newspaper articles, and scrapbooks. The material is organized chronologically beginning with the first independent kindergartens and the various kindergarten organizations of the late nineteenth century. The collection follows the activities and expansion of the ACE through the first half of this century and although the ACE had several names prior to 1937, the materials relate to the growth of one organization.
Also included are biographical materials of several women associated with Utah kindergartens, the minutes, letters, and research notes of the branches of the ACE, and original documents of the movement such as programs and manuals.
The majority of the correspondence has been organized chronologically in one group, except where it is related to some other specific subject in the collection. For example, the correspondence of the Camilla C. Cobb branch of the ACE is to be found in those folders dealing with branch material rather than in general correspondence.
Although the collection is complete in many areas, there are gaps in the continuity of the kindergarten's history, especially after World War II. This is due primarily to the advanced age of many of the women who had been leaders in the 1930s and 1940s, and for this reason there is almost no material from the 1950s and very little of the 1960s.
As well as research materials and original documents, the collection contain Mrs. Felt's thesis proposal and her own history of the early kindergarten years, "History of Kindergartens in Utah During the Pioneering Period, 1874-1898." In addition, there is also material relating to the establishment of the Kiwanis-Felt Boys and Girls Clubs and other materials related to schools and kindergartens.
Dates
- 1874-1967
Language of Materials
From the Collection:
Collection materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
Extent
From the Collection: 3 Linear Feet (8 boxes)
Creator
- From the Collection: Felt, Marie Fox (Anne Marie), 1900-1974 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository
Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu