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The Clara Wolverton Papers contain materials from her early education beginning in 1892, through Normal School, and her earliest teaching years ending in 1903. It comprises personal items such as her grades book, greeting cards, and notes of affection from her students, as well as professional items such as her teaching contracts and letters of recommendation, and also printed commencement programs and tickets and clippings. There are only a few items after this time period, and they document her involvement in the Red Cross and Botanical Society of Pennsylvania.

There are no materials related to teaching at Trenton Public Schools or attending University of Pennsylvania.

Her collection also initially contained six books, four of which were cataloged and added to the Historical Textbooks and General Collections of Gitenstein Library, and two were deaccessioned due to duplication.

Content warning: The items in this collection may contain racist and harmful depictions of marginalized groups and sexist or misogynistic language.

This collection includes two series containing yearbooks and ephemera from the Jersey City State Normal School.

Series 1 - The Tower Yearbooks, 1933-1935
In 1932, the graduating class published the first volume of The Tower. This series contains The Tower published in 1933, 1934, and 1935. The forward of the 1933 addition states, “We accept with gratitude the heritage of ‘The Tower’ bequeathed to us by the proceeding class. We desire to increase this legacy by adding our contribution of school anecdotes, trusting that each succeeding year will add materially to its value as an heirloom.”

All of the yearbooks feature a forward, dedication, listing of yearbook staff; faculty; management; their school and class history; school organizations and student clubs with photos and descriptions; underclassmen class photos; and the senior class featured with portrait photographs of each student, a quote, and description of the student.

The Jersey City Free Public library’s collections contain the second edition of The Tower, published in 1933 (and digitized in this series), and subsequent years through 2006.

Series 2 - Ephemera, Jersey City State College, Pre-1980
This series contains ephemera of the Jersey City State Normal School spanning from 1914-1934. There are two commencement pamphlets, one from 1934 in a time after the opening of the Jersey City State Normal School in 1929, and the other from a precursor to the normal school called the Teachers’ Training School in 1914. Additional ephemera includes a 1934 song book, as well as a reprinted 1932 article by Peter J. Ganon in the school newspaper The Golden Gothic on the gothic architectural style of the campus’ buildings. The song book index indicates that it contains songs from the school and other colleges, songs about the United States and New Jersey, hymns, rounds and songs of greeting, children’s rote songs, and miscellaneous songs.

Content warning: The items in this collection may contain racist and harmful depictions of marginalized groups, sexist or misogynistic language, and xenophobic attitudes and opinions.

This collection contains a report on normal schools by the Committee on Business to a Convention of Friends of Education held in Mount Holly, NJ (1847); published addresses delivered by William Phelps on the development of normal schools in New Jersey (1857); and booklets on the institutional histories of normal schools in Trenton and Newark (1930-1938).

The majority of the materials are related to Haskell’s education from primary through graduate school, with additional items from her early career and retirement. The Correspondence Series contains her first teaching recommendation letter in 1915, a teaching appointment notice, and a few personal letters ending in 1954. The Grade Cards and Transcripts Series span her eighth grade year in 1909 through a master’s degree program in 1938. The Ephemera Series comprises dinner and event programs she attended in her early career from 1923-1939. The Clippings Series (1937-1955) cover a variety of topics, as well as coverage of the 1955 Trenton State College centennial. The Prints Series includes four etchings or reproductions of St. Petersburg Florida churches inscribed: “for Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Wilhelm” by Will Kay Hagerman (Kent Hagerman). The Certificates and Diplomas Series span from her primary school years in 1904 through 1946. They include, among other items, her Normal School diploma and bachelor’s degree, as well as membership certificates to honorary sororities, Red Cross volunteer service, and her marriage certificate to Josiah Haskell.

Series 1 - Faculty Registers, 1856-1961
The Payroll (spelled “Pay Roll” on cover) Register contains the monthly wages of faculty and administrators of the New Jersey State Normal School from May/June 1856, through January 1873. The register lists the faculty names and amounts due with their signature arranged in order of highest to lowest salaries per month. Beginning in 1857, there was no pay during the summer months of July and August.

The Faculty Book is a combination of a register and scrapbook. It was likely begun by Principal James Green or his secretary around 1895, to record information about faculty members. It contains a handwritten index of faculty names (all of whom appear to be employed by the school by 1902) corresponding to brief handwritten biographies. It also has pasted-in recommendation letters and clippings about faculty members up to 1907, handwritten and pasted-in clippings about Normal School trustees and officers, legislation approving new residence halls in 1890, and New Jersey State Board of Education minutes. Also included in the book was a loose copy of a memo from James Green instructing all teachers to fill out information for a registry.

The Teacher’s Register is a set of 176 cards that appear to be the registry referred to in the memo from James Green in the Faculty Book. Each card records a faculty member’s education background, credentials, and publications, created from 1902-1928. Some cards have additional annotations that date up to 1961 about deaths, name changes, or date a teacher left the Normal School.

Series 2 - Student Registers, 1855-1924
The Teacher Contracts book was signed by each student upon entrance to the New Jersey State Normal School agreeing to the following statement printed on each page:

“The undersigned, having received Certificates of admission as Pupils in the New Jersey State Normal School, hereby declare, that it is their intention to engage in the employment of Teachers in the Common Schools of this state for at least two years, and that their object in resorting to this school, is the better to qualify themselves for that responsible duty. The undersigned also hereby agree to report themselves semi-annually, in writing, for the aforesaid period of two years, to the Principal of the Normal School, in case they enjoy its privileges for one term or more.”

The student’s town and county of residence also is included with their signature. The first student to sign was Emma B. Pearson in 1855. The last signature is from 1916.

The Final Grades Books are three volumes (Volume 1 - 1871-1889, Volume 2 - 1889-1901, Volume 3 - 1901-1912) which record a student’s final set of grades in each academic subject, similar to today’s transcript. Students’ names are listed alphabetically by their last name, then chronologically by graduating year. Each entry records the student’s name, date of entrance to the school, final grade average by subject, and remarks. The grading system was either the same as or similar to the numerical scale of 100 used today, or a letter scoring system: E = Excellent, VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, P = Poor/Failure.

In the second volume, there is a list of approved schools and their details. Only students from these schools would have been accepted at the Normal School. There are additional columns for student information such as age at entrance, name of preparatory school, and date of graduation from the Normal School. This volume contains more information in the remarks field such as notations about extra work performed or additional special classes attended outside of the regular curriculum. In addition, it appears that the first page of students’ names was originally glued down, likely due to an error of starting names beginning with B on the A pages resulting in the first pages seeming to be out of order.

The third volume is similar to the others except the grades change to the letter scale and there are more remarks about students’ personal situations, such as leaving to be married, leaving with discipline, or leaving due to “double failure.”

The Grade Books and Reports are four volumes (Volume 1 - June 1895-February 1902, Volume 2 - June 1902-June 1909, Volume 3 - 1910-1915, Volume 4 - February 1916-Feburary 1922) that record graduating students’ grades in teaching practice, style, and form; the school grades or subjects for which they would be qualified to teach; and comments about their performance. The lists are arranged chronologically by class graduating year, then alphabetically by name. At the time, grading was described in Time the Great Teacher by Rachel M. Jarrold and Glenn E. Fromm, “...School marking of the pupils was an elaborate process, which would lead teachers of today to rise in rebellion.”

The grading system in these volumes was made up of three different scales: a set of numbers from 1 to 5 (1 being the highest) for style and form, 1 to 100 for academic achievement, and the letter system described in the Final Grades Books (E = Excellent, VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, P = Poor/Failure) for teaching practice. The comments about a student’s performance were for both academic work and as a student teacher. These remarks ranged from “...unsympathetic, due to lack of facial expression,” and “...teaching is superficial, sometimes inaccurate…,” to “...not very intelligent, but manages fairly well….”

The first volume lists a students’ names and grades in Discipline, Originality, Intelligence, Manner, Teaching, Practice (academic work), Music, and grade level qualified to teach. The second volume adds a student’s home address and the subject areas of Kindergarten, Vocal or Instrumental Music, History, Mathematics, Nature Study, Psychology, English, Latin, German, and French. It drops “Originality” as an assessment. In June 1908, a column was added for “State Teaching Center,” which was the school where the student began their required teaching assignment. The fourth volume adds a column for the student’s age.

The Appointments Registers are two volumes (Volume 1 - June 1909-June 1916 and
Volume 2 - February 1917-June 1923) that list Normal School students' teaching appointments to schools throughout New Jersey. After graduating, students were required to teach at appointed schools in the state for at least two years. Arranged alphabetically by graduating class year, this register contains the student's name; home or permanent mailing address; school’s address; grade taught; salary; and memoranda which might include name change due to marriage, death information, number of years teaching, and other pertinent information.

Series 3 - Visitor Register, 1918-1925
The Visitors Register lists guests to the New Jersey State Normal School between March 4, 1918, and March 18, 1925. The register includes the guest's name, address, class year if an alumnus, and remarks for reason of visit. Types of visits include school administrators seeking new teachers, club reunions at the Normal School, and friendly visits to former teachers.

The Gertrude Scudder Bodine Collection of Alice Brewster Letters predominantly contains handwritten personal letters on personal stationery documenting the activities and thoughts of Alice Brewster. They were written to her former student and friend Gertrude Scudder Bodine and sometimes included Gertrude’s sister-in-law Elisabeth “Lizzie” Bodine, from 1939 to 1959.
The letters describe Brewster’s life in Portsmouth and North Woodstock, New Hampshire. She describes travel and family interactions, participating in antique fairs, and attending the Trenton State College centennial celebration in 1955, among other topics.
Some of the letters and envelopes have been annotated by Gertrude Bodine who indicated in her donation letter that she withheld certain letters and portions of others due to their personal content. The annotations highlight topics and humor written by Alice Brewster and appear to have been written and compiled for a posthumous 100th birthday event in 1968.
The papers also include two poetry booklets written by Brewster, Bodine’s correspondence planning Brewster’s 1958 birthday fund (financial support to assist Brewster as she struggled with failing eyesight and took on the care of her sister-in-law after her brother’s death), ephemera for the 1968 event, and a photograph of Brewster and an individual noted as Wilmer at the summer cottage.

Annual group portraits of graduating classes. Many years have graduating classes in February and June. There are a small number of group portraits of Model School classes through 1912, as well. Additionally, there are a handful of faculty group portraits.

Rebecca S. Smith’s collection (1863-1864) contains a graduation certificate letter signed by Principal William F. Phelps in 1863. This document was likely provided to potential employers as proof of graduation. Also included are a few items of correspondence in the same time period, including a letter by Vice-Principal Silas Betts presumably in response to Smith's request for a reference; and two letters regarding a job application and rejection for an Assistant Librarian position at the Mercantile Library in Philadelphia. (The Mercantile LIbrary was later absorbed by the Free Library of Philadelphia.)

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Ayars Fisher Davis’ collection (1895) consists of programs from musical events and Commencement that she shared with her husband Luther Davis and the Normal School class of 1895. Of special note is a Glee Club program which Lizzie annotated under the listing of a performance by Davis: "called out the 3rd time, sang both encores, brought down the house.”

Nellie Hoffman Ward’s collection (1890-1897) consists of her teacher’s certification results for Locktown, New Jersey schools; correspondence regarding her third grade teaching certification; and an absence excuse letter from her father, Cyrus Hoffman, while she attended the New Jersey State Normal School in 1897. The letter from Cyrus Hoffman does not include the referenced medical certificate.

Blanche Smith Woodford’s collection (1841-1892) consists of her 1892 merit certificate from Phillipsburg School with “Sadie Smith” written on the back. Sadie was her younger sister. Also included is an 1841 grade card for Amos Smith from Lambertville School, addressed to J.B. Smith, Esq. J.B. Smith was the father of Amos and William Smith, and Blanche’s great-grandfather.

Annie Lake Lore’s collection (1898-1903) consists of four New Jersey State Normal School Commencement invitation cards sent to her from students who graduated from 1898 to 1903. The students were all from Lake’s hometown of Port Norris. In an article in The News of Cumberland County newspaper from April 15, 1897, she is listed as an officer of the Young People’s Library Association at the M. E. parsonage along with Lucy Hand (sister of Mary Hand – both of their invitation cards are in this collection).

Eleanor Jane Rittenhouse’s collection (1899-1932) from her mother, Florence Spragg Rittenhouse, contains annotated photographs and ephemera from the New Jersey State Normal School, “daisy class” of 1899, and from alumni gatherings over 30 years later. Included from 1899 is a Commencement invitation and tickets sent to Florence’s future husband, T. Earl Rittenhouse, who was too ill to attend the ceremony. There also are three small portrait photographs of Sara Croasdale, Martha "Mattie" Sherman, and Sarah Conover Klein. The photographs were taken by Petite Photo Co. of Trenton. Croasdale, along with Rittenhouse and an unknown alum are pictured in another photograph from 1931. Additionally, there is a program from a North Jersey Normal School alumni event in 1932.

Anna May Brasch’s collection (1906-1908) consists of materials from her New Jersey State Normal School years (1906-1908), including: matriculation cards, a Commencement week invitation, an issue of the Signal, and a souvenir ribbon from St. Joseph’s picnic.

Elizabeth Simmermon Dilks’s collection (1916) contains programs from 1916 Commencement activities as well as a yearbook with yellow silk ribbon from the same year.

Content warning: the illustration and description of the mural in the postcards include inaccurate, derogatory, and/or offensive depictions of people indigenous to the area.
M. Isabelle Vanderhoff Tallman’s collection (c.1910-1930) contains materials from her years as a student at the New Jersey State Normal School including postcards from the school and the city of Trenton from c.1910-1920 and a 1920 student directory. The collection also includes the 1930 book State Teachers College and State Normal School, Trenton, N.J. Past, Present, and Future by Principal Don C. Bliss, written about the school’s transition to a college and relocation to Hillwood Lakes. Additional publications from her collection, namely Alumni Association newsletters and minutes, were transferred to the Alumni Association collection TCNJ010.

Helyn Anthony Meyer’s collection (1923-1974) consists of a play program from her time in the Arguromuthos Club at the New Jersey State Normal School in 1923, her Commencement program from 1925, and an alumni list from a reunion in Florida in 1974. She signed her name on each of these items.