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Edgewood Cooperative Nursery School records

 Collection
Identifier: 00199

Scope and Contents

This collection contains a very complete set of records (1961 - 2007) pertaining to the operation of a cooperative preschool. These records include Board of Directors minutes and other correspondence, committee materials, parent handbooks, history description, job information, publications, rosters, surveys, and information on their website.

The publications include advertisements, brochures, and newsletters (1962 - 2005). The surveys include data on surrounding area preschools and nursery schools (1975 - 1985) and surveys conducted for obtaining feedback from the member parents (1985 - 2006). Other records included are materials from affiliated organizations (Central Michigan Council of Cooperative Preschools, Michigan 4C Association, Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children, Michigan Council of Cooperative Nursery Schools, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children), photographs, and computer media.

Dates

  • Creation: 1961 - 2007

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

Historical Note

The Edgewood Cooperative Nursery School formed in 1960 at the Edgewood United Church of Christ in East Lansing, Michigan. The program originated with some of the church women looking for a place to gather with other mothers and children. This soon grew into the idea for a cooperative nursery school where children and parents learn together. It was a play-based nursery school, the philosophy being that play is a child's work and were encouraged to explore and to develop in an atmosphere of acceptance, trust, and love.

The school originally opened to church members only but in 1962, in an effort to increase enrollment, it opened to the public. The school remained sponsored by the church but independent in its operation. The program was accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and a winner of the Governor's Quality Care Award in 1999. In 2007, the church decided to end its affiliation with the school and reclaim their classroom space. The loss of the classroom space, the retirement of the director, and declining enrollment in cooperative programs caused the school to close that year after 47 years of preschool education in East Lansing.

Extent

3 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

Arrangement is by subject and alphabetical.

Immediate Source of Acquisiton

Eric Alstrom, East Lansing, Gift, HC 01057, 3,cu. ft.

Legal Status

Copyright: Michigan State University Property Rights: Michigan State University

Title
Edgewood Cooperative Nursery School Records
Status
4 Published And Cataloged
Author
E. Busch
Date
October 2008
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the University Archives and Historical Collections Repository

Contact:
Conrad Hall
943 Conrad Road, Room 101
East Lansing MI 48824 US
517-355-2330