Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Division for Study and Research in Education records
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Scope and Contents of the Collection
The collection contains the administrative files of Benson R. Snyder, who gathered or created the records of three successive organizations: the Science Teaching Center (STC), the Education Research Center (ERC), and the Division for Study and Research in Education (DSRE). Files include correspondence and reports on the changes in the MIT curriculum; funding for research projects; development of educational uses for computer software, especially LOGO computer programming language; and the establishment of a graduate program in DSRE. The collection also contains extensive correspondence on the Secondary Technical Education Project (STEP), a program to develop a school of science and technology with the Boston school system; reports on the Unified Science Study Program; and personnel files on ERC and DSRE faculty members, visiting scholars, and students. In 2006 additional DSRE material was donated by Professor Lotte Bailyn, Sloan School of Management. The material was added to Series 2, boxes 3, 12, and 13.
Dates
- Creation: 1965 - 1982
Creator
Access note
This collection must be reviewed to identify any restricted material before access can be granted. Please submit your requests at least ten business days before your desired visit to allow time for this review. An archivist will respond within five business days to let you know whether your requested material is open. For complete information on this policy, see our Statement on Accessing Institute Records.
Conditions Governing Use
Access to collections in the Department of Distinctive Collections is not authorization to publish. Please see the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy for permission information. Copyright of some items in this collection may be held by respective creators, not by the donor of the collection or MIT.
Historical note
In 1960 the Massachusetts Institute of Technology established the Science Teaching Center (STC) within the School of Science, headed by Frances L. Friedman, to facilitate innovation and experimentation with the content and teaching of science courses, especially physics, at the university level. Jerrold Zacharias was appointed acting director in 1962 following Friedman's death, and he was replaced by Robert I. Hulsizer in 1964. In May 1967 the STC was renamed the Education Research Center (ERC), and the focus of research was the analysis of fundamental problems of education and learning. The change reflected MIT's desire to have the center serve the Institute as a whole rather than just the School of Science. The name was changed again in September 1973 to the Division for Study and Research in Education (DSRE) in an effort to foster research, on an interdisciplinary basis, on fundamental issues in the teaching and learning process. William T. Martin was appointed director, and was succeeded by Benson R. Snyder in July 1975.
In 1981 a review committee appointed by provost Francis Low examined the responsibilities of DSRE, as a part of a general review and evaluation of interdisciplinary offices that reported to the provost. In March 1982 the committee issued a report recommending the abolishment of DSRE. DSRE ceased to operate on December 31, 1982.
Extent
31 Cubic Feet (31 record cartons)
Language of Materials
English
Location
Materials are stored off-site. Advance notice is required for use.
Processing Information note
Some collection descriptions are based on legacy data and may be incomplete or contain inaccuracies. Description may change pending verification. Please contact the MIT Department of Distinctive Collections if you notice any errors or discrepancies.
Subject
- Title
- Preliminary Inventory to the Records of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Division for Study and Research in Education
- Status
- Ready For Review
- Author
- Jeffrey Mifflin and Mark Vargas
- Date
- Copyright 1989
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Box: 1 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 2 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 3 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 4 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 5 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 6 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 7 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 8 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 9 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 10 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 11 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 12 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 13 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 14 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 15 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 16 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 17 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 18 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 19 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 20 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 21 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 22 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 23 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 24 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 25 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 26 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 27 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 28 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 29 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 30 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 31 (Mixed Materials)
Repository Details
Part of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Libraries. Department of Distinctive Collections Repository
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Libraries
Building 14N-118
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge MA 02139-4307 US
distinctive-collections@mit.edu
