Board of Trustees Meetings

Series 11:  Board of Trustees

Includes:

Minutes of Board of Trustees meetings (and meetings of the Governing Board), Nov. 1911 to 1929 (Acc. 2012.), and July 1941 to October 1944 (Acc. 2008.001b)

Annual Reports

Financial Records

NKEC, Building Contracts and Receipts, Evanston Building, 1925-26 (Acc. 2008.001a)

The Chicago Kindergarten College was first incorporated as an Illinois non-profit corporation in October 1906, when the college was located at 1200 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago.  The creators of the corporation and its first three trustees were Rumah Crouse, Elizabeth Harrison and Dr. John N. Crouse.  In November 1911, Mrs. Crouse resigned as trustee and Dr. William O. Waters, an Episcopal minister, was elected to replace her.  At that time Elizabeth Harrison was authorized to represent the college in negotiations to affiliate with the National Kindergarten Association in New York.

Following the agreement between the College and the National Kindergarten Association, which was reached in January 1912, the college reincorporated as the National Kindergarten College and the Board of Trustees was expanded to nine members:  Elizabeth Harrison, John N. Crouse, William O. Waters, W.W. Gurley, Belle Woodson, Frances Wetmore, Nina Kenagy and Edna Baker, who resigned from the board in May 1912.

Box 1:  Board of Trustees Meetings, 1906-1921

Matters before the Board, 1911-21:  • Affiliation with National Kindergarten Association in Jan. 1912; • Mrs. Crouse’s resignation from CKC in May 1912. • Mrs. Crouse’s donation of $10,000+ in June 1912; • Move to 2944 S. Michigan Ave. in 1913; • Purchase of 2944 S. Michigan Ave. in 1916; • Belle Woodson resigned as trustee in 1916 but remained an officer of the college until 1920; • Elizabeth Harrison resigned as trustee, being ex officio member of the board as president of the faculty, in 1916; • Re-incorporation as National Kindergarten and Elementary College in 1917; • Demonstration School opened in 1918; • Elizabeth Harrison’s retirement as president in 1920 and her election as President Emerita; • Edna Baker’s election by trustees as president in 1920; • Discussions with Northwestern University about affiliation with new School of Education and moving to Evanston (of which Harrison disapproved) in 1921; • William Swett bequest 1921-25.

Box 2: Board of Trustees Meetings, 1922-29

Matters before the Board, 1922-29: • William Swett bequest 1921-25; • Purchase of property in Evanston/Wilmette, construction and completion of new buildings, and fund raising, 1922-29; • Sale of 2944 S. Michigan Ave. property, 1926-29.

Box 3:  Board of Trustees Meetings, 1941-44

Matters before the Board, 1941-44: • Financial situation of the college; • Falling enrollment (15-20% between 1939 and 1944); • Avery Coonley School affiliation; • Annuity and retirement plan for faculty and staff; • Purchase of the Marienthal dormitory in Evanston.

Box 4:  NKEC, Building Contracts and Receipts, Evanston Building, 1925-26.