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William H. Kilpatrick Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MU-PP-0063

Scope and Contents

The William H. Kilpatrick Collection of consists of papers of William Heard Kilpatrick from 1875, 1889-1969. The papers include clippings, correspondence, class notes, lectures, printed material, sermon notes, speeches, radio scripts, and Kilpatrick’s writings on progressive education. The correspondence (1875, 1890-1965) includes personal and business letters relating to Kilpatrick’s publications and teaching careers at Mercer University and Columbia University, as well as his views on progressive education. Most of his business correspondence is from students and his colleagues, John Dewey and J. R. Mosley. The collection also contains Robin Trot letters (1951-1969), a round robin letter of Mercer alumni. Box 14 contains index cards with information on classes taught by WHK, lectures given, and books written. There is no specific date range or topic for these, and the box also includes several Latin vocabulary cards.

The Robin Trot was a Mercer University Alumni Round Robin letter, of which William Heard Kilpatrick was a member.

Folders include items from the title, but are not limited to the title. In most cases, additional material has been listed in parentheses.

Please refer to the William Heard Kilpatrick biographical vertical file and the Mercer University photograph collection for additional items.

Catalogued as part of the Georgia Archives and Manuscripts Automated Access project: A Special Collections Gateway Program of the University Center in Georgia.

Dates

  • Creation: 1885-1977

Creator

Rights Statement

To quote in print, or otherwise reproduce in whole or in part in any publication, including on the World Wide Web, any material from this collection, the researcher must obtain permission from (1) the owner of the physical property and (2) the holder of the copyright. Persons wishing to quote from this collection should consult the reference archivist to determine copyright holders for information in this collection. Reproduction of any item must contain the complete citation to the original.

Biographical / Historical

William Heard Kilpatrick was a leading force in progressive ducation along with his colleague and friend, John Dewey. He originated the project-method of education, a rejection of traditional subjects, and wrote numerous books and articles on this and other subjects.

Kilpatrick was born to James Hines Kilpatrick, a Georgia Baptist pastor, and Edna Perrin Kilpatrick (nee Heard) on November 20, 1871 in White Plains, Georgia. He died in New York City on February 13, 1965. Kilpatrick married three times, to Marie Beman Guyon (m. 1898), Margaret Manigault Pinckney (m. 1908), and Marion Ostrander (m. 1940).

Kilpatrick received a A. B. (1891) and A. M. (1892) degree from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, and a Ph. D. degree (1912) from Columbia University. Kilpatrick was a teacher and principal in Georgia public schools (1892-1897). He returned to his alma mater, Mercer University, in 1897 to serve as professor of mathematics (1897-1906). While at Mercer, Kilpatrick also served as acting president (1903-1905). Kilpatrick moved from Mercer to Teachers’ College, Columbia University, where he served from 1909 until his retirement in 1938.

Extent

21 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Margaret Baumeister, daughter of William H. Kilpatrick, and Heard Kilpatrick Baumeister, grandson of William H. Kilpatrick.

Subject

Title
William H. Kilpatrick Collection, 1890-1969
Author
Sarah Gerwig, Mary Overby, Michelle Arnold (August 1997), Susan Broome (2003), Special Collections Personnel (2018), and Rachel Lukavsky (2021)
Date
1997, 2003, 2018, 2021
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Mercer University Archives and Digital Initiatives Repository

Contact:
1501 Mercer University Dr.
Macon Georgia 31207 USA
4783012968