Collection inventory

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Laura Allen Preston Papers

An inventory of her papers at the Syracuse University Archives

Finding aid created by: Katie Swingly
Date: 2014

Revision history:

Biography

Laura A. Preston was born in Clyde, New York in 1902 to Dr. George S. and Nellie Padgham Allen on January 28, 1902. A 1924 graduate of Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science in dietetics, she worked as a dietician at a children’s hospital in Boston. After almost two years working in Boston, Preston accepted a position at Merrill-Palmer School in Detroit. She left this position in 1929 to be married to Carl Preston, who died less than four years later.

Preston taught at the Harley Country Day School in Rochester, New York. She then moved to Vassar College, becoming Head Teacher of two-year-olds and instructor of laboratory courses in Child Study for the next 15 years. She received a master’s degree in special education from Syracuse University in 1951. There, she became the first director of the Syracuse University Nursery School, a demonstration school for students in the Schools of Education and Home Economics.

In 1965, while on sabbatical from Syracuse University, Preston traveled to England, where she observed the success of the English nursery school system, which she attributed to the resourcefulness of the teachers. She published an article entitled “London Venture” in the journal Young Children in 1966, detailing her experiences.

In the 1960s, Preston implemented an “integrated diversity program” of students of different races and economic backgrounds at Syracuse University’s Nursery School in cooperation with the Bureau of Child Development and wrote a report of her findings. Preston’s areas of interest included toys and children’s literature, special education, and the role of parents in child development.

Laura Allen Preston died in Syracuse on April 25, 1992.

Scope and Content Note

The Laura Allen Preston Papers contains photographs, publications, reports, notes, and other materials related to Preston’s work in Early Childhood Education particularly at Syracuse University Nursery School. A significant portion of the papers details an “integrated diversity program" launched by Preston at Syracuse University Nursery School, including reports written by student teachers in the program. Other materials relate to her studies of nursery schools in Europe and include publications, conference itineraries, and notes.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

The Archives holds a clipping file and a portrait file for Laura Allen Preston.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Preston, Laura Allen.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Subjects

Early childhood education.
Education, Preschool.
Nursery schools -- England.
Nursery schools -- United States.
School integration.
College teachers.
Higher education.
Nursery school teachers.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Laura Allen Preston Papers
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

The papers were donated to the Archives by Preston's relatives David Allen and Marjory Allen Perez in 2012.

Processing Information

The materials have been placed in acid-free folders.

Arrangement

The items are arranged in alphabetical order.

Table of Contents

Papers

Inventory