Collection inventory

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Helene W. Hartley Papers

An inventory of her papers at the Syracuse University Archives

Sponsor: The processing of this collection was made possible through the generosity of Marion W. Meyer G'55.

Finding aid created by: Mary Skaden
Date: 2013

Revision history:

Biography

Helene W. Hartley was born Helene Clarice Willey in Freeville, New York to F. Ray and Nettie Sager Willey in 1893. She spent much of her childhood traveling internationally, visiting Canada, Egypt, England, France, Scotland, and other foreign countries. She attended Cazenovia Seminary and entered Oberlin College in 1911.

After graduating from Oberlin in 1915, Hartley spent several years teaching English and Latin and supervising in New York high schools, experiences that prepared her well for her later career. She married Edwin A. Hartley in 1924, but was widowed in 1926 after he suffered an acute case of appendicitis. She received a Bachelor of Oral English in 1920 and a Master’s degree in Education in 1924, both from Syracuse University, where she began instructing in the Teacher’s College and the Department of English. The SU Teacher’s College transformed into the School of Education officially in 1934, and Hartley remained a part of it, officially teaching English teachers instead of English students. She received a Doctorate in English Education from Columbia University in 1930, while simultaneously working her way through the ranks of professorship at Syracuse. She reached the rank of full professor in 1935.

Hartley embodied many of the sentiments behind the philosophy of the newly-organized School of Education. Instead of perpetuating methods such as memorization or dictation, she encouraged creative methods of teaching for various ways of learning and was very involved in organizations that worked to develop English education. Throughout her years at Syracuse University, she was a well-respected and forward-thinking professor, often speaking about a more democratic way of teaching. She earned the honor of being named the School of Education's J. Richard Street Lecturer in 1946, the first woman to do so. In her personal life, Hartley remarried in 1938 to a fellow professor, the well-known social psychologist, Dr. Floyd H. Allport.

When not fulfilling her duties as a professor, Hartley served in a variety of roles in the evolving field of teaching training. She became a consultant with the New York State Education Department, was highly involved with the National Council of Teachers of English, serving as the vice president and president in 1945 and 1946, and was also the first president of the New York State English Council. Her active involvement in these and other organizations established her as a highly-respected professional. Consequently, she also spoke at and worked with primary and secondary schools across the United States to help in curriculum development and teacher training. In addition to her focus on English education, Hartley was involved in other education and women’s groups, such as the American League of Pen Women, the American Association of University Women, Pi Lambda Theta, Phi Kappa Phi, and Phi Beta Kappa. Due to all of her achievements, Hartley received the George Arents Award, Syracuse University's highest alumni award given to those who make significant contribution in their field, in 1951. Hartley retired from Syracuse University in 1958, but continued to consult, teach, and lecture on the topic of English education. She and Allport moved to California in 1962, where she remained active until her death in 1965.

Scope and Content Note

The Helene W. Hartley Papers consist of documents related to her professional career in education, from 1911 to her death in 1965 and are separated into four series: Correspondence contains letters and cards from personal and professional contexts dating to the second half of her life. Awards, certificates, diplomas, and various biographical sources are all included in the Personal Papers series. Professional Papers include informational and curriculum material, as well as general resources, articles, and guides that relate to English education, given to or created by Hartley. Books, articles, and other scholarly work created during her career fall under the Writing series.

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 University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

In addition to these papers, the Syracuse University Archives also holds a portrait file and a clipping file for Helene W. Hartley. The Archives also has the papers of Hartley's husband, Dr. Floyd H. Allport.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Allport, Floyd Henry, 1890-1978.
Hartley, Helene W. (Helene Willey), 1893-1965.
National Council of Teachers of English.
New York State English Council.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.
Syracuse University. -- School of Education.

Subjects

College teachers.
English teachers -- Training of.
English teachers.
Teacher education.
College teachers.
Higher education.

Types of Material

Correspondence.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Helene W. Hartley Papers,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

This collection was given to the Syracuse University Archives by Hartley’s second husband, Dr. Floyd H. Allport, in August, 1965.

Processing Information

Damaging materials such as staples and paper clips were removed, larger materials were flattened and rehoused in an oversized folder, and original containers were replaced with new archival boxes and folders.

Arrangement

Folders in each series are filed alphabetically, with their contents arranged chronologically.

Table of Contents

Correspondence

Personal Papers

Professional Papers

Writing

Inventory