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Guide to the Kate Douglas Wiggin Collection
MSS-2008-10-01  
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Series I : Kate Douglas Wiggin Collection circa 1880-1915

Physical Description: 2 boxes

Series Scope and Content Summary

The contents in this series include sample books illustrating Friedrich Froebel's "Gifts and Occupations" for kindergarten students and a signed photograph of Kate Douglas Wiggin. The activities illustrated in the sample books were developed by Froebel in Germany during the 1830s and were popular among kindergarten proponents in the United States in the nineteenth century. Froebel created the concept of kindergarten, in which learning is based on play. He described "Gifts", or play materials, and "Occupations", or activities, that were suited to the educational needs of young children. Kate Douglas Wiggin used Froebel's theories of "Gifts and Occupations" in her kindergarten training course at the California Kindergarten Training School in San Francisco, and they were also included in kindergarten instruction at the San Jose Normal School. The San Jose Normal School's Department of Kindergarten Education, established in 1914, taught Froebel's principles through their required courses in Kindergarten Theory, as described in the 1915 Bulletin of the State Normal School at San Jose.

Arrangement

This series is arranged by format.
Box/Folder 1/1-2/7

Kindergarten Craft Samples 1880s

Box/Folder 1/1

Extra craft paper and samples 1880s

Box/Folder 1/2-2/7

Sample books 1880s

Box/Folder 2/8

Photograph of Kate Douglas Wiggin 1915