Inventory of the Benjamin C. Willis papers
1901 December 23 | Born, Baltimore, Maryland |
1920s | Masters, University of Maryland |
Bachelor of Arts, George Washington University | |
1930-1934 | Principal, Catonsville High School, Maryland |
1947-1953 | Superintendent of public schools in Yonkers and Buffalo, New York |
1953-1966 | Superintendent of public schools in Chicago, Illinois |
1961 | Proposal to purchase aluminum portable classroom units approved by Chicago Board of Education |
1962-1963 | Protested by Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders for using portable classrooms, or "Willis Wagons" as they were called by protesters, to relieve overcrowding at schools in Chicago's South Side |
1963 | Helped develop the federal Vocational Education Act |
1965 | Helped develop the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act |
1968-1972 | Worked as an independent educational consultant |
1970-1972 | Superintendent of schools in Broward County, Florida |
1972 | Retired from education |
1988 August 27 | Died, Plantation, Florida |
Scope and Content of Collection
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Minutes and reports. Curriculum Council meetings 1955-1961
Minutes. Chicago Board of Education meetings 1958-1962
Correspondence. Curriculum Council meetings 1959-1963
Speeches and public statements by Willis 1963-1966
Report. Mutual Security Program, arranged by country 1956
Television in the classroom
Minutes. General Committee meetings 1964
Speeches and public statements 1965-1966
Staff meeting agendas 1965
Reports to Chicago Board of Education 1965-1966
Speeches and public statements 1966
Speeches and public statements by Willis 1965
Building program for Chicago schools 1952-1961
Correspondence and brochures. Old Master's Program at Purdue University 1966
Educational development program 1959
Speeches and public statements 1964
Minutes. Board of Education 1966
Opinion editorials and essays by Willis 1967
Published reports on education
Minutes. Board of Education meetings 1966 June-August
Minutes. Board of Education meetings on collective bargaining 1966
Financial reports for developing new schools
Comparative reports on other cities
Minutes. Chicago Board of Education meetings 1965-1966
Minutes. Chicago Board of Education meetings 1965-1966
Analysis of data from city-wide testing program 1966
Analysis of data from city-wide testing program 1964
Analysis of data from city-wide testing program 1963
Minutes. Curriculum council meetings 1958-1959
Survey of junior college students 1963
Financial committee materials
Testing program
Reports and correspondence. Task Force on Education 1964-1966
Illinois Superintendent of Public Instruction Advisory Committee on Education files
Task Force on Education 1965
Papers relating to Harvard and Stanford 1963-1965
Papers relating to Harvard 1963-1965
Writings on public education undated
Programs and events 1959
Teaching guides 1958
San Diego City Schools budget files 1967-1968
Verbatim transcripts. Chicago Board of Education meeting 1958
Verbatim transcripts. Chicago Board of Education meeting 1956-1957
Verbatim transcripts. Chicago Board of Education meeting 1955-1956
Verbatim transcripts. Chicago Board of Education meeting 1954-1955 November
Programs and events 1959
Subject files
Speeches and statements 1959-1960
Reports on different schools in Chicago 1957-1964
Events at different schools 1957-1964
Board of Education meeting minutes 1962-1963
Teacher salary schedules 1965
Board of Education meeting minutes 1953
Verbatim transcripts. Chicago Board of Education 1961 August - 1962 October
Verbatim transcripts. Chicago Board of Education 1960 March - 1961 July
9 1/4-inch sound tape reels of Jenner School hearings 1966
1/4-inch sound tape reels. "Dr. Willis Reports" series on WBEZ Radio, Chicago Public Schools Division of Radio and Television 1962-1966
1/4-inch sound tape reels. "Dr. Willis Reports," 1964-1966
1/4-inch sound tape reels. "Dr. Willis Reports," 1965-1966
1/4-inch sound tape reels. "Dr. Willis Reports," 1965
1/4-inch sound tape reels. "Dr. Willis Reports," 1965
1/4-inch sound tape reels. "Dr. Willis Reports," 1965
1/4-inch sound tape reels. Board of Education meeting 1964
Minutes. Chicago Board of Education General Committee meeting 1964
Minutes. Chicago Board of Education General Committee meeting 1964
Minutes. Chicago Board of Education meeting 1964 March-August
Minutes. Chicago Board of Education meeting 1963 April - 1964 February
Minutes. Chicago Board of Education meeting 1963 and 1965 October
Programs and events 1959
Binder of policies, with correspondence filed by subject 1955
Verbatim transcripts. Chicago Board of Education General Committee 1965 September
Verbatim transcripts. Chicago Board of Education meeting 1965
Educating for American Citizenship 1954
The Regular Meeting of the Chicago Board of Education 1966 August 24-September 28
1/4-inch sound tape reels. Chicago Board of Education meetings 1966
1/4-inch sound tape reels. Chicago Board of Education meeting 1966
1/4-inch sound tape reels. Chicago Board of Education meeting 1966
1/4-inch sound tape reels. Chicago Board of Education meeting 1966
1/4-inch sound tape reels. Chicago Board of Education meeting 1966
1/4-inch sound tape reels. Chicago Board of Education meeting 1966
1/4-inch sound tape reels. Chicago Board of Education meeting 1966
Books by Education Policy Committee, published by the National Education Association of the United States 1965
1/4-inch sound tape reels. Board of Education meeting 1966
1/4-inch sound tape reels. Chicago Board of Education meeting 1966
1/4-inch sound tape reels. "Dr. Willis Reports," 1963
Board meetings 1966
Dr. Willis' press conference 1965 August 5
1/4-inch sound tape reels. Board of Education meetings 1966
1/4-inch sound tape reels. Board of Education meetings 1966
Minutes. Board of Education meeting 1965 August
Report. "Mutual Security Program," arranged by country 1965
Minutes. Board of Education meeting 1963 March
Minutes. Board of Education General Committee meetings 1965 June-August
Minutes. Board of Education General Committee 1965 April-June
Verbatim transcripts. Board of Education General Committee special meeting 1965 February 17
Minutes. Board of Education 1965 February-March
Verbatim transcripts. Board of Education 1965 January
Teaching guides 1959
Correspondence. Curriculum Council meetings 1956-1957
Verbatim transcripts. Board of Education 1959 January - 1960 February
Verbatim transcripts. Board of Education 1958 December
Programs and events in districts 1958
Oversize. 9th Grade testing program resulting data 1961
Folios of testing program data 1964-1965
"P-81 Superintendent Reports 9-4-56," motion picture film reel, 16mm, 1100 ft. 1956-1966
Chicago Public High Schools ninth and tenth grade testing program 1962 Fall
Ninth grade testing program, frequency distributions of stanines 1966 Spring
Eleventh grade testing program, frequency distributions of stanines 1966 Spring
Grants 1959
Sears Roebuck Foundation
School improvement studies 1958
Research Council of the Great Cities Program for School Improvement file 1960-1965
Fiscal policies and research 1963-1964
Financing public schools in Great Cities 1964
Fiscal policy research and correspondence 1960-1961
Subject files and correspondence 1962-1965
Programs and events 1962-1965
Teacher education project 1964
Charts and drawings for school improvement projects
Research on "culturally-deprived" students
Vocational education
Teacher education project 1964
Reports and correspondence 1964
Miscellaneous reports, correspondence, and other materials 1961-1964
Vocational education 1960-1961
School improvement studies 1962
Apprentice teaching program 1960
Minutes 1960-1961
Reports and studies. School improvement project data for regional schools
Reports and studies 1960-1963
Newsletters 1959-1960
Meetings, programs, and events 1957-1965
Speeches and correspondence 1957-1965
School modernization projects 1957-1965
Conference materials 1965-1966
Conference materials 1966 May
Grants 1964
Meetings 1964
Meetings 1962-1963
Meetings 1963-1964
Meetings 1963
Bound reports from the Office of Education, "Research Seminar on Teacher Education," 1963
Reports on school improvement 1965-1967
Conference materials and studies on teacher education 1965
Conference materials and committee reports 1965
Public hearing 1965
Meeting materials and reports 1965 and 1977
Meeting materials 1959
Minutes. Executive committee meeting 1959
Roy Clark files, correspondence 1959
William P. McClure files, correspondence
Conferences and reports
Fred Bertolaet files
Teacher education
Information on public law 1964
Slides of Great Cities Teacher Education Project 1963
Teacher Education workshop materials 1963
Grants and fundraising 1959
Teacher education 1959 and 1963
Conference materials
Booklets, on "culturally deprived" students
Conference materials. Vocational education 1957
Correspondence with participants 1957
Dr. Paul R. Mort file 1957
Vocational study and Executive Committee reports
Correspondence, invitations, and rosters of attendees 1956-1958
Dr. Paul R. Mort file 1957
Minutes and other materials on vocational education conference 1957-1958
Report. "Development of School-University Programs for the Pre-Service Education of Teachers for the Disadvantaged Through Teacher Education Centers," Michael Usden, Frederick Bertolaet, Cooperative Research Project No. F-068 1968
Reports of the Chicago Project 1960
Data processing clinic conference 1963 May
Minutes 1960s
Large cities vocational conference study guides 1957
Studies on social and economic profiles and drop-out rates 1960-1961
Conference materials 1960-1961
Reports, minutes, and studies 1967
Chamber of Commerce Education Committee. Correspondence, conference materials, and reports 1968-1971
Chamber of Commerce. Education Committee. Binders of correspondence, research notes 1967
Correspondence and research studies on SEARCH schools 1969-1970
SEARCH and daily income reports 1969-1970
Correspondence. Education Planning Associates, Inc. 1969-1970
Correspondence. Education Planning Associates, Inc. 1969-1970
Correspondence with John Kirby
Correspondence 1969-1970
Correspondence 1969-1970
Speeches 1953-1954
1954
1954-1955
1955-1956
1956
1956-1957
1957-1958
1958-1960
1958-1960
1960-1961
1961
1961-1962
1962 February-April
1962 April-July
1962 July-November
1962 November-December
1963 January-February
1963 February-March
1963 April
1965 February-March
1965 March-July
1965 July-October
1965 October-December
1966 January-February
1966 February-May
1966 May-July
1966-1967
1967
1968 January-November
1968 November-December
1969
1970-1972
Speech materials 1963-1966
Speech materials 1960-1964
Speech materials 1953-1959
Speech materials and notes 1951-1957
Speech materials and reference box
Speech materials 1940s-1950s
1967-1981
1967-1978
1962-1966
1962-1965
1962-1965
1962
1962
Committee for the Advancement of School Administrators 1958-1962
Binder of campaign materials from committee to elect Willis for President of the AASA 1958-1960
1961-1963
Federal Aid to Education 1961
Meeting materials 1960-1961
Meeting materials, including minutes 1960
Meetings 1953-1959
Chicago Board of Education materials 1957
Intercultural education 1960s
Buffalo, New York
Conferences 1960s
Committee on Human Relations 1958-1959
Miscellaneous papers 1959-1960
Committee on Youth Welfare 1960
Reports 1960
Biographical file 1960
Personal and biographical file 1960
Meetings and memoranda 1961
Blueprints of schools 1961
Alphabetical lists of principals and administrations 1961
Correspondence 1962
Minutes, correspondence, and reports 1962-1963
Resignation 1963
Report on creative problem solving from official bulletin of Chicago Board of Education 1963
Resignation 1963
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) 1963
Statements to school board 1963-1965
Chicago Board of Education publications and reports 1960-1963
Doolittle Project, final report undated
Resignation 1963
Statements to Board of Education 1965
Board of Education files 1965-1966
Resignation 1963
Correspondence and clippings 1964
Correspondence 1965
Education serials 1965
Congressional hearing booklets 1953
Reports and statements to Chicago Board of Education 1964
1965
Conferences and reports 1965
Reports and statements to Chicago Board of Education 1965
Reports and statements to Chicago Board of Education 1965
Reports and statements to Chicago Board of Education 1965-1966
Superintendent contracts 1965
Petitions to retain Willis 1965
Superintendent contracts 1965
Superintendent contracts 1965
Superintendent contracts 1965
Petitions to retain Willis 1965
Regional principals conference materials 1930s
Photographs of Board of Education meeting, taken by Chicago Tribune photographer 1963
Catonsville High School principal's files 1930-1934
Catonsville High School principal's files 1930-1934
Correspondence 1967 February-June
Correspondence 1967 July-December
Executives Club, newsletters 1967
Correspondence with different committees and organizations 1967
Correspondence 1967-1968
Correspondence 1968
Curriculum guides, programs, and meeting proceedings 1968
Correspondence 1968
Correspondence 1968
Reports 1968
Correspondence 1969 February-September
Correspondence 1969 October-December
Personal research files 1969
Correspondence with different organizations 1969-1970
Correspondence 1969-1970
Agreements and contracts 1968-1970
Correspondence 1967, 1970 May-December
Personal file, news clippings 1970
News clippings and correspondence 1970-1971
Correspondence 1971 January-July
Correspondence 1959-1972
Correspondence 1972 June-December
Correspondence 1973
Correspondence 1973 February-December
Correspondence 1973-1974 December
Correspondence 1975
Correspondence 1976
Correspondence 1977 January-December
Correspondence 1978 January-May
Correspondence 1978 June-December
Minutes from school board meeting of Broward County, Florida 1970-1971
Minutes from school board meeting of Broward County, Florida 1970-1971
Correspondence 1979 April-December
Correspondence 1980 January-February
Correspondence 1980 March-December
Pension and retirement funds 1961
Clippings, transcripts of hearings, and school survey committee materials 1955-1965
Notes, press releases, and newsletters 1965
Chicago Board of Education. Materials from Fiscal Policy meetings 1963
Reports and statements to Chicago Board of Education 1963-1964
Reports and enrollment figures 1963-1964
Office files regarding education and events 1964
Magazines and clippings 1951, 1965
Photographs of Willis 1950s-1960s
Photographs of Vocational Conference 1960s
Magazines and clippings 1951-1966
Photographs 1932
Clippings, arranged by subject 1950s
Photo album of conference testimonies 1959-1961
Photographs with President John F. Kennedy circa 1962
Photo album of graduation exercises for Chicago City College 1961 June
Reports and studies 1967
News clippings 1966
News clippings 1953-1967
News clippings 1955
Chicago Retired Teachers. Correspondence 1980-1981
Chicago Retired Teachers. Expenses and miscellaneous
Committee by-laws and related papers 1979-1981
Papers relating to A. Maxim Coppage 1979-1981
Papers relating to A. Maxim Coppage 1979-1981
Empty photo albums
Meadowfresh company forms
Miscellaneous catalogs and mail order forms 1980s
Miscellaneous directories and mailing lists 1980s
Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Board of Education. Curriculum and training guides
Profiles of schools in Florida 1972
Reports, studies, and surveys 1958-1972
Reports, studies, and surveys 1958-1972
Yearbook 1964
Printed matter 1974
Illinois Junior College 1967-1969
University of Illinois 1967-1969
Chicago Association of Commerce and Industry 1967-1968
The Bridge, educational organization 1967-1968
The Bridge. Studies and correspondence 1967
Chicago Boys Club. Correspondence 1967
Chicago Boys Club 1969
Scholarship program materials
Cosmetology Accreditation Committee papers 1967
Cosmetology program 1968
Educational Policy commission meeting materials 1957
Steering committee meetings 1958
Educational Policy commission meeting materials 1958
Educational Policy commission meeting materials 1959-1960
Educational Policy commission conference materials 1959-1961
Educational Policy commission conference materials 1959-1961
School surveys 1963-1964
School surveys 1964
Report of conference proceedings 1955
Special Project study papers 1960
Reports of the Professional Conference of Chicago Public School Administrators 1956-1960
Education studies. Massachusetts public education research materials 1963-1965
Education studies. Massachusetts public education research materials 1963-1965
Education studies. Massachusetts public education research materials 1963-1965
Illinois Junior College Board minutes 1967
Writings and essays by Willis 1950
Correspondence 1947
Student essay contest submissions 1948
Chicago Board of Education. Financial reports 1954
Chicago Board of Education. Financial reports 1952-1953
Student essay contest submissions 1948
Datebooks 1954-1965
Datebooks 1965-1966
Chicago Board of Education. Official report 1950
Chicago Board of Education. Annual budget 1951, 1964
Chicago Board of Education. Annual budget and financial reports 1955-1957
Chicago Board of Education. Annual budget and financial reports 1957-1959
Chicago Board of Education. Annual budget and financial reports 1959-1961
Chicago Board of Education. Annual budget and financial reports 1961-1963
Correspondence and personal files 1940s
Correspondence 1940-1941
Studies, summaries, and correspondence 1940s
Correspondence 1930s-1940s
Notes from faculty meetings 1930s-1940s
Monthly supervisory reports 1931
Correspondence and notes 1930-1933
Notes, notebooks, and correspondence 1931-1938
Dr. Paul R. Mort, correspondence 1943
Personal file 1940
Personal file and correspondence 1949
Bound hardcopy of Vocational Education Act 1963
Standard Education Almanac 1974-1975
Report of the Survey of the Schools of Chicago Illinois, Volumes 1-5 1932
Report of Warren Commission 1964
Monographs 1937-1976
Monographs 1937-1976
Monographs 1937-1976
Monographs 1937-1976
Monographs 1937-1976
Monographs 1937-1976
Monographs 1937-1976
Monographs 1937-1976
Monographs 1937-1976
Monographs 1937-1976
Monographs 1937-1976
Monographs 1937-1976
Monographs 1937-1976
Monographs 1937-1976
Monographs 1937-1976
Monographs 1937-1976
Monographs 1937-1976
Monographs 1937-1976
Monographs 1960s
Great Cities program file 1966
Chicago Board of Education. Reports and statements 1966
Correspondence 1966 January-July
Correspondence 1966 August
Miscellaneous papers. Correspondence and conference materials 1966
Chicago Board of Education. Studies and reports 1965-1966
Reports to Chicago Board of Education by Willis 1964-1965
Reports to Chicago Board of Education by Willis 1966
Correspondence with Kiwanis Club 1966-1967
Advisory Committee on Education 1966
Reports to Chicago Board of Education by Willis 1965-1966
Commission on Life Adjustment Education for Youth. Conference materials, reports, and correspondence 1947-1950
Commission on Life Adjustment Education for Youth. Conference materials, reports, and correspondence 1947-1950
Commission on Life Adjustment Education for Youth. Conference materials, reports, and correspondence 1947-1950
White House conference report 1966
Notes from meeting with Chicago Teacher's Union 1966
Illinois Education Association Collective Bargaining Division 1962-1963
Teacher salaries 1965
Chicago Public Schools, general packets, brochures, and other materials 1955-1964
"Selected Surveys and Studies with Implications for Guidance," reports undated
Reports on educational specifications for different schools in Chicago
Civil rights 1962
Central office communications 1965
Inernational Bureau of Education, bulletins 1967
Chicago Board of Education. Public hearing on budget 1966
International Bureau of Education 1964-1965
Buffalo School District files
Correspondence 1950s
Report on desegregation in Florida 1972
Study of public schools in Broward County, Florida 1967
Journal of trip to Asia circa 1950s
Chicago Board of Education. Reports on budget 1966
Chicago Board of Education. Annual budget 1965
Transcripts of radio editorials 1966
Financial reports 1965
Verbatim transcripts. Meeting of the Special Committee on the Hauser Report on integration 1964 June
Board of Education. Evaluation of proposal regarding computers 1962
Hauser report 1964
Board of Education Official Committee meeting 1960
Files relating to custodial service 1959
Daily planners 1963-1972
Reports published by Chicago Public Schools 1964
Daily planners 1973
Files relating to custodial service 1958
Daily planners 1947-1968
Nameplate undated
Address book undated
Yonkers, New York superintendent papers 1940s-1950s
AASA. Directories and meeting materials 1980s
Florida Association of School Administrators (FASA) 1982
Florida office files 1980s
Speaking engagements 1940-1948
Russell Sage Foundation project 1965
Personal correspondence 1947
Harvard visiting committee materials 1961
Ford Foundation reports 1962
Correspondence with committees, associations, and institutions 1950s-1960s
Correspondence with committees, associations, and institutions 1950s-1960s
Reports and writings on urbanization 1962
Materials relating to the University of Chicago
Correspondence 1965
Reports and studies 1961-1962
Building program undated
Report on enrollment 1961
Reports to Board of Education 1963
Verbatim transcripts. Board of Education meetings 1963
Enhance, company product files 1970s or 1980s
Report. "Temporary Permissive Transfer Program to Relieve Overcrowding in Elementary Schools," 1963 October
Miscellaneous reports and office files 1962-1965
Reports and statements to Board of Education 1962-1963
Correspondence 1953
Binders of minutes regarding human relations work in Chicago schools 1948-1951
School binders 1940s
General education files 1951
Yearbook 1921
Packets of automation studies by General Electric undated
Reports and writings by Willis 1962
Monographs
Bretney Corporation. Company packets on household products and nutritional supplements 1982
Bretney Corporation files. Correspondence 1982
Bretney Corporation files. Correspondence 1980s
The Educator's Encyclopedia
Monographs on education 1950s
Bretney Corporation files undated
Miscellaneous personal correspondence 1982
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) 1980
Retirement files 1980s
Statements and reports to Board of Education 1964
Speeches and speech materials 1965
Photo album 1961 Septemeber - 1962 August
Photo album 1957 January - 1959 June
Photo albums 1965-1966
Photo album 1955 August - 1956 December
Personal correspondence 1981-1982
Monographs 1950s
Reports and statements to Board of Education 1963
Reports and statements to Board of Education 1963
Speeches and public statements 1964
Speeches and public statements 1964
Oversize. News clippings and magazines 1959-1964
Oversize. Photo album of publicity photographs of Willis undated
Oversize. Trophy from Fisher Body Craftsmen Guild Model Car Competition, marked "Advisory Board 1954-1967"
Oversize. AASA member plaques 1979-1982
Nameplates and empty photo albums
"A Salute to Dr. Willis," 1966
The Jerry Williams Show: "School Problems in Chicago," 1965 October 25
Policy hearing 1966 April 14
Unidentified sound recordings 1966
Christmas program: Barton School chorus, Morgan Park High School chorus 1965 December 16
At Random television program, sound recording
"Songs for Presidents: A Musical History of America's Major Political Campaigns from 1800 Through 1960," 1960
Chicago public schools orchestra and chorus assisted by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra music recordings 1959 December
H. Miller air check sound recording 1963 January 18
Party at Houston's and other miscellaneous sound recordings 1947 July 17 - 1950 July 11
William C. Diehl farewell speech for Benjamin Willis 1947 June 9