Finding Aid of the Alexander J. Stoddard papers 0013
Finding aid prepared by Rebecca Hirsch
The processing of this collection and the creation of this finding aid was funded by the generous support of the National
Historic Publications and Records Commission.
USC Libraries Special Collections
2010
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
Title: Alexander J. Stoddard papers
Collection number: 0013
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
11.08 Linear feet
11 boxes
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1936-1954
Date (inclusive): 1930-1960
Abstract: This collection contains the papers of Alexander J. Stoddard (1889-1965). His papers include correspondence, reports, speeches,
photographs, and clippings documenting his tenures as Superintendent of Schools in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Denver.
creator:
Stoddard, Alexander J. (Alexander Jerry), 1889-1965
An index to Stoddard's speeches is available on-site.
[Box/file# or item name], Alexander J. Stoddard papers, Collection no. 0013, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California.
The collection contains published materials; researchers are reminded of the copyright restrictions imposed by publishers
on reusing their articles and parts of books. It is the responsibility of researchers to acquire permission from publishers
when reusing such materials. The copyright to unpublished materials belongs to the heirs of the writers. Permission to publish,
quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
The Alexander Stoddard papers were donated to USC by Mrs. Sadie Stoddard in 1966.
Alexander J. Stoddard was born in 1889 in Auburn, Nebraska. He graduated from Auburn High School in 1905 and married Sadie
Gillan in 1916. They had one son and one daughter. Stoddard began his career as a school teacher in Nebraska, receiving a
BS from the University of Nebraska and a Master's degree from Columbia University's Teachers College in 1924. He moved to
Los Angeles in 1948 after having spent nine years as the superintendent of schools in Philadelphia. Stoddard served as Superintendent
of Los Angeles City Schools from 1948 until his retirement in 1954. Stoddard was actively involved with a number of national
education organizations, including the American Association of School Administrators, the Educational Policies Commission
and Superintendents of Larger City School Systems. In the 1950s, he was a strong advocate for the new field of educational
television. Before working in Philadelphia, Stoddard served as Superintendent of Schools in Denver, Colorado; Providence,
Rhode Island; Schenectady, New York; and Bronxville, New York. Stoddard died on October 18, 1965 in Los Angeles.
This collection contains speeches, reports, photographs, personal and business correspondence and newspaper clippings documenting
Alexander J. Stoddard's tenure as the Superintendent of Los Angeles City Schools (1948-1954). Also included are correspondence
and reports from Stoddard's tenures as the Superintendent of Schools in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and in Denver, Colorado.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Los Angeles City School District. -- Archives
Stoddard, Alexander J. (Alexander Jerry), 1889-1965 -- Archives
Books
Clippings
Correspondence
Education--California--Los Angeles--Archival resources
Education--Colorado--Denver--Archival resources
Education--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia--Archival resources
Educational television programs--Archival resources
Photographs
Reports
School superintendents--California--Los Angeles--Archival resources
School superintendents--Colorado--Denver--Archival resources
School superintendents--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia--Archival resources
Speeches
Textbooks
Correspondence
Series consists of Stoddard's personal and business correspondence. Much of the material is letters of appreciation, thanks,
or congratulations. Also present in this series is Stoddard's correspondence with the Ford Foundation about the use of money
from the Foundation's Fund for the Advancement of Education and with the American Book Company about the publication of the
English textbooks he authored.
Box 1
Personal
Box 2
By City
Box 2-4
Business
Box 4-6
Box 6-7
Reports, Clippings and Business Papers
Series contains reports and small publications, newspaper clippings, and other miscellaneous business papers found in the
collection. Included in this series are a few publications by the Los Angeles City Schools, one by the Educational Testing
Service and a report on the National Program ETV [Educational TV] Workshop held in 1959 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Box 7, Box 7-9, Box 8-9
Photographs, Scrapbooks and Ephemera
Series contains photographs documenting Stoddard's career as Superintendent of the Los Angeles City Schools and ephemera.
Photographs include two photograph albums from 1949 PTA Milk Fund Football Carnival held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
and a framed photograph. Ephemera include Stoddard's business cards and his War Department photo identification card from
1946. Scrapbooks contain clippings, event programs, and photographs.
Box 10