Guide to the Mary Tucker Thorp papers, 1928-1971
Special Collections, James P. Adams Library
Rhode Island College
600 Mount Pleasant Ave
Providence, RI, 02908
Tel: 401-456-8380
email:digitalcommons@ric.edu
Published in 2024
Collection Overview
| Title: |
Mary Tucker Thorp papers |
| Date range: |
1928-1971 |
| Creator: |
Thorp, Mary Tucker |
| Extent: |
1 cubic foot
|
| Abstract: |
Papers of the former president of the Henry Barnard School in Providence, Rhode Island. |
| Language of materials: |
English |
| Repository: |
Special Collections, James P. Adams Library
|
| Collection number: |
CA-0001 |
Scope & content
The Mary Tucker Thorp papers document the functions of Rhode Island College and the Henry Barnard School from 1920-1950. The collection includes the Principal’s Reports of the Henry Barnard School from 1928-1955 which are largely annual reports sent to the college’s president addressing the status of Henry Barnard School. Other documents include accolades related to Mary Tucker Thorp and other department documents from Henry Barnard School.
Access Points
Subject Organizations
Subject Topics
Geographical Names
Document Types
Arrangement
The collection is not arranged in any specific order, however folders are roughly grouped by subject.
Biographical/Historical Note
Mary Tucker Thorp was born in 1899 in the Ottoman Empire under the name Halda Dahood. Her family immigrated to New York in 1904. When her father died, her mother placed her in Rock Nook Home Orphanage. The Thorp family in Westerly, Rhode Island became her legal guardians and later formally adopted her into the family. She was a teacher in Washington County, Rhode Island and later attained her bachelor, master, and doctorate degrees.
In 1926, Thorp accepted a teaching position at the Rhode Island College of Education (which was renamed Rhode Island College) and later became president of Henry Barnard School in 1938. Thorp retired from Rhode Island College in 1962. Her contributions include heading a committee for the creation of accreditation standards for early childhood education which were later adapted into the Rhode Island Department of Education’s Standard for early education. Thorp was involved with multiple organizations that involved early childhood education, civic engagement, and public health. She died in 1974.
The legacy of her contribution to Rhode Island College includes the dedication of a dormitory hall and the creation of the Mary Tucker Thorp Award for professors who display exceptional teaching to students.
Access & Use
| Access to the collection: |
The collection is open for research. |
| Use of the materials: |
Researchers are advised to contact Rhode Island College Special Collections for questions regarding permissions to reproduce, distribute, or otherwise publish material from this collection. Although Rhode Island College has physical ownership of the collection, it does not necessarily hold literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them. |
| Preferred citation: |
Mary Tucker Thorp papers, CA-0001, Special Collections, James P. Adams Library, Rhode Island College. |
| Contact information: |
Special Collections, James P. Adams Library
Rhode Island College
600 Mount Pleasant Ave
Providence, RI, 02908
Tel: 401-456-8380
email:digitalcommons@ric.edu
|
Administrative Information
| ABOUT THE COLLECTION |
| Acquisition: |
The collection was initially donated in 1974 by Mary Tucker Thorp with additions made by various entities in subsequent years. |
| Processing information: |
The collection was arranged and describe prior to 2019. The guide to the collection was created and further description added by Special Collections intern Sungmin Ji in 2023, under the direction of Digital Archivist and Special Collections Librarian, Veronica L. Denison. |
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| ABOUT THE FINDING AID |
| Author: |
Finding aid prepared by Sungmin Ji and Veronica L. Denison. |
| Encoding: |
This finding aid was encoded by Veronica L. Denison, 2024 |
| Descriptive rules: |
Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) |
Additional Information
| Related material: |
Rhode Island College Special Collections also holds the Henry Barnard School records. |
| Other information: |
Works used in preparation of inventory:
“Mary Tucker Thorp”, last modified August 13,2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Tucker_Thorp.
“Mary Tucker Thorp Award,” RIC, date accessed: November 11,2023, https://www.ric.edu/department-directory/office-provost-and-vice-president-academic-affairs/mary-tucker-thorp-award.
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Inventory
| Box 1, Folder 1 |
|
“An approach to reading through self-initiated expression”
|
|
1937 |
| Box 1, Folder 2 |
|
Boston University Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award
|
|
1962 |
| Box 1, Folder 3 |
|
Correspondence
|
|
1964-1971 |
| Box 1, Folder 4 |
|
Boston University diplomas
|
|
1932, 1943 |
| Box 1, Folder 5 |
|
Brown University citation
|
|
1959 |
| Box 1, Folder 6 |
|
Certificates
|
|
1939-1973 |
| Box 1, Folder 7 |
|
“Changing Functions of Laboratory Experience“
|
|
1962 |
| Box 1, Folder 8 |
|
Charles Carroll Award
|
|
1963 |
| Box 1, Folder 9 |
|
Internal memo about Christmas greeting cards
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 10 |
|
Clippings
|
|
1961-1971 |
| Box 1, Folder 11 |
|
“Cooperating Teachers”
|
|
1959-1970 |
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
|
“Closed Circuit Television Project Progress Report”
|
|
1960 |
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
|
Correspondence
|
|
1941-1963 |
| Box 1, Folder 14 |
|
Division of Professional Studies Report
|
|
1957 |
| Box 1, Folder 15 |
|
“Fall Workshop for Those Who Work with Student Teachers”
|
|
1957 |
| Box 1, Folder 16 |
|
Draft for Barnard School roles and policies; Incomplete report for the Henry Barnard School
|
|
undated, 1960 |
| Box 1, Folder 17 |
|
Henry Barnard School
|
|
1928-1959 |
| Box 1, Folder 18 |
|
Henry Barnard School: Principal Reports
|
|
1946-1950 |
| Box 1, Folder 19 |
|
Henry Barnard School: Principal Reports
|
|
1953-1954 |
| Box 1, Folder 20 |
|
Henry Barnard School: Principal Reports
|
|
1951-1953 |
| Box 2, Folder 1 |
|
Henry Barnard School: Principal Reports
|
|
1957-1959 |
| Box 2, Folder 2 |
|
Henry Barnard: Student Composition: 1st and 2nd grade
|
|
1938-1946 |
| Box 2, Folder 3 |
|
Professional Studies Division
|
|
1957 |
| Box 2, Folder 4 |
|
RIC: History and Function
|
|
1950 |
| Box 2, Folder 5 |
|
Practicum
|
|
1957-1964 |
| Box 2, Folder 6 |
|
RI Heritage Hall of Fame
|
|
1969 |
| Box 2, Folder 7 |
|
Roger Williams Distinguished Service Award – Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce
|
|
1961 |
| Box 2, Folder 8 |
|
“Selective retention of students in teacher education”
|
|
1962 |
| Box 2, Folder 9 |
|
“Social organization in classroom“
|
|
1937 |
| Box 2, Folder 10 |
|
Teacher Certification
|
|
1956-1960 |
| Box 2, Folder 11 |
|
Thorp Hall Dedication
|
|
1961 |
| Box 2, Folder 12 |
|
“What education should all students receive in college?”
|
|
1959 |
| Box 2, Folder 13 |
|
“What fifty years have wrought” Mary Tucker Thorp
|
|
1971 |
| Box 2, Folder 14 |
|
Report of the Subcommittee on Education Governors’ Commission on the Status of Women
|
|
1965 |
| Box 2, Folder 15 |
|
Office of Laboratory Experience
|
|
1962 |
| Box 2, Folder 16 |
|
Office of Laboratory Experience
|
|
1961-1962 |
| Box 2, Folder 17 |
|
Henry Barnard School Principal’s Report
|
|
1954-1956 |
| Box 2, Folder 18 |
|
Minutes of Division of Professional Studies
|
|
1957-1958 |
| Box 2, Folder 19 |
|
Practicum
|
|
1957-1964 |
| Box 2, Folder 20 |
|
Professional Studio Division
|
|
1957 |
| Box 2, Folder 21 |
|
Laboratory Experiences Reports of Director
|
|
1959-1960 |
| Oversize Folder 1, Item 1 |
|
“Life Professional Certificate” issued by the State of Rhode Island authorizing and commissioning Thorp to “serve for life as a professor in the public colleges of Rhode Island”
|
|
1945 |
| Oversize Folder 1, Item 2 |
|
Certificate for honorary membership for the Henry Barnard School Mothers’ Club
|
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1966 |
| Oversize Folder 1, Items 3-4 |
|
Rhode Island College Memorial Resolution for Theresa D. Flaherty
|
|
1967 |