Boyd, Neva Leona

Neva Leona Boyd (1876-1963) was a proponent of the modern play movement, which emphasized the importance of recreation in socializing individuals. She founded the Chicago School for Playground Workers in 1909. From 1914 to 1920, the school operated as the Recreation Department of the Chicago School of Civics and Philanthropy. Most of the classes were taught at Hull-House and Jane Addams served on the Board of Directors. When the School of Civics and Philanthropy was incorporated into the University of Chicago, Neva Boyd's Recreation Department became the Independent Recreation Training School of Chicago (popularly known as the Hull-House School.) In 1927, the school was absorbed by Northwestern University and operated until Boyd's retirement in 1941. Upon her retirement, Boyd worked with the Illinois Department of Public Welfare designing recreational programs for the mentally ill.