Rugg, Harold Ordway, 1886-1960

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Harold Rugg (1886-1960) was a professor of education at Teachers College, Columbia University and a well-known figure in the Progressive Education Movement. Rugg was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts in 1886. He attended Dartmouth College, receiving an undergraduate (1908) and a graduate degree (1909) in civil engineering. He worked briefly as a civil engineer before teaching civil engineering at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. While teaching he became interested in the process of learning, subsequently earning a doctorate from the University of Illinois (1915). He worked for five years at the University of Chicago, before switching to Columbia University. Rugg taught at Columbia until his retirement in 1951.

While at Columbia, Rugg produced the first series of school textbooks, which ran from 1929 until the 1940s. Rugg helped create the model of textbook series used in schools and over the next 15 years sold 5 million books. While his textbooks were his most lasting contribution to the field of education, they were also the center of the largest controversy in Rugg’s life. Rugg’s textbooks were accused of containing anti-American and socialist ideas. The National Association of Manufacturers and the American Legion led censorship efforts to ban Rugg’s textbooks. In the years before his retirement in 1951, Rugg published several works on educating teachers. Furthermore, Rugg was a founding member of the National Council for the Social Studies. After his death in 1960, Rugg’s last work Imagination, an exploration of creative thought, was published incomplete in 1963.

From the guide to the Harold Rugg Oral History Collection 2009-246., 1951-1960, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)

Harold Rugg (1886-1960) was a professor of education at Teachers College, Columbia University and a well-known figure in the Progressive Education Movement.

Rugg was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts in 1886. He attended Dartmouth College, receiving an undergraduate (1908) and a graduate degree (1909) in civil engineering. He worked briefly as a civil engineer before teaching civil engineering at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. While teaching he became interested in the process of learning, subsequently earning a doctorate from the University of Illinois (1915). He worked for five years at the University of Chicago, before switching to Columbia University. Rugg taught at Columbia until his retirement in 1951. While at Columbia, Rugg produced the first series of school textbooks, which ran from 1929 until the 1940s. In the years before his retirement in 1951, Rugg published several works on educating teachers. Furthermore, Rugg was a founding member of the National Council for the Social Studies. After his death in 1960, Rugg's last work "Imagination," an exploration of creative thought, was published incomplete in 1963.

From the description of Rugg, Harold, oral history collection, 1951-1965. (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 457834497

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Rugg, Harold, 1886-1960. Rugg, Harold, oral history collection, 1951-1965. University of Texas Libraries
creatorOf Cowell, Henry, 1897-1965. Wedding music (Rugg) / [Henry Cowell]. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Houghton Mifflin Company contracts, 1831-1979 (inclusive) 1880-1940 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Hullfish, H. Gordon (Henry Gordon), b. 1894. Papers, 1930-1962. Ohio State University Libraries
referencedIn United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Federal Bureau of Investigation miscellaneous records, 1929-1972. Stanford University, Hoover Institution Library
referencedIn Harold Rugg Oral History Collection 2009-246., 1951-1960 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn August Charles Krey Papers, 1887-1961. University of Minnesota Libraries. University Archives [uarc]
referencedIn Rugg, Harold, 1886-1960. Rugg, Harold, oral history collection, 1951-1965. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Harvard University Archives Photograph Collection: Portraits, ca. 1852-ca. 2004 Harvard University Archives.
referencedIn Federal Bureau of Investigation miscellaneous records, 1929-1972 Hoover Institution Archives
referencedIn J. B. Matthews Papers, 1862-1986 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
creatorOf Harold Rugg Oral History Collection 2009-246., 1951-1960 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Paul Blanshard Papers, 1912-1979 Bentley Historical Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Blanshard, Paul, 1892- person
associatedWith Columbia University. Teachers College. corporateBody
associatedWith Cowell, Henry, 1897-1965. person
associatedWith Houghton Mifflin Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Hullfish, H. Gordon (Henry Gordon), b. 1894. person
associatedWith Krey, August Charles, 1887-1961 person
associatedWith Matthews, J. B. (Joseph Brown), 1894-1966 person
associatedWith Rugg, Earle Underwood. person
associatedWith Rugg, Earle Underwood. person
associatedWith Rugg, Harold Ordway, 1886-1960 person
associatedWith United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Subject
Education
Education
Imagination
Oral history
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1886

Death 1960

English

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