Background on New England Association of Teachers of English
On February 23, 1901, the New England Association of Teachers of English (NEATE) met for the first time at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The organization of 300 teachers, led by an executive board of five men and two women, set forth on their mission: “To advance the study and the teaching of English language and literature,” throughout the schools of New England.
As the first association of English teachers in America, NEATE was involved with many national decisions concerning the public and private education systems. In 1916, NEATE assisted the College Board in creating the College Entrance Examination Board’s first Comprehensive Examination in English, starting a long-lasting relationship between the two organizations. NEATE also collaborated with the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) since the council’s formation in 1911. New England was the proud host of several NCTE conventions, including one held in Boston in 1981 to commemorate NEATE’s eightieth birthday.
The requirements to join NEATE involved an application process, but since its inception, NEATE applicants didn’t even have to be a teacher of English in order to become a member. Most of the initial communication within the association was through their meetings. Eventually, “The Leaflet” became a regular publication of NEATE as a way to spread information between meetings and conferences, as well as stimulate conversation during these events. Covering topics such as grammar, written work, and the importance of a large teaching staff in secondary schools, “The Leaflet” became a point of pride for NEATE.
Scope of collection
The records of NEATE offer a unique look at the history of educational systems of
America. In issues of “The Leaflet” dating from the early 1900s, one of the
greatest debates within the organization is how to incorporate the rising media forms of film and radio into the classroom. Letters between members of the executive board give a behind-the-scenes look at the complicated dynamics surrounding each election, while personal invitations from past students to high school reunions offer a glimpse into the profound effect NEATE members had on their classrooms. The detailed minutes of the 1970s conferences indicate a formal switch from the usage of the word “Chairman” to “Chairperson” as the organization made a conscious effort to use non-sexist language. Flyers advertising conferences, promoting appearances by famous figures such as Robert Frost and Stephen King, aim to draw new members to join NEATE.
Organized chronologically by year, the NEATE collection focuses on the executive board of the association, consisting of mostly minutes of meetings and correspondence. Annual reports of the secretary and president, as well as membership directories, election materials, and financial information provide detailed records of the association. Conference materials include minutes, advertisements, agendas, and correspondence, mostly in the form of invitations. Copies of “The Leaflet” and booklets of the winners of an annual poetry competition are included. The collection also contains newsletters from NEATE and those of New England high schools, as well as curriculum planning for various English courses. The organization’s history and objectives are brought together with a 1981 “Memory Book of NEATE,” and several versions of the NEATE Constitution.
Inventory
Record book of NEATE
1901-1918
Box 3: 1
Record book of NEATE
1919-1938
Box 4: 1
Conference materials: program, invitations
1910-1927
Box 1: 1
The English Leaflet
1950
Box 1: 2
Documents on copyright of the "Leaflet"
1952
Box 1: 3
Executive board: conference reports, surveys, correspondence
1954-1969
Box 1: 4
Executive board: minutes, conference planning, constitution
1956-1958
Box 1: 5
Executive board: minutes, finances, correspondence
1956-1957
Box 1: 6
Correspondence
1956-1964
Box 1: 7
Executive board: committee reports, correspondence
1956-1963
Box 1: 8
Executive board: minutes, member lists, correspondence
1958-1961
Box 1: 9
Walen, Harry: articles, correspondence
1962-1990
Box 1: 10
Executive board: minutes, member lists, correspondence
1962-1965
Box 1: 11
The English Leaflet: finances, correspondence
1963-1965
Box 1: 12
Membership records: member lists, list of conferences, correspondence
1964-1966
Box 1: 13
An introductory unit in the history of English literature and language for junior high
1965-1968
Box 1: 14
Membership figures and dues
1968-1975
Box 1: 15
Executive board: minutes, member lists, correspondence, applications
1966-1967
Box 1: 16
Executive board: minutes, correspondence
1968-1969
Box 1: 17
Information and suggestions for local chairmen of association conferences
1968
Box 1: 18
Executive board: minutes, member lists, correspondence
1968-1969
Box 1: 19
Newsletters, programs
1969
Box 1: 20
NEATE: Invitations, Questionnaire, Flyers
1969-1974
Box 1: 21
Summer study program package
1969
Box 1: 22
Executive board: finances, post office correspondence
1969-1970
Box 1: 23
Executive board: minutes, member lists, correspondence
1970
Box 1: 24
Annual reports of the secretary
1970-1973
Box 1: 25
Report of the future of NEATE: drafts, copy of constitution
1971-1972
Box 1: 26
Executive board: member lists
1971-1973
Box 1: 27
Newsletters
1971-1974
Box 1: 28
Executive board: minutes, agenda, correspondence
1971
Box 1: 29
Program for spring conference
1971
Box 1: 30
Executive board: minutes, reports
1972
Box 1: 31
Executive board: correspondence
1972
Box 1: 32
Conference materials: guide for planning one-day conferences (draft)
1972
Box 1: 33
Conference materials: guide for planning one-day conferences
1972
Box 1: 34
Executive board: minutes, reports, correspondence
1973
Box 1: 35
Executive board: minutes and correspondence
1973
Box 1: 36
Boston College High School Newsletter
1974
Box 1: 37
NEATE fall conference
1974
Box 1: 38
NEATE luncheon: invitation, minutes
1974 Dec
Box 1: 39
Executive board: minutes, correspondence, election information
1974
Box 1: 40
Executive board: minutes, finances, conference materials, correspondence
1974
Box 1: 41
NEATE correspondence with NCTE
1974
Box 1: 42
Executive board: calendar, finances
1974
Box 1: 43
Executive board: correspondence and finances
1974-1975
Box 1: 44
Executive board: minutes, finances, conference materials, correspondence
1975
Box 1: 45
Executive board: committee documents, minutes, correspondence
1975
Box 1: 46
Executive board: minutes, finances, conference materials, correspondence
1975
Box 1: 47
Executive board: minutes, newsletter, correspondence, finances
1975
Box 1: 48
Executive board: minutes, conference planning, correspondence
Box 1: 49
NEATE constitution: draft, by-laws
1975
Box 1: 50
Executive board meeting: correspondence, minutes
1975
Box 1: 51
Nomination and elections committee: correspondence and reports
1975
Box 1: 52
School and college report: Mulligan, Louise
1975
Box 1: 53
NEATE publications: Gleason, Marion
1975
Box 1: 54
Executive board: correspondence, finances
1975
Box 1: 55
Executive board meeting: minutes, correspondence
1975 June
Box 1: 56
Reports on spring conferences
1975
Box 1: 57
Allen, Lee: abstracting service
1975
Box 1: 58
Proposal for NCTE grant
1975
Box 1: 59
Executive board: elections and resignations
1975
Box 1: 60
Executive board: meetings, president's annual report
1975-1976
Box 1: 61
Executive board: roster, agenda, report to NCTE
1975-1976
Box 1: 62
Executive board: minutes, newsletter, correspondence
1976
Box 1: 63
Executive board: conference materials, minutes, correspondence
1976-1978
Box 1: 64
Executive board: minutes, correspondence
1977
Box 1: 65
NEATE resolutions
1977-1978
Box 1: 66
Executive board: directory, minutes
1978
Box 1: 67
Budget proposals, finances
1978
Box 1: 68
Executive board: minutes, directory
1979
Box 1: 69
Executive board: minutes, correspondence, flyers
1979-1980
Box 1: 70
Executive board: conference planning, minutes, correspondence
1983-1983
Box 1: 71
Executive board: agendas, correspondence, conference materials
1984
Box 1: 72
Executive board: member list, conference materials, correspondence
1985
Box 1: 73
Executive board: conference materials, correspondence, directory
1986
Box 1: 74
Executive board: minutes, directory, correspondence
1987-1988
Box 1: 75
Conference materials: programs, invitations
1988-1999
Box 1: 76
Executive board: correspondence, conference materials
1989
Box 1: 77
Executive board: conference materials, correspondence
1990
Box 1: 78
Executive board: directory, conference planning, correspondence
1990-1995
Box 1: 79
Executive board: correspondence
1991-1992
Box 1: 80
Executive board: correspondence
1991-1992
Box 1: 81
Executive board: correspondence
1991-1993
Box 1: 82
Executive board: minutes, calendar, conference materials
1992
Box 1: 83
Program for United Church of Christ Massachusetts conference
1992
Box 1: 84
Pacsetter English 12 course: planning
1992
Box 1: 85
Executive board: correspondence, conference materials
1993
Box 1: 86
Executive board: schedules, correspondence
1995
Box 1: 87
Executive board: minutes, conference planning, correspondence
1996-1998
Box 1: 88
Executive board: agenda, correspondence
2001
Box 1: 89
Conference materials: programs, invitations
2003-2017
Box 1: 90
Conference materials: flyers, forms
2010-2014
Box 1: 91
The Memory Book of the New England Association of Teachers of English
1981
Box 2: 1
The Memory Book of the New England Association of Teachers of English
1981
Box 2: 2
The Memory Book of the New England Association of Teachers of English
1981
Box 2: 3
The Memory Book of the New England Association of Teachers of English
1981
Box 2: 4
Leaves of Memory: a Review of the Last Twenty Years
2001
Box 2: 5
Conference materials: poetry competition booklets
2011-2012
Box 2: 6
Administrative information
Search terms
Subjects
- English teachers--New England
- New England Association of Teachers of English
- Teachers--History--19th century
- Teachers--History--20th century
Contributors
- New England Association of Teachers of English [main entry]
