
Descriptive Summary
	Collection Number:	MS C 280
	Creator:	Frank, Lawrence Kelso, 1890-1968
	Title:	Lawrence K. Frank Papers
	Dates:	1914-1974
	Quantity:	11.3 linear feet
	Abstract:	Contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, talks, drafts, reprints and printed matter. Among the organizations and conferences represented are the Gesell Clinic, the Yale University Child Study Center, the Cornell-N. Y. Hospital Institute of Child Health, the World Health Organization and the 1940 White House Conference. A sizable portion of the correspondence and reprints pertain to individual projects and publications.

Biographical/Historical Note

Lawrence K. Frank was born in Cincinnati, OH, December 6, 1890 and received his bachelor's degree in economics from Columbia University in 1912. He died September 23, 1968, in Boston, MA. He first worked as a systems analyst for the New York Telephone Company, but in 1923 shifted to foundation work, first at the Laura Spellman Rockefeller Memorial. He later worked for the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation and the Caroline Zachary Institute of Human Development. He retired in 1955 to Boston, MA, where he lived until his death.

Frank is often considered the originator of child development movement in the United States, but Margaret Mead said his impact was far greater, and that Frank "more or less invented the behavorial sciences." As associate director of the Spelman Fund, one of the leading financiers of child development research during the 1930s and 1940s, Frank championed the new holistic interdisciplinary paradigm of human development that recognized individual differences among particular children, and which incorporated knowledge not only from evolutionary natural science, but from the social sciences as well. Applying this holistic paradigm to developmental theory, Frank argued that the central problem of child development research was to understand the development of the whole child. He advocated that researchers be child-centered by understanding that children are emerging, becoming, and dynamically learning.

A prolific writer, he wrote a popular column for the New York Times and Sunday magazine called "Parent and Child." To social scientists he was a scholar, technical writer and innovative foundation executive whose influence extended beyond the financial to the intellectual, a man who devoted himself to bringing together people from across disciplines. In 1947, he shared the Lasker Award with Catherine Mackenzie for "contributions to popular adult education in mental health, especially concerning parent-child relationships."

[Portions excerpted from "What is 'Normal' Adolescent Growth?" A Paper Presented at the History of Childhood in America Conference, August 5-6, 2000, Washington, DC by Heather Munro Prescott, Central Connecticut State University]

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Collection Summary

Correspondence, memos and minutes, publications, speeches and unpublished papers, reports and conferences on children, essays by others, and tape recordings document the professional life and activities of Lawrence Frank.

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Restrictions

Collection is not restricted. Contact the Reference Staff for information regarding access. For online customer service, please visit custserv@nlm.nih.gov.

Copyright

NLM does not possess copyright to the collection. Contact the Reference Staff for details regarding rights. For online customer service, please visit custserv@nlm.nih.gov.

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Index Terms
	These terms are indexed in the National Library of Medicine's online catalog LocatorPlus. Researchers wishing to find related materials should search the catalog using these terms.
	MeSH Subjects
		Child Development
		Pediatrics
		Psychology

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Biographical, 1927-1974
Box
12		Autobiography, 1966-1967
12		Thomas Jefferson Hurwitz, Educational Theory of Lawrence K. Frank, 1970 (3 folders)
12		Manuscripts, 1927-1936
12		Manuscripts, 1948-1974
12		Manuscripts, Individual Development, 1955
12		C. Anderson Aldrich Award, 1967
13		Obituary
13		Lawrence K. Frank - Bibliography
13		Lawrence K. Frank - Photos
13		Unidentified
13		Letters to LKF on his 75th Birthday

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General Correspondence, Alphabetical
Box
13		Unidentified
13		A - Bur
14		Cal - Han
15		Har - M
16		N - Sm
17		Sn - Z

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Correspondence, Individuals and Subjects, 1914-1974
Box
17		Adolescent Study, 1935
17		Adolescent Women Study, 1957
17		Adult Education - New School for Social Research, 1919-1920
17		Adult Women Study, 1954
18		American Academy of Arts and Sciences (Daedalus)
18		American Academy of Pediatrics, 1941
18		American Association for the Advancement of Science (Correspondence, 2 folders)
18		Atomic Power and Public Policy (Reaction to the bomb), 1945
18		Banff Conference, 1965
18		Bateson, Gregory, 1940-1956
18		The Behavior Problem, 1920-1930
18		Book Reviews by L.K. Frank
18		Bettelheim, Bruno, 1940-1941
18		Burks, Barbara
18		Canon, Walter B.
18		Carrel, Alexis, 1932-1938
18		Correspondence on "Causation: an episode in the history of thought", 1934-1935
18		Child Development (Correspondence and Typescript), 1924-1929
18		Correspondence: Problem of Child Development (reprint), 1935
18		Child Development Research, 2 folders, 1929-1935
18		Child Development Research
18		Child Growth and Development
18		Children of New York, an analysis, 1943
18		Child Welfare (Italy), 1928
18		Problem of Child Growth and Development, 1940-1941
19		Child Program, 1935-1936
19		Child Welfare (Mexico), 1921
19		The Child and Youth in Society, 1930-1931
19		Correspondence: Cost of Competition (reprint-paper), 1935
19		Courses at Brandeis and MIT, 1957, 1961
19		Culture and Behavior (comments by B. Malinowski), (reprint-paper), 1920
19		Dai, Bingham, 1936-1940
19		Delinquency, 1944
19		Economic Essays and Notes, 1920
19		Educational Experiments, 1932-1935
19		Educational Survey (General Education Board Correspondence) - 4 folders, 1931-1935
19		Experience for Living - A Proposal and Forerunners, 1966
19		Committee on Family, 1929-1931
19		Grants, Appropriations
19		Gregg, Alan
19		Growth: A Journal for Studies of Development and Increase, 1936-1938
20		Growth: A Society for the Study of Growth, 3 folders, 1936-1941
20		Holdersness, New Hampshire Conference , 1935
20		Human Relations Conference, 1934
20		Huxley, Julian, 1943-1956
20		Impact of World Conditions on Personality, 1941
20		Industrial Relations - Notes, 1921-1922
20		Infancy Conference, 1936
20		International Cooperation, 1945
20		Joint Committee on Post-War Problems (Planning), 1944
20		Jones, Harold (3 folders), 1930-1941
20		Lecture Outlines (U. of Chicago), 1940
20		Legal Situations (Notes), 1927
20		Leisure Time and Social Progress, 1920
20		Lewin, Kurt
20		Lloyd, Willma, 1939
20		Longitudinal Studies, 1937
21		Malinowski, B.: Papers, 1925-1926
21		MacFarlane, J.W., 1926-1939
21		Marshall, L.C.
21		May, Mark A.
21		Mead, Margaret, 1931
21		Mental Hygiene Committee, 1940
21		Modley, Rudolf
21		Mental Age in Old Age, 1940
21		National Resources Planning Board and Gov't Service (Memos), 1943
21		Ogburn, W.F.
22		Parent Education, 1932
22		Personality Development Research, 1929
22		Personality: Impact of Culture Seminar, 1929-1936 (10 folders)
22		Population, Morality, Nationality, etc., 1915-1920
22		Postwar Planning
22		Postwar Research Proposals, 1942
22		"The Price System," by J. Brelsford, a pseudonyn, 1920
22		Progressive Education Association (Common Human Relations), 1938-1939
22		Progressive Education Association
22		Progressive Schools: Correspondence, 1931-1936
22		Public Utility Administrative Accounting, an Interpretation, 2 folders
22		Regions of North America Survey, 1943
22		Resignations of L.K. Frank from Spelman Fund, 1930
23		Rockefeller File, 1931-1937
23		Rockefeller File, 1938-1940
23		Spelman Fund, 1929
23		Rutgers U. (Nature and Human Nature), 1950-1951
23		School Methods Conference, 1930
23		Shirley, Mary, 1936-1941
23		Society for Study of Personality and Culture, 1940-1941
23		Social Planning and Individual Ideals, 1934-1935
23		Society as the Patient, 1936-1937
23		Spiegel, Jeanne, Interview with, 1966 or 67
23		Structure, Function and Growth, 1930-1940
23		Stolz, Herbert E., 1930-1939
23		Sullivan, H.S., 1929-1948
23		Tanzania Correspondence, 1930
23		Time Perspectives/Science and Culture, 1937-1939; 1940
23		Women Centennial Congress, 1940
23		Development of Science, Status of Social Science, 1920s
23		Social Progress and Social Reform, 1924

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Memos and Minutes, 1919-1964
Box
23		Memos, 1919
23		Memos, 1920s
23		Memos, 1930s (2 folders)
24		Memos, 1920s
24		Memos, 1930s (3 folders)
24		Memos, 1940s (5 folders)
24		Memos, 1950s (3 folders)
24		Memos, 1960s (3 folders)
24		Memos, n.d.
25		Education Board Memos, 1935
25		Memos, n.d. (7 folders)
25		Memos - adolescence, 1924-1940
25		Memos - Child Care, n.d.
25		Memos - Dignit of Man; Morals; World Order, n.d.
25		Memos - Family, n.d.
25		Memos - Hawthorne school, 1953
25		Memos - Health Education, n.d.
25		Memos - Mental Health , n.d.
25		Memos - Religion, n.d.
25		Spoof of Meetings, 1920s
25		Memos - Merrill-Palmer, 1953
26		Minutes, Discussions of Meetings, 1921-1932
26		Minutes, Discussions of Meetings, 1932-1949
26		Minutes, Discussions of Meetings, 1950-1964

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Publications, 1915-1969
Box
26		Book - Growing Old, Chapters 1-5
26		Book - Growing Old, Chapters 6-9
26		Book - Emergence of Personality, (Misc. Chapters), 2 folders
26		Book - Personality and Mating, 1938
26		Report on Study of American Education, 1932
26		Misc. Chapters from books by L.K.F., A - B
27		Misc. Chapters From Books by L.K.F., C
27		Misc. Chapters From Books By L.K.F., D - E
27		Misc. Chapters From Books by L.K.F., F - G
27		Misc. Chapters From Books by L.K.F., L - N
27		Misc. Chapters From Books By L.K.F., P - S
27		Radio Script (Chiefly Children), 1938
27		Radio Script (Chiefly Children), 1943
27		Radio Script (Chiefly Children), 1944-1946
28		Reprints, 1915-1935
29		Reprints, 1936-1949
30		Reprints, 1950-1962
31		Reprints, 1963-1969

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Speeches and Unpublished Papers, 1914-1972
Box
31	Talks and Papers, 1914-1949
32	Talks and Papers, 1940-1947
33	Talks and Papers, 1947-1957
34	Talks and Papers, 1958-1968, n.d.
35	Talks and Papers, n.d.
35	Adolescence Papers, n.d.
35	Behavior Problems Papers, n.d.
35	City Planning Papers, n.d.
35	Communication Papers, n.d.
35	Economic Papers, 2 folders, n.d.
35	Education Papers, 2 folders, n.d.
35	Family Lectures, n.d.
35	Family Papers, n.d.
36	Human Development Papers, n.d.
36	Humanistic Psychology Papers, n.d.
36	Ideals Papers, n.d.
36	Law Papers, n.d.
36	Literature and Sensibilities Papers, n.d.
36	Marriage and Family Papers, n.d.
36	National Resources Papers, n.d.
36	Mental Health Papers, n.d.
36	Mental Hygiene Papers, n.d.
36	The Personality Process, 1941
36	Religion Papers, n.d.
36	Social Order Papers, n.d.
36	Tactile Papers, n.d.
36	Women's Role Papers, n.d.
	Papers by L.K. Frank
37		"Child and Youth" 1st Draft, 3/15/1932
37		"Parent Education in the United States", 6/29/1932
37		"Child Research", 7/8/1932

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Reports and Conferences on Children, 1927-1935

Box

National Research Council - Committee on Child Development, 1927-1935

2nd Conference on Research in Child Development, 1927

3rd Conference on Research in Child Development, 1929

4th Conference on Research in Child Development, 1933

Conference on Experimental Study of Human Emotions, 1926

Society for Research in Child Development, Directory of Members, 1935

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Essays by Others, 1933; 1938; 1943
Box
37		Benedict, Ruth., Thai Culture and Behavior, Sept. 1943
37		Benedict, Ruth, Rumanian Culture and Behavior, Nov. 1943
37		Bailey, E.W., et al, Principles of Child Study, 1933
37		MacFarlane, Jean W., Studies in Child Guidance, 1938

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Subject Files, 1925-1968
Box
38		Anti-Poverty Project
38		Art
38		Art and Living, 1932
38		Biological basis of pediatric practice
38		Book Review on "Nature and Human Nature" and "Society as the Patient"
38		Boston Floating Hospital, 1962
38		Child Behavior and Development, 1941
38		Commission on the year 2000, 1964; 1965-1966
38		Council of National Organization of Adult Education, 1956
38		Creativity and the Arts, 1952-1958
38		Dartmouth Conference, 1925
38		Environment Programming, 1965
38		Ethics and the Social Relations of Science
38		Family Life Project
39		Focus on Youth
39		"Man's Image of Himself"
39		Notes on "Organized Complexities", 1968
39		Chapter on "Organized Compledities", 1-11
39		"Philosophy of Growth", 1958
39		"Science in the Promotion of Human Welfare"
39		"Sociology of Adult Education"
39		"Society and Education"
39		Urban Seminar
39		Miscellaneous material

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Tape Recordings, 1955; 1964-1966

Box

Study of Aging Persons (two reels). Recorded at Cold Spring Institute, 10/14/55 through 10/15/55

Lawrence K. Frank, "Psychocultural Approach", 1964-1966

Lawrence K. Frank, n.d.

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Related Material

Forms part of the Material on The Child Development Movement Collection, MS C 280.

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Return to List of Manuscript Collections and Finding Aids

Last reviewed: 04 January 2008
Last updated: 02 November 2006
First published: 21 June 2004
Metadata| Permanence level: Permanent: Dynamic Content

Finding Aid to the Lawrence K. Frank Papers, 1914-1974

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Descriptive Summary

Biographical/Historical Note

Collection Summary

Restrictions

Restrictions

Copyright

Index Terms

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Provenance

Series Descriptions

Biographical, 1927-1974

General Correspondence, Alphabetical

Correspondence, Individuals and Subjects, 1914-1974

Memos and Minutes, 1919-1964

Publications, 1915-1969

Speeches and Unpublished Papers, 1914-1972

Reports and Conferences on Children, 1927-1935

Essays by Others, 1933; 1938; 1943

Subject Files, 1925-1968

Tape Recordings, 1955; 1964-1966

Related Material