Leta Stetter Hollingworth May 26 th 1886 November

Leta Stetter Hollingworth May 26 th, 1886 – November 27 th, 1939

A few recognizable (interesting) facts • Edward Thorndike – mentor of Leta at Columbia University • Women's Suffrage/Feminist movement – Margaret Sanger • Coca-Cola research • Practices used today

What's Going On Right Now? - 1850 ish - 1880 ish • Nebraska Frontier • Homestead Act of 1862 • End of the Civil War – 1865 • Women roles (common theme)

Her calling – education/gifted children Leta's role in Psychology The Speyer School (Now known as The Speyer Legacy School) School Psychology

Childhood Life • Nebraska Frontier – The Stetter's and The Danley's • Father – Johnathan Johnny Stetter • Mother – Margaret Maggie Danley • Leta's birth a year after marriage • Two sisters – Ruth and Margaret

Maggie and Johnny "Maggie Danley and Johnny Stetter were a most unlikely couple. Johnny was a son of the Confederacy, and she was the daughter of two generations of Abolitionists. Johnny was crude; Maggie was refined. He was short, swarthy, and had a stocky build. She was petite, small boned, and fair. How and where they met is not known. That they fell madly in love seems sure. " (page 15)

Maggie Stetter • Possibly gifted herself, at the very least creative and talented • Excerpts from her diary show great intelligence – written through the eyes of Leta • Diary gives insight to Leta's rapid development, and Johnny's absence • Died giving birth to Margaret

Johnny Stetter • Absentee father • Relationship with Leta • Abandonment would stay with Leta for her whole life • Remarried a woman named Fanny

Leta's Childhood • She enjoyed living with her grandparents – The Danley's • Her relationships with her sisters • Johnny and Fanny • Grandfather passes away, grandmother moves away • Leta renounces her childhood

Her Passions • Loved the Nebraska Frontier • Taught herself how to read • Poetry and writings to capture her emotions • Feminist The Lone Pine Silent and uncomplaining, Except when the sad winds moan Tho' its broken and battered branches, the tale of life, alone.

Leta's Education • Her first school – a one room school house • High School – Teacher Robert H. Watson • She wrote for the Valentine Newspaper – column titled "The Education Department" - where she reported on school news and gossip "Examination was conducted throughout the school, Friday. It was the last high school exam that the seniors will ever experience and they felt that they had crossed the Red Sea and were nearly out of the wilderness. " (page 29)

Leta's Education • In 1902 at the age of 16, Leta started to attend the University of Nebraska Zeitgeist Check: • In 1869 the University of Nebraska had 4 faculty members and 20 students, by 1890 anyone who met the education qualifications was able to attend • Breakthrough because women were seen as "inferior" "Of the hundred most gifted individuals in the country, not two would be women. . . " - Edward Thorndike • Her class was unusual because of the population of women • In 1906 she graduated and earned her State Teaching Certificate in English and English Literature

When Holly Saw Leta • Harry Hollingsworth (1880 -1954) • The two shared - oddly - common pasts • She caught his eye and he fell in love • Both Holly and Leta started working in schools • Holly moved to New York to pursue a degree in psychology through a graduate assistantship working with James Cattel

"Making Lemon Pies" • While Holly moves to New York, Leta continues working as a school teacher in Nebraska • Leta decides to move to New York, and Holly and Leta get married • "Making Lemon Pies" "To me there is nothing so sad as to look back on the capable, intelligent, women I have known, and see how they have been bound down hand foot by custom, and economic dependence. " (page 59)

Zeitgeist Check: • More than 1 Million Immigrants have traveled to New York. • Sigmond Freud and Carl Jung are doing "works" and traveling. • Marches for Women's Suffrage begins.

Work – Research - Findings • Coca-Cola Study • Wanted to hire psychologist to conduct a study of the behavioral effects • Three separate studies were conducted by Leta • Holly presented the data in courts • Arguably, the Coca-Cola Study saved her "We did a big experiment for the Coca-Cola Company; and made quite a "wad" of money"

Work – Research - Findings • She began taking classes at Columbia University • Graduated with her Ph. D in Psychology and Sociology • In 1916, her education (and Naomi Norsworthy) opened the doors to an offering of a position at the university • Thorndike

Work – Research - Findings • While working at Teacher's College at the University of Columbia Leta • Worked with Cattel, Thorndike and Dewey on IQ measurements and scales • Does research on sex differences • "Functional Periodicity" • Heterodoxy Club • Development of Educational Psychology • Subnormal Children • Exceptional Children

Work – Research - Findings • The Speyer School • Three year study on exceptional children • The Special Perplexities of the Gifted • Problem of work • Classmates • Play • Gifted Girls • Conformity • Origin and Destiny

Recognitions • The Psychology of Subnormal Children • American Association of Clinical Psychologist • Contributions made to School Psychology • Holly and Leta awarded Doctor of Law Honorary Award

Leta's Death • Leta Stetter Hollingworth died on November 27 th, 1939 from cancer • She was diagnosed 10 years earlier, but told no one. • The Speyer School closes "Leading spirit behind the movement was Professor Leta S. Hollingworth, noted psychologist, whose untimely passing a year ago filled the school with sadness. … She conceived a program that would provide an enriched, individualizing training for the mental giants of the younger generation. The old weather-beaten doors are to be padlocked, the windows barred. . . " (page 160)

Leta's Legacy • 1 st gifted educator to teach the gifted • Used multiple criteria to identify the gifted child • She helped develop individualized curriculum • Committing to professionalizing Educational/School Psychology

Discussion Questions What does it mean to be educated?

Discussion Questions How do we address students who need special education and those who are advanced?

Discussion Questions How do you think the "inclusion model of education" can benefit/harm all students?

Discussion Questions How was Leta "groundbreaking" for Thorndike?

Discussion Questions How was Leta attached to The Lone Pine throughout her life up until her death? The Lone Pine Silent and uncomplaining, Except when the sad winds moan Tho' its broken and battered branches, the tale of life, alone.