Smithsonian Institution Archives

Records, 1981-1994

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FARU7443
Creators:
Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center
Dates:
1981-1994
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
7.5 cu. ft. (13 document boxes) (2 oversize folders)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Introduction

Introduction
These records of the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (SEEC), 1984-1994, Record Unit 7443, were created in its establishment and operation from 1984 to 1994. They were transferred to the Smithsonian Archives by Kathleen T. Baxter, Co-Chair of the Smithsonian Institution Women's Council Child Care Committee, Secretary of the Smithsonian Child Care Advisory Board, and President of the SEEC Board of Directors; Gretchen Gayle Ellsworth, President of the Child Care Advisory Board; Katherine Sprague (TKAC), Co-Chair of the Smithsonian Institution Women's Council Child Care Committee, Treasurer of the Child Care Advisory Board, and member of the Infant Care Task Force; and Sharon Shaffer, Director of SEEC.

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
The Records of the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (SEEC), Record Unit 7443, are mainly from 1987-1992, with some material from 1981-1982, 1984-1986, and 1993-1994. These records are of three women who were instrumental in the establishment of child care at the Smithsonian and of the SEEC Director's first few years. These records consist of meeting minutes, agenda, and correspondence of the Smithsonian Institution Women's Council (SIWC) Child Care Committee, the Child Care Advisory Board (CCAB), the Smithsonian Child Care Center Board of Directors, the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center Board of Directors, the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center Parents Association, and the Infant Task Force; proposals, architectural drawings, and correspondence dealing with the selection and preparation of sites for the National Museum of American History (NMAH) branch and the Arts & Industries Infant Care Center; personnel and financial records; records of the IBM/SEEC curriculum project; and photographs of events at the NMAH center.
For related records, consult Record Unit 310, Records of the Smithsonian Institution Women's Council, 1972-1983, and Record Unit 507, Records of the Smithsonian Institution Women's Council, 1973-1992.

Historical Note

Historical Note
When the Smithsonian Institution Women's Council (SIWC) was formed in 1972, it immediately adopted as a primary goal the establishment of a child care center at the Institution. This council of Smithsonian employees, established for the purpose of conveying to the Smithsonian administration the concerns and needs of all employees but especially women, continued to work on that goal for the next fifteen years. The SIWC intensified their efforts in 1986: conducted surveys to determine the need for and support of an on-site child care center, conducted feasibility studies for the various sites proposed, and obtained the professional advice of child care consultants. In January of 1987, as a result of these efforts, John Jameson, Assistant Secretary for Administration, appointed a Smithsonian Child Care Advisory Board (CCAB). The mission of the CCAB was to investigate and report to SI management the prospective budget, policy, operations, facilities, and curriculum of a child care center at the Smithsonian. The Board originally formed three subcommittees: policy, budget, and facilities. Each subcommittee undertook an in-depth analysis of their area of responsibility and formulated a comprehensive overview of the necessary steps toward implementation. When the Advisory Board presented its business plan to the SI Management Committee in May of 1987, the Committee gave its approval to proceed in setting up a center.
Although the Smithsonian generously offered to provide start-up funds and continual rent-free space and utilities, as well as other "in-kind" services, the Board and the Smithsonian agreed that the child care center would be independently incorporated. From the beginning, the CCAB anticipated that more than one center would ultimately be formed: the first child care center would hold fifty toddlers from ages two to five, and subsequent centers would be formed as need required and means allowed. In November of 1987, the CCAB was ready to incorporate formally as the Board of Directors for the Smithsonian Child Care Center, and to look forward to the opening of the first center in the National Museum of American History, which opened on October 3, 1988. As was stipulated in the Board By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation, the founding Board of Directors was replaced shortly thereafter by an elected, parent-majority board, and a Parents Association was established as a means of providing parent input and support for the Center and its Board. On January 1, 1989, the newly formed Board changed the name of the child care center to the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center, to more accurately reflect the unique character of the Center and its museum-based curriculum.
The Board officers at the time of incorporation were: Gretchen Gayle Ellsworth, President; Betty B. Derbyshire, Vice-President; Kathleen T. Baxter, Secretary; Katherine Sprague, Treasurer; Lauryn G. Grant, Counsel. The Board officers during the first year of operation (Fall 1988-Fall 1989) were: Kathleen T. Baxter, President; John Daniel Reaves, Vice-President and Counsel; Frances T. Jones, Secretary; Diane Homiak, Treasurer.
Since 1989, the Board of Directors has devoted itself to oversight of the operations of the center, to further development of curriculum, and to expansion into other buildings. The Board began a project in 1989 with IBM to translate, produce, and market the "Museum Magic" curriculum for computer, which was never completed. The Board has also investigated publishing the curriculum. In January 1991, the Infant Care Center opened in the Arts & Industries Building. This branch of SEEC served 25 children from three months to two years old. The planning was undertaken by an Infant Task Force, made up of members of the Board of Directors. The two branches of SEEC are governed centrally, under the same Director, Board of Directors, and Parents Association.

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7443, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center, Records
Access Restriction
Box 13 contains materials restricted indefinitely; see finding aid; Contact reference staff for details.

More Information

Notes

Personal Papers


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Baxter, Kathleen T. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ellsworth, Gretchen Gayle Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Tkac, Katherine M. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution Women's Council Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution. Child Care Advisory Board Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center. Board of Directors Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center. Parents Association Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution. Infant Task Force Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of American History (U.S.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Arts and Industries Building (Washington, D.C.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
International Business Machines Corporation Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Child care Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Day care centers Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Employer-supported day care Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black-and-white photographs Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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