HENNEPIN COUNTY: MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS:

An Inventory of Its Michael Dowling School Urban Environmental Magnet Records at the Minnesota Historical Society

Government Records

OVERVIEW


	Creator:	Minneapolis Public Schools.
	Title:	Michael Dowling School Urban Environmental Magnet Records.
	Dates:	1895-2012 (bulk 1920s-2012).
	Language:	Materials in English.
	Abstract:	The records include historical materials about the school and its namesake Michael J. Dowling, bulletins and newsletters, clippings, photographs, scrapbooks, subject files, and PTA records. They document students and staff, building additions and dedications, alumni, special events and holiday celebrations, the school's therapeutic pool, a 1936 visit by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and PTA activities.
	Quantity:	7.5 cubic feet (7 boxes).
	Location:	See Detailed Description for shelf locations.

The Michael Dowling School Urban Environmental Magnet was founded in 1920 as the Dowling School for Crippled Children to provide an elementary school for physically disabled children. Housed first in a North Minneapolis church building, the school moved to its own facility in 1924. Children with emotional and developmental disabilities were added to the student body in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1987, as children with disabilities were mainstreamed into the full school system, Dowling was reorganized as an urban environmental learning center.

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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Minneapolis Public Schools, Michael Dowling School Urban Environmental Magnet Records. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 2014-6

Processing Information:

Catalog ID number: 007771756

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION

PUBLICATIONS

Location

116.I.1.7B

Bulletins, 1973-2004. 6 folders.

Incomplete; weekly issuances.

Calendar, 1996-2003, 2009.

Newsletters, 1928-1998.

Incomplete: includes The Dowling News Reel, Dowling Searchlight, Dowling Press, Dowling Digest, Dowling School News, Dowling Doings, Dowling News and Views, Dowling Summer Newsletter, PTA/School, and Classroom.

17 folders.

Location

116.I.1.8F

2 folders.

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CLIPPINGS

Documenting the Dowling School, its attendees, issues surrounding disabilities, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1936 visit, and the life of Michael J. Dowling.

Location

116.I.1.8F

1923-2012. 8 folders.

Location

126.G.2.3

1921-2004. 2 oversize folders.

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PHOTOGRAPHS

Chronological arrangement removed from photo albums. Documents school activities, including the construction of a playground in the late 1970s.

Location

116.I.1.8F

1920s-1970s. 13 folders.

Location

116.I.1.9B

1970s-1980s. 6 folders

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SCRAPBOOKS

Location

126.G.2.3

Gladys McAlister's Scrapbook, 1930s-1940s. 1 volume.

Clippings, photographs, historical documents, and correspondence kept by Principal McAlister (1929-1958).

Beulah Taylor's Scrapbook, 1930s-1958. 1 volume.

Clippings and photographs documenting her years as a teacher at the school.

Alumni Night, April 30, 1976. 1 folder.

Contains: Attendee signatures and messages, invitations, programs, and guided tour information.

60th Anniversary, October 7, 1984. 1 volume.

Contains: Photographs with captions.

Location

116.I.1.9B

Diamond Jubilee (75th Anniversary), May 1995. 2 folders.

Contains: Certificate of Commendation from Arne Carlson, program, letterhead, correspondence, hand written messages from attendees, and photographs.

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SUBJECT FILES

Location

116.I.1.9B

Acting Together, 1989.

Teaching method.

Addition (1961), 1953-1963.

Includes blueprints.

Addition (1961) Dedication, 1962.

Addition (gym, 1990), 1990.

Groundbreaking ceremony materials.

Agribusiness Center and Playground, 1975-1978.

Alteration Plans, 1973.

Alumni, 1940s-1980s. 2 folders.

Correspondence, news and accomplishments.

Anniversary, 1970, 1984, 1994. 4 folders.

Planning and correspondence files for 50th, 60th, and 75th anniversaries.

Architectural drawings, 1937-1970s.

Art Exhibits (Dowling work), 1978.

Back-to-School Night, 1991-1992.

Balloon Launch, 1988.

Behavior Management, 1975-1993.

Includes Discipline Committee minutes and a Behavior Management Policy for Dowling School.

Bicentennial Week and FunFest, 1976.

Blizzard, 1997.

Note written by Lynn Lehmann, author Blizzard, a book about Michael Dowling.

Blueprints, 1935

Floor plan and equipment details of the therapeutic suite at Dowling School.

Book Fair, 1997-2002.

Boy Scouts, 1978-1993.

Brochures, 1924, 1960s-1990s.

Includes brochures, programs, and flyers for the school’s 1924 opening, 1962 and 1978 dedications, 1978 memorial to Principal Margaret Nordenson, 50th and 60th anniversary programs, and 1990 ground breaking ceremony.

Building plans, 1982-1986.

Bush Education Leader's Program, 1992-1993.

Location

126.G.2.3

Cerebral Palsy Program Study and Evaluation, 1953-1955. 2 volumes.

Location

116.I.1.9B

Certificates of Appreciation, 1970s-1990s.

Location

116.I.1.10F

Child Development Classroom Proposal, 1975-1977.

Christmas cards, 1935-1957.

Handmade holiday cards.

Classroom description, 1983-1984.

Committee assignments, 1970-1991.

Community trips, 1992-1993.

Computers, 1980s.

Continuous progress block, 1970s.

Coordinating committees, 1987-1993.

Correspondence, 1976-1996.

Cowboy Ranch, 1946.

Dairy Council Experiment, 1967.

Dig Day, 1971-1987.

Discover Dowling, 1999-1993.

Dowling City, 1977.

Dowling Drive, 1991-1993.

Dowling Gardens, 2003.

Dowling, Michael, 1895-1997. 2 folders.

Mainly photocopies of photographs, clippings, and historical information about the school’s namesake, Michael J. Dowling.

Dowling Town, 1993.

Environmental Education, 1987-1993.

Environmental Education Week, 1989-1991.

Equipment and gifts, 1933-1971.

Lists of school equipment and equipment donations.

Eustis, William Henry, 1923-1979.

Photographs, clippings, and historical information about Eustis, donor of the school’s site and financial benefactor.

Field trips, 1975-1992.

Fun Fest, 1986-1978.

Girl Scouts, 1975-1986.

Girl Scout Grant (playground), 1973-1974.

Graduation, 1977-1992.

Guest books: 50th and 60th anniversaries, 1970, 1984.

Halloween, 1978-1987.

Handicapping conditions, 1971-1991.

History and historical documents, 1921-1992. 3 folders.

Historical summaries, clippings, and programs.

Instructional Materials Center, 1970s.

Integrating Dowling School, 1986-1989. 6 folders.

Kenny, Sister Elizabeth, 1940s.

Kindergarten proposal, 1994.

Mainstreaming Dowling, 1975-1986. 7 folders.

Maps, 1970s-1990s.

School building and grounds.

Memorials, 1947-1980.

Michael Bird Boy (play), 1993-1999.

Minnesota Basic Standards, 1997-1998.

Location

116.I.1.11B

Minnesota Quality Award, 1995, 2000.

Needs assessment, 1946-1976.

Open House, 1985-1994.

Outdoor Education Committee, 1971-1974.

Outdoor Learning Center, 1970s. 2 folders.

Outreach Team, 1980-1981.

PARS, 1999.

Ranking of requests by parents and teachers.

Party, 1956-1957.

Peace Site, 1989.

Picnic, 1963-1980s.

Playground, 1965-1988. 3 folders.

Policies and Procedures, 1984-1986.

Pool (and gym), 1930s.

Planning and correspondence files for pool construction, including financial requests to the U. S. President. Also information about the gym.

Pool (rededication), 2010.

Location

126.G.2.3

Posters, 1936, 1988. 1 folder.

Handmade posters detailing the 1936 pool construction and opening and kids playing in water (1988).

Location

116.I.1.11B

Practical Living Skills Curriculum Guide, undated.

Principals, 1946-1966.

Clippings and historical information.

Proclamations, 1979.

Programs (Christmas), 1941-1971. 3 folders.

Incomplete.

Programs (Memorial Day), 1932-1953.

Incomplete.

Programs (Talent Shows), 1973-1992.

Program Descriptions, 1944, 1965, 1970s-2005. 5 folders.

Curriculum and school programs.

Program Evaluations, 1971-1973, 1981-1982, 1988, 1991-1992. 3 folders.

By parents and teachers.

Quality Schools of Choice, 1993.

Read-A-Thon, 1990-1999.

Reorganization Dowling/Emerson Program, 1980s.

Reports and Programs, 1950s-1992.

Resource Center, 1975-1992.

Reunion 1957, 2002.

Reverse Mainstreaming, 1975-1987. 13 folders.

Including options and evaluations.

School Handbook, 1983-1989.

Scout Activities, 1961-1962.

Security Plans, undated.

Site Based Council minutes, 1992-1993, 1998-2000.

Snow Days (event), 1980s.

Location

116.I.1.12F

Soup Labels Program, 1971-1992. 2 folders.

Special Education staff meetings, 1992-1994.

Special Friends Program, 1987-1988. 2 folders.

Speech therapy, 1940s-1982.

Staff Advisory Meeting Minutes, 1971-1994. 2 folders.

Incomplete.

Stationary, undated.

Student Council minutes, 1975-1994. 2 folders.

Summer Program Proposal, 1968.

Team meetings, 1990-1994.

Telegram, 1945.

To Eleanor Roosevelt upon the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Test Scores, 1960-1966.

Metropolitan Readiness Test.

Therapy reports, 1947-1986.

Total Integrative Programming, undated.

Tours, 1976-1992.

Volunteers, 1974-1992.

Whitehouse 200th Anniversary Art Exhibition, 1992.

Winterfest, 1991-1992.

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PTA (PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION)

Location

116.I.1.12F

Audit Report, 1953-1954.

By-Laws and Constitution, undated, 1950-1951. 1 folder, 1 volume.

Includes handwritten by-laws.

Certificate, 1948-1954.

Charter for Local Association.

Directory, 2007-2008.

Meeting minutes, 1961-1979. 2 folders.

Meeting files, 1936-1986. 3 folders.

Missing 1942.

Flyers, 1992-1993, [2001].

Newsletters, 2000-2009.

Brace Fund receipt and disbursement register, 1929-1946. 1 volume.

Polio Fund committee records and receipt and disbursement register, 1942-1951. 2 volumes.

Revolving Fund committee records and receipt and disbursement register, 1947-1972. 1 folder, 1 volume.

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CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:: Children with disabilities -- Education -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.; Elementary schools -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.; Hospital schools -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.; Parents' and teachers' associations -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.; School buildings -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis -- Photographs.; Student activities -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis -- Photographs.; Students -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis -- Photographs.; Swimming pools -- Minnesota.

Persons:: Dowling, Michael J., 1866-1921.; Eustis, William Henry, 1845-1925.; Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945.

Organizations:: Dowling School for Crippled Children (Minneapolis, Minn.).; Michael Dowling School Urban Environmental Magnet (Minneapolis, Minn.).; Special School District No. 1 (Minneapolis, Minn.).

Document Types:: Photographs -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.; Scrapbooks.

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