M. L. Cushman Papers, 1911-1980

M. L. Cushman Papers

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Collection Overview

Title: M. L. Cushman Papers, 1911-1980

ID: OGLMC488

Primary Creator: Cushman, Martelle L. (1908-1982)

Extent: 9.75 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 07/00/1978. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Education, University of North Dakota - Faculty

Languages: English

Abstract

1908-1982; UND Dean of the College of Education from 1954 to 1972

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The M.L. Cushman Papers have been divided into five series:

Series 1: Associations of School Administrators

Series 2: North Dakota Educational Organizations

Series 3: Teacher Educational Organizations

Series 4: Professional Organizations

Series 5: Assorted Materials

Collection Historical Note

Martelle L. Cushman was born March 9, 1908, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 1928, Cushman graduated from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo with a Life Teaching Certificate. He served as principal of Ellsworth High School in Ellsworth, Michigan from 1928 to 1931. He re-entered Western Michigan in 1931, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1932. He was employed as a teacher and coach at Kellogg School in Augusta, Michigan, from 1932 to 1935.

He married Florence Haas on June 20, 1933 in Kalamazoo. The couple had four children: Clifton, Cedric, Marnita, and Marlene. In 1935, he was hired as superintendent of schools in Cedarville, Michigan. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1937 with a Master of Arts. His master's thesis was titled "Natural Community School Survey of Mackinac County, Michigan." From 1938 to 1941, he was superintendent of schools in Richmond, Michigan.

He left Michigan in 1941 to attend Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York, where he earned his Ph.D. in 1943. His doctoral dissertation was titled "An Evaluation of Rural School District Reorganization in Michigan." He served in the U.S. Army Air Force as an instructor on the B-24 bomber from August 1943 to March 1945.

He joined the faculty of Iowa State College in Ames in 1945. Directing work in rural education, he specialized in the areas of school administration, finance, and school district reorganization. He also directed the 1950 Iowa Study on School Finance in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Public Instruction. After rising to the rank of professor, he left Iowa State in 1954 to become dean of the College of Education at the University of North Dakota.

Under his leadership, the College of Education underwent a steady growth in enrollment. This growth was assisted by the reinstatement of the elementary education program in 1958. The foundation of a program in special education was undertaken in 1967, and the Northern Plains Indian Teacher Corps Program was established in 1969. Cushman also led the college through the process of receiving its first national accreditation.

Following the completion of a large-scale, statewide study on the issue of education in 1967, significant changes were made to the structure of the College of Education. An experimental college in teacher education, the New School, was established outside of the College of Education. This occurred despite reluctance from Dean Cushman and other members of the College of Education. Cushman went so far as to personally lobby the State Board of Higher Education to reject the restructuring of the College. Dr. Cushman took leave from UND in July 1972 to pursue research and writing. He formally retired the following year.

Cushman was a prodigious scholar who authored numerous articles. He was an active member of Phi Delta Kappa, an honorary education fraternity. He served as president of Phi Delta Kappa International from 1955 to 1957. He was also active in the National Educational Association, the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, and the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges.

He died November 28, 1982, in Port Charlotte, Florida.

Subject/Index Terms

Education
University of North Dakota - Faculty

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Accruals: Additional materials were donated in 2001 (2001-2495).

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Source: Martelle Cushman

Acquisition Method: Donation; 78-519

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). M.L. Cushman Papers. OGLMC 488, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid added to Archon in June 2015.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Associations of School Administrators],
[Series 2: North Dakota Educational Organizations],
[Series 3: Teacher Educational Organizations],
[Series 4: Professional Organizations],
[Series 5: Assorted Materials],
[All]

Series 4: Professional Organizations

Correspondence, reports and literature dealing with AACTE, AAHE, Deans of Education of NASULGC, Phi Delta Kappa, National Commission on Teacher Education and Professional Standards, and the Rural Education Department Conference.

Box 5

Folder 26: American Association of University Professors
Folder 27: AACTE Meeting, February 21-24, 1973
Folder 28: AACTE, Annual Meeting: - Chicago, February 21, 1974, February 26, 1975.
Folder 29: AASA Convention Reporter
Folder 30: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Folder 31: Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges
Folder 32: American Council on Education
Folder 33: AACTE Bulletin and Publications
Folder 34: American Association for Higher Education, March 11-14, 1973.
Folder 35: AAHE Bulletin, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975.
Folder 36: AAHE College and University Bulletin and 1976 Conference
Folder 37: AACTE, Correspondence on Teacher Education
Folder 38: American Association of School Administrators, Memo
Folder 39: Accreditation, NCATE, 1976.
Folder 40: Association of Teacher Educators
Folder 41: AACTE, 1975, 1976, 1977
Folder 42: American Association for Higher Education
Folder 43: Deans, National Association of Deans of Colleges of Education in State Universities and Land Grant Colleges
Folder 44: Deans of College of Education in National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, 1966-1969.
Folder 45: Deans of Education, National Association of Deans of Colleges of Education in State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, 1969-1970,
Folder 46: Deans of Education of NASULGC, Meeting in Kansas City, October 25-27, 1970.

Box 6

Folder 1: Deans of Education of NASULGC, Meeting in Washington, May 3-4, 1970
Folder 2: Summary Report to Deans of Education, NASULGC, February, 1973 by M. L. Cushman
Folder 3: Deans of Education Meeting, Atlanta, October 23-24, 1972
Folder 4: Deans of Education, NASULGC, 1973.
Folder 5: Educational Policies Commission, 1935-1955
Folder 6: Educational Policies Commission, 1955-1965
Folder 7: Education Commission of the States
Folder 8: Minnesota School Board Association
Folder 9: Minnesota Conference on Teacher Education
Folder 10: National Farmers Union
Folder 11: National Commission. Teacher Education and Professional Standards
Folder 12: National Commission on Teacher Education and Professional Standards
Folder 13: National Retired Teachers Association
Folder 14: Overseas Education, Comparative Education Society
Folder 15: Phi Delta Kappa, History
Folder 16: Phi Delta Kappa - Beta Kappa, I. S. U.
Folder 17: Phi Delta Kappa - Alpha Theta, UND
Folder 18: Phi Delta Kappa - Alpha. Theta Chi
Folder 19: District Representative, Record, 1948-1951
Folder 20: Phi Delta Kappa, Secretary and First Vice-President
Folder 21: Phi Delta Kappa - Headquarters Building
Folder 22: Phi Delta Kappa - Presidency
Folder 23: Phi Delta Kappa, Study Committee, Future of Phi Delta Kappa
Folder 24: Phi Delta Kappa, News, Notes and Quotes
Folder 25: Phi Delta Kappa, Commission on Higher Education, Minutes
Folder 26: Phi Delta Kappa, 1970, 1971, 1972
Folder 27: Phi Delta Kappa. Past Presidents
Folder 28: Phi Delta Kappa, Past President, 1974 - Phoenix, M. L. Cushman
Folder 29: M. L. Cushman
Folder 30: Phi Delta Kappa, 1973-74
Folder 31: Phi Delta Kappa, Meetings; New Orleans, March 13-15, 1975; Denver, March 19- 21, 1976.
Folder 32: Phi Delta Kappa, 1974-75
Folder 33: Phi Delta Kappa, 35th Biennial Council, October 16-19, 1915
Folder 34: Phi Delta Kappa, Past President, Denver, M. L Cushman, 1976
Folder 35: Rural Education Committee, Midwest Conference, North Dakota
Folder 36: Rural Education Department, 1961-62.
Folder 37: Rural. Education Department, 1962-63
Folder 38: Rural Education; Rational Committee for Children and Youth Rural Youth Conference, Stillwater, Oklahoma, Sept. 22-25
Folder 39: Rural Education Conference, Washington, September 25, 1964.
Folder 40: Rural Education Department, Commission on Professional Personnel, 1963.
Folder 41: Rural Education Department, 1963-64
Folder 42: Rural Education Conference, San Diego, October 10-13 1965
Folder 43: Rural Education Conference and County Superintendents' Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, October 9-12, 1966.
Folder 44: Rural Youth, Speech on Rural Youth, Washington, D.C. October 23-26, 1967.
Folder 45: Rural Department, County Superintendents' Conference, October 12-15, 1968, Spokane
Folder 46: Rural Department, County Superintendents' Conference, October 1-4, 1974 Oklahoma City
Folder 47: Rural Education Department, 1967-68-69.
Folder 48: Rural Department Conference, Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 5-8, 1969.
Folder 49: Rural Education Colligation, N.W. Regional Education Lab.
Folder 50: Rural Improvement Program, Experimental Schools Grant
Folder 51: Rural Department Conference, October 11, 1970, Des Moines
Folder 52: Rural Education Conference, October 11-12, 1974 Reno

Box 7

Folder 1: Rural Education Conference, Philadelphia, October 15-18, 1977
Folder 2: Rural Department, REA, 1973-74
Folder 3: Rural Education Association, Springfield Meeting, October 7-10, 1973
Folder 4: Rural Education NFIRE
Folder 5: The Emerging Role of Regional Service Centers, NFIRE.
Folder 6: Rural Education 1974-75
Folder 7: Rural Education Conference, San Antonio, Texas, October 19-22, 1975
Folder 8: Rural Education, 1975-76
Folder 9: Society of Professors of Education
Folder 10: USOE Field Reader

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