Manuscript Group 1156, Guide to the Pluma Batten Papers ca. 1940s-1950s

Descriptive Summary
Biographical Note
Scope and Content Note
Access Points
Related Material
Administrative Information
Bibliography
Container List

Pluma Batten Collection

Guide to the Pluma Batten Papers
ca. 1940s-1950s

MG 1156

The New Jersey Historical Society
52 Park Place
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Contact: NJHS Library
Phone: (973) 596-8500 x249
Email: library@jerseyhistory.org
URL: https://www.jerseyhistory.org
©2008 All rights reserved.
The New Jersey Historical Society, Publisher
Inventory prepared by Julia Telonidis.

Finding aid encoded by Julia Telonidis. July 2008. Production of the EAD 2002 version of this finding aid was made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Finding aid written in English.

Descriptive Summary
Creator:	Batten, Pluma Burroughs (Penton)
Title:	Pluma Batten Papers
Dates	ca. 1940s-1950s
Abstract:	This collection, belonging to Pluma Batten, educator, pertains mostly to her work as a member of the Pilesgrove (New Jersey) Board of Education, and as supervising principal and superintendent of schools for the Woodstown-Pilesgrove District in the 1940s and 1950s.
Quantity:	3.66 linear feet (11 boxes, located 2nd-floor storage)
Collection Number:	MG 1156

Biographical Note

Pluma Batten, educator, was born in Salem, New Jersey, on November 26, 1894, the daughter of Elsie Maud (Burlew) and Charlton Harris Penton. During high school she organized the first student council and international relations club at her school and was graduated as valedictorian of her class. On March 8, 1914 she married Albert B. Batten. Graduated with honors and a B.S. in Education from the University of Pennsylvania in 1929, she continued with postgraduate work at the University of Pennsylvania (1929-1930), Rutgers University (1930-1931), and New York University (1932-1933) before beginning her teaching career. As rural supervisor for the New Jersey Helping Teachers (1930-1943), Batten taught every grade for at least one year; wrote “A Story of Salem County as told by Children in the Elementary Schools”; and edited a manual on teaching arithmetic. Her accomplishments during her tenure as a member of the Pilesgrove (New Jersey) Board of Education, and as supervising principal and superintendent of schools for the Woodstown-Pilesgrove District (all 1943-1956), included tripling the school budget, inaugurating a full-time guidance program, replacing report cards with teacher-parent conferences, and integrating a racially segregated school system. In addition, she was an active member of the legislative committee of the New Jersey Education Association and the education committee of the American Association of University Women. In 1937 she joined the American Federation of Soroptimist Clubs, a professional women’s organization devoted to the political and economic advancement of women. She served as president of the Salem (New Jersey) club, as director of the North Atlantic region, and on the regional board; she was then elected to the National Board and served as treasurer, second vice-president, first vice-president, and president (1954-1956). While she was chair of the Extension Committee (1952-1954), seventy-three clubs were added to the organization. Batten retired from public education in 1957 but continued to be interested in education and the advancement of women. She remained active in various organizations, including the American Association of University Women.

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Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of papers related to Batten’s work as a New Jersey educator. There is correspondence, notes, meeting minutes, reports, clippings, brochures, and various other types of documentation pertaining to her work as principal. Curriculum plans, teacher evaluation, and materials relating to school transportation, fire safety issues, and eduation of special needs children, teaching methods, health and athletic programs, and various other facets of education policy and school administration are represented in this collection.

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Access Points

The entries below represent persons, organizations, topics, forms, and occupations documented in this collection.

Subject Names:

Batten, Pluma Burroughs (Penton).

Subject Topics:

Education–New Jersey.
Principals–New Jersey.
School boards–New Jersey.
Schools–New Jersey.
Teachers–New Jersey.

Subject Places:

Pilesgrove (N.J.)
Salem County (N.J.)
Woodstown (N.J.)

Document Types:

Handbooks.
Letters (Correspondence).
Licenses.
Minutes.
Notes.
Reports.

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Related Material

Batten, Pluma Burroughs Penton, 1894- . Papers, 1948-1964 (inclusive), 1950-1956 (bulk): A Finding Aid. Radciffe College. Available at: http://oasis.lib.harvard.edu/oasis/deliver/~sch00438

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

This collection should be cited as: Manuscript Group 1156, Pluma Batten Papers, The New Jersey Historical Society.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe College, 1981. Batten’s papers pertaining to the American Federation of Soroptimist Clubs was retained by Radcliffe College.

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Bibliography

Batten, Pluma Burroughs Penton, 1894- . Papers, 1948-1964 (inclusive), 1950-1956 (bulk): A Finding Aid. Radciffe College. Available at: http://oasis.lib.harvard.edu/oasis/deliver/~sch00438

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Container List

Pluma Batten Collection

Box	Folder	Title	Date
1	1	Biographical Sketch	undated
1	2	Material regarding education in general	ca. 1940s-1950s
1	3	Iowa spelling scales, Ashbaugh	1922
1	4	Education of “retarded” children	ca. 1940s-1950s
1	5	Education in NJ	ca. 1940s-1950s
1	6	Education in NJ	ca. 1940s-1950s
1	7	Correspondence regarding NJ State Helping Teachers	1931-1942
1	8	Notebook regarding teaching methods	1951-1972
1	9	Teaching goals and methods	1931-1932
1	10	Teaching goals and methods	1932-1933
1	11	Teaching goals and methods	1933-1935
1	12	Teaching goals and methods	1935-1936
1	13	Handbook for Helping Teachers no. 1,2,3	ca. 1940s-1950s
1	14	School budgets	1937-1940
Box	Folder	Title	Date
2	1	Notebook: activities of students	ca. 1940s-1950s
2	2	Extracurricular activities of students	1931-1942
2	3	Publications of students	1933-1940
2	4	Commencement programs	1937-1942
2	5	Miscellaneous	1931-1942
2	6	Minutes Pilesgrove Board of Ed.	1943-1945
2	7	Minutes Pilesgrove Board of Ed.	1945-1947
2	8	Minutes Pilesgrove Board of Ed.	1947-1950
2	9	Minutes Pilesgrove Board of Ed.	1950-1952
2	10	Minutes Pilesgrove Board of Ed.	1952-1956
Box	Folder	Title	Date
3	1	Charts of organization and supervisory procedures	undated
3	2	School budgets Pilesgrove	1949-1956
3	3	Correspondence	1946-1956
3	4	Bulletin Elementary School, Woodstown	1951-1956
3	5	Announcements	1952
3	6	Announcements	1952
3	7	Announcements	1953
3	8	Announcements	1953-1955
3	9	Announcements	1955
3	10	Announcements	1956
3	11	Announcements	1956
3	12	Faculty handbook Pilesgrove School District	1951-1952
3	13	Faculty handbook Pilesgrove School District	1953-1954
3	14	Student handbook	1951-1952
3	15	Woodstown	1951-1952
3	16	Student enrollment and graduation, elementary and high school	1952-1956
3	17	Pupil analysis and classificaton, Pilesgrove Public School	1934-1956
3	18	Pupil analysis and classificaton, Pilesgrove Public Schools	undated
Box	Folder	Title	Date
4	1	Curriculum–Pilesgrove Public Schools	1948-1955
4	2	Guidance Department–Woodstown Public Schools	1950-1951
4	3	Extra curricular activities–Pilesgrove	undated
4	4	Extra curricular activities–Pilesgrove	1946-1956
4	5	Student publications–Woodstown Public Schools	1943-1956
4	6	Notes of athletic council meeting	1950
4	7	Minutes of lay committee–Woodstown Public Schools	1951-1952
4	8	Notes re: principal and supervising meeting	1951
4	9	Reports of guidance and industrial arts dept.	1949-1952
4	10	Annual Report of Jr. Town meeting, library reports	1951
4	11	Report to parents of medical examination	1950
4	12	Woodstown High School annual report	1946-1947
4	13	Reports Woodstown Elementary Jr. School	1949-1952
4	14	Reports Woodstown High School	1948-1949
4	15	Reports Woodstown High School–Progress report	1949
4	16	Reports Woodstown High School–Progress report	1950
Box	Folder	Title	Date
5	1	Reports Woodstown High School	1951
5	2	Reports Woodstown High School	1952
5	3	Reports Woodstown High School	1953
5	4	Student group photograph	undated
5	5	Photo album South Woodstown high school students	1948-1950
5	6	General equipment information	undated
5	7	Letters regarding supply orders	1952-1956
5	8	Code for janitorial department–Pilesgrove Township School	undated
5	9	Fire drill handbook	undated
5	10	Guidance/vocational program	1946; undated
5	11	Annual narrative report, Helping Teachers, Salem County	1930-1937
5	12	Agricultural conference	1943
5	13	Social studies meetings and programs	1946-1947
5	14	Curriculum development	1943-1948
5	15	Secondary school principals assocation meetings	1946-1947
Box	Folder	Title	Date
6	1	Secondary school principals assocation meetings	1946-1947
6	2	Athletics–misc.	1946, undated
6	3	Faculty Handbook, Woodstown	1946, undated
6	4	Teaching units–Salem Co. schools	1929-1932
6	5	Teaching units–Salem Co. schools	1933-1934
6	6	Teaching units–Salem Co. schools	undated
6	7	Teaching units–Salem Co. schools	undated
6	8	Teaching units–Salem Co. schools	undated.
6	9	Misc. printed material	undated
6	10	Misc. printed material	undated
Box	Folder	Title	Date
7	1	Pupil insurance	1950-1951
7	2	Board of Ed. agendas, reports	1951-1956
7	3	Annual reports	1942-1943
7	4	Constitutions	1951; undated
7	5	Supervisory administrative procedures	1936-1956
7	6	Curriculum planning–Salem County	1951-1955
7	7	School health programs–faculty handbook	1954-1955
7	8	Woodstown schools–curriculum, discipline, family life	1933-1956
7	9	Salaries	1940-1955
7	10	Finances of Board of Ed.	1941-1955
7	11	School elections	1949
Box	Folder	Title	Date
8	1	Remedial reading and reading programs	1937-1942 ; undated
8	2	Programs for assembly	1951-1955
8	3	Agricultural schools	1948-1956
8	4	Code–Auxilliary teachers	1946-1947
8	5	Weekday church school	1944
8	6	Early teacher licenses	1849-1861
8	7	History and bylaws NJ Schoolwomen’s Club	1950-1955
8	8	Conventions Department of Superintendence	1944-1949
8	9	Conventions Department of Superintendence	1950-1955
8	10	Misc. Records–Pilesgrove	1946-1949
8	11	Releases and bulletins–Communications from principal	1946-1949
8	12	Releases and bulletins–Communications from principal	1950-1956
Box	Folder	Title	Date
9	1	Kindergarten handbooks	1949-1951
9	2	Health programs	1952-1956
9	3	3rd NJ workshop report–Health education	1952
9	4	Physical education, athletic assn. records	1941-1953; undated
9	5	Athletics–field day programs	1947-1950
9	6	Bulletin–plans for school health services	1947-1957
9	7	Bulletins: plans for civil defense and first aid	1950-1951
9	8	Achivement Testing materials	1942-1947
9	9	Bulletin: fire protection check list, Salem Co.
9	10	Misc. State Bulletin	1942-1948
9	11	Audio-visual aids, reports, records–Salem Co.	1947-1955
9	12	Materials relating to school cafeteria	1943-1955
Box	Folder	Title	Date
10	1	Teacher Evaluation charts–Woodstown	1947-1948
10	2	Teacher Evaluation charts–Woodstown	1949-1951
10	3	Teacher Evaluation charts–Woodstown	1952-1953
10	4	Reports re: building and grounds	1949-1952
10	5	NJ Cooperative Program in Educational Administration	1951-1953
10	6	Misc. directives, memos, meetings, budget, Salem Co.	1946-1954
10	7	Misc. directives, memos, meetings, budget, Salem Co.	1955-1956
10	8	Qualifications and duties of public school principals and secretaries	undated
Box	Folder	Title	Date
11	1	Material re: adult education	1947-1955
11	2	Anti-discrimination	1945-1955
11	3	Personnel information	1932-1956
11	4	Class schedules	1954-1955
11	5	Bond issue for new elementary school	1949
11	6	Material relating to school bus transporation	1951-1955
11	7	Correspondence–misc.	1950-1953
11	8	Misc.	undated
11	9	Newspaper clippings	1937; undated