Finding Aid of the Alexander J. Stoddard papers
Table of Contents
Finding aid prepared by Rebecca Hirsch, 2010
The processing of this collection and the creation of this finding aid was funded by the generous support of the National Historic Publications and Records Commission.
Summary Information
- Repository
- USC Libraries Special Collections
- Creator
- Stoddard, Alexander J. (Alexander Jerry), 1889-1965
- Title
- Alexander J. Stoddard papers
- Collection no.
- 0013
- Date [bulk]
- Bulk, 1936-1954
- Date [inclusive]
- 1930-1960
- Extent
- 11.08 Linear feet, 11 boxes
- Language
- English
- Abstract
- This collection contains the papers of Alexander J. Stoddard (1889-1965). His papers include correspondence, reports, speeches, photographs, and clippings documenting his tenures as Superintendent of Schools in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Denver.
Preferred Citation
[Box/file# or item name], Alexander J. Stoddard papers, Collection no. 0013, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.
Biographical Note
Alexander J. Stoddard was born in 1889 in Auburn, Nebraska. He graduated from Auburn High School in 1905 and married Sadie Gillan in 1916. They had one son and one daughter. Stoddard began his career as a school teacher in Nebraska, receiving a BS from the University of Nebraska and a Master's degree from Columbia University's Teachers College in 1924. He moved to Los Angeles in 1948 after having spent nine years as the superintendent of schools in Philadelphia. Stoddard served as Superintendent of Los Angeles City Schools from 1948 until his retirement in 1954. Stoddard was actively involved with a number of national education organizations, including the American Association of School Administrators, the Educational Policies Commission and Superintendents of Larger City School Systems. In the 1950s, he was a strong advocate for the new field of educational television. Before working in Philadelphia, Stoddard served as Superintendent of Schools in Denver, Colorado; Providence, Rhode Island; Schenectady, New York; and Bronxville, New York. Stoddard died on October 18, 1965 in Los Angeles.
Scope and Content
This collection contains speeches, reports, photographs, personal and business correspondence and newspaper clippings documenting Alexander J. Stoddard's tenure as the Superintendent of Los Angeles City Schools (1948-1954). Also included are correspondence and reports from Stoddard's tenures as the Superintendent of Schools in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and in Denver, Colorado.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
USC Libraries Special Collections
2010
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
Conditions Governing Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
The collection contains published materials; researchers are reminded of the copyright restrictions imposed by publishers on reusing their articles and parts of books. It is the responsibility of researchers to acquire permission from publishers when reusing such materials. The copyright to unpublished materials belongs to the heirs of the writers. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Acquisition
The Alexander Stoddard papers were donated to USC by Mrs. Sadie Stoddard in 1966.
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
- Los Angeles City School District. -- Archives
Genre(s)
- Books
- Clippings
- Correspondence
- Photographs
- Reports
- Speeches
- Textbooks
Personal Name(s)
- Stoddard, Alexander J. (Alexander Jerry), 1889-1965 -- Archives
Subject(s)
- Education--California--Los Angeles--Archival resources
- Education--Colorado--Denver--Archival resources
- Education--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia--Archival resources
- Educational television programs--Archival resources
- School superintendents--California--Los Angeles--Archival resources
- School superintendents--Colorado--Denver--Archival resources
- School superintendents--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia--Archival resources
Other Finding Aids
An index to Stoddard's speeches is available on-site.
Collection Inventory
Series 1: CorrespondenceScope and ContentSeries consists of Stoddard's personal and business correspondence. Much of the material is letters of appreciation, thanks, or congratulations. Also present in this series is Stoddard's correspondence with the Ford Foundation about the use of money from the Foundation's Fund for the Advancement of Education and with the American Book Company about the publication of the English textbooks he authored. |
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Personal |
Box 1 |
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By City |
Box 2 |
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Business |
Box 2-4 |
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Series 2: SpeechesScope and ContentSeries contains the texts of speeches given by Stoddard over the course of his career. Included in each file is a table listing when and where that speech was given. An index to the speeches is available on-site. |
Box 4-6 |
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Series 3: Reports, Clippings and Business PapersScope and ContentSeries contains reports and small publications, newspaper clippings, and other miscellaneous business papers found in the collection. Included in this series are a few publications by the Los Angeles City Schools, one by the Educational Testing Service and a report on the National Program ETV [Educational TV] Workshop held in 1959 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. |
Box 6-7 |
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Series 4: Photographs, Scrapbooks and EphemeraScope and ContentSeries contains photographs documenting Stoddard's career as Superintendent of the Los Angeles City Schools and ephemera. Photographs include two photograph albums from 1949 PTA Milk Fund Football Carnival held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and a framed photograph. Ephemera include Stoddard's business cards and his War Department photo identification card from 1946. Scrapbooks contain clippings, event programs, and photographs. |
Box 7 |
Box 7-9 |
Box 8-9 |
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Series 5: ArtifactsScope and ContentSeries contains 4 gavels. |
Box 9 |
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Series 6: BooksScope and ContentSeries consists of 17 volumes of English textbooks for various levels written by Stoddard and 4 volumes of publications of the Educational Policies Commission bound together. |
Box 10 |
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Series 7: Film ReelsScope and ContentSeries contains two film reels of educational television programming. |
Box 11 |
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