Berwyn Heights Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) archives
Abstract
The Berwyn Heights Elemenatry School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) was a volunteer organization founded to promote good home, community, and school relations. The PTA's archives are comprised of the operating records of the association, such as budgets, reports, minutes, and publications.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
This collection is open for research.
Berwyn Heights Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) archives, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.
Photocopies of original materials may be provided for a fee and at the discretion of the curator. Please see our Duplication of Materials policy for more information. Queries regarding publication rights and copyright status of materials within this collection should be directed to the appropriate curator.
This collection is PROCESSED.
Historical Note
In 1949 a small group of parents organized the Berwyn Heights Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). At that time there were thirteen pupils enrolled in three grades at the school. The three grades met in one classroom, and the kindergarten met in another. The Mother's Club for the kindergarten provided the playground equipment, and a group of fathers finished a basement playroom for rainy days, built tables on which the students could eat, built a swing set and a bicycle rack as well as repairing the building itself. The PTA supplied a telephone for the school and purchased a jungle gym for the playground. Prince George's County furnished a fire escape, new desks, new movable partitions for the classrooms, and painted the building inside and out. All of this was accomplished over a four-year period.
In 1950, the school faced possible closure due to low enrollment. Although the similarly named "Berwyn Elementary School" was nearby, the PTA lobbied to keep what would become the Berwyn Heights Elementary School open. In November 1952, a committee began developing the new school a modern community school with six grades and an anticipated enrollment of 125 students by 1954.
The Berwyn Heights Elementary School opened in September 1958. This new school continued to grow in enrollment and had a very active PTA, which sponsored annual events, such as a book fair, tulip bulb sale, and a Spring Fair.
Prior to the 1980-1981 school year the Prince George's County Board of Education held discussions on closing under-enrolled schools for budgetary reasons. Berwyn Heights Elementary and many other schools appeared before the Board of Education to plead their case. In the end, the Board of Education closed a number of schools, including Berwyn Heights Elementary. The PTA attempted to appeal this decision, but the county closed the school at the end of the 1981 school year. The following year the students were scheduled to be bused to Spring Hill Lake Elementary School.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Berwyn Heights Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Archives contains correspondence, minutes, budgets, Spring Fair programs, committee files, and assorted notes of the PTA board members from 1952 through 1981. Documented within the collection are the annual Spring Fairs; issues of concern to the PTA, such as sidewalks in certain areas and purchasing equipment requested by school staff; and various fundraising activities, such as tulip bulb sales and book fairs. The collection is arranged in chronological order by school year July through June until 1981, when Prince George's County closed the Berwyn Heights Elementary School.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
Diane McCusker, the last president of the Berwyn Heights Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), donated the archives to the University of Maryland Libraries in 1981.
Processing Information
Processed by Faye H. Levine, December 2007.
The collection was originally processed in 1982. In 2007, the collection was rehoused in acid-free folders and placed in acid-free boxes. Additional Berwyn Heights materials were transferred to the collection from the Prince George's County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations archives, and some Prince George's County materials were removed from the Berwyn Heights collection and integrated into the Prince George's County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations archives.
EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Jennie A. Levine and Grant Hamming.
Arrangement of Collection
The collection is organized as two series.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Berwyn Heights Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), 1952-1981 (1.75 Linear Feet)
Series I contains correspondence, minutes, budgets, Spring Fair programs, committee files, and assorted notes of the Berwyn Heights Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) board members. The series is organized into two main groups. The first section, which makes up broader administrative records, contains files with a larger chronological scope as well as undated files. These materials are organized alphabetically. The remaining files, which make up the bulk of the series, are arranged chronologically by school year and relate more closely to the individual school years involved.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budgets 1965-1980, 1965-1980 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
| Bylaws, 1956, 1960, 1979, and undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 2 | |
| Father's Show -- Programs and Lists, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 3 | |
| Miscellaneous Items, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 4 | |
| PTA Newsletters-The Echo, 1967-1979 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 5 | |
| Spring Fair and Other Programs, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 6 | |
| Student Newspaper, 1969-1980 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 7 | |
| Treasurer Reports, 1966-1971 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 8 | |
| 1952-1953 School Year -- Minutes and Correspondence, 1952-1953 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 9 | |
| 1953-1954 School Year -- Minutes, Notes, and Articles, 1953-1954 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 10 | |
| 1957-1958 School Year -- Minutes and Lists -- Executive Board and General Meeting, 1957-1958 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 11 | |
| 1958-1959 School Year (First Year in New Building) -- Minutes and Correspondence, 1958-1959 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 12 | |
| 1958-1959 School Year (First Year in New Building) -- Spring Fair -- Supplies List, 1958-1959 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 13 | |
| 1959-1960 School Year (First Year in New Building) -- Correspondence, 1959-1960 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 14 | |
| 1959-1960 School Year (First Year in New Building) -- Minutes -- Executive Board and General Meeting, 1959-1960 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 15 | |
| 1959-1960 School Year (First Year in New Building) -- Spring Fair -- Supplies List, 1959-1960 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 16 | |
| 1960-1961 School Year -- Correspondence, 1960-1961 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 17 | |
| 1960-1961 School Year -- Minutes -- Executive Board and General Meeting, 1960-1961 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 18 | |
| 1960-1961 School Year -- Spring Fair -- Lists, 1960-1961 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 19 | |
| 1961-1962 School Year -- Minutes -- Executive Board and General Meeting, 1961-1962 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 20 | |
| 1961-1962 School Year -- Spring Fair -- Lists, 1961-1962 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 21 | |
| 1962-1963 School Year -- Correspondence, 1962-1963 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 22 | |
| 1962-1963 School Year -- Minutes -- Executive Board and General Meeting, 1962-1963 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 23 | |
| 1962-1963 School Year -- Spring Fair -- Financial List, 1962-1963 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 24 | |
| 1963-1964 School Year -- Correspondence, 1963-1964 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 25 | |
| 1963-1964 School Year -- Minutes -- Executive Board and General Meeting, 1963-1964 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 26 | |
| 1963-1964 School Year -- Sidewalk Committee -- Correspondence, 1963-1964 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 27 | |
| 1963-1964 School Year -- Spring Fair -- Financial Lists, 1963-1964 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 28 | |
| 1964-1965 School Year -- Correspondence -- Controversy Over Air Conditioner and Electric Typewriter, 1964-1965 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 29 | |
| 1964-1965 School Year -- Minutes -- Executive Board and General Meeting, 1964-1965 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 30 | |
| 1964-1965 School Year -- Sidewalk Committee -- Correspondence, 1964-1965 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 31 | |
| 1964-1965 School Year -- Spring Fair -- Lists, 1964-1965 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 32 | |
| 1964-1965 School Year -- Western Jamboree -- Programs and Lists, 1964-1965 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 33 | |
| 1965-1966 School Year -- Correspondence, 1965-1966 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 34 | |
| 1965-1966 School Year -- Minutes -- Executive Board and General Meeting, 1965-1966 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 35 | |
| 1965-1966 School Year -- Sidewalk Committee -- Correspondence, 1965-1966 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 36 | |
| 1965-1966 School Year -- Spring Fair -- Financials and other lists, 1965-1966 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 37 | |
| 1966-1967 School Year -- Correspondence, 1966-1967 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 38 | |
| 1966-1967 School Year -- Minutes -- Executive Board and General Meeting, 1966-1967 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 39 | |
| 1966-1967 School Year -- Programs -- Folk Dancing and Tumbling/Chorus and Instrumental, 1966-1967 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 40 | |
| 1966-1967 School Year -- Spring Fair -- Financials, Lists, and Correspondence, 1966-1967 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 41 | |
| 1967-1968 School Year -- Correspondence, 1967-1968 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 1 | |
| 1967-1968 School Year -- Minutes -- Executive Board and General Meeting, 1967-1968 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 2 | |
| 1967-1968 School Year -- PTA Programs -- Spring Concert, 1967-1968 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 3 | |
| 1967-1968 School Year -- Spring Fair -- Lists and Scripts, 1967-1968 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 4 | |
| 1968-1969 School Year -- Boundary Line Change -- Correspondence and News Clippings, 1968-1969 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 5 | |
| 1968-1969 School Year -- Check Register After 1969 Audit, 1968-1969 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 6 | |
| 1968-1969 School Year -- Correspondence, 1968-1969 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 7 | |
| 1968-1969 School Year -- Minutes and Reports -- Executive Board and General Meeting-Landscape Committee and Health Reports, 1968-1969 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 8 | |
| 1968-1969 School Year -- Spring Fair, 1968-1969 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 9 | |
| 1969-1970 School Year -- Correspondence, 1969-1970 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 10 | |
| 1969-1970 School Year -- Minutes and Reports -- Executive Board and General Meeting and Committee Reports, 1969-1970 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 11 | |
| 1969-1970 School Year -- Spring Fair -- Lists, Correspondence, Programs and Financials, 1969-1970 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 12 | |
| 1970-1971 School Year -- Correspondence, 1970-1971 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 13 | |
| 1970-1971 School Year -- Minutes -- Executive Board and General Meeting, 1970-1971 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 14 | |
| 1970-1971 School Year -- Spring Fair -- Lists, Correspondence, Programs and Financials, 1970-1971 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 15 | |
| 1971-1972 School Year -- Class Lists and Room Mothers, 1971-1972 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 16 | |
| 1971-1972 School Year -- Correspondence, 1971-1972 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 17 | |
| 1971-1972 School Year -- Minutes -- Executive Board and General Meeting, 1971-1972 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 18 | |
| 1971-1972 School Year -- Spring Fair -- Lists, Correspondence, Programs and Financials, 1971-1972 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 19 | |
| 1972-1973 School Year -- Correspondence, 1972-1973 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 1 | |
| 1972-1973 School Year -- Minutes -- Executive Board and General Meeting, 1972-1973 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 2 | |
| 1972-1973 School Year -- Spring Fair -- Lists, Correspondence, Programs and Financials, 1972-1973 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 3 | |
| 1973-1974 School Year -- Correspondence, 1973-1974 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 4 | |
| 1973-1974 School Year -- Minutes -- Executive Board and General Meeting, 1973-1974 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 5 | |
| 1973-1974 School Year -- Spring Fair -- Lists, Correspondence, Programs and Financials, 1973-1974 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 6 | |
| 1974-1975 School Year -- Correspondence, 1974-1975 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 7 | |
| 1974-1975 School Year -- Improvement Foundation -- Renovation Work-Cafeteria and Media Center, 1974-1975 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 8 | |
| 1974-1975 School Year -- Minutes -- Executive Board and General Meeting, 1974-1975 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 9 | |
| 1974-1975 School Year -- Spring Fair -- Lists, Correspondence, Programs and Financials, 1974-1975 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 10 | |
| 1975-1976 School Year -- Correspondence and Class Lists, 1975-1976 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 11 | |
| 1975-1976 School Year -- Minutes -- Executive Board and General Meeting, 1975-1976 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 12 | |
| 1976-1977 School Year -- Correspondence and Class Lists -- Executive Board and General Meeting, 1976-1977 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 13 | |
| 1976-1977 School Year -- Minutes, 1976-1977 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 14 | |
| 1977-1978 School Year -- Book Fair-Fall 1977 -- Instructions, Letters and Schedule Lists, 1977-1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 15 | |
| 1977-1978 School Year -- Correspondence, Notes and Class Lists, 1977-1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 16 | |
| 1977-1978 School Year -- Fine Arts Week -- Committee Report, 1977-1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 17 | |
| 1977-1978 School Year -- Minutes -- Executive Board and General Meeting, 1977-1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 18 | |
| 1977-1978 School Year -- Room Mother Lists, 1977-1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 19 | |
| 1977-1978 School Year -- Spring Fair -- Lists, Correspondence, Programs and Financials, 1977-1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 20 | |
| 1977-1978 School Year -- TV Awareness Campaign -- Letter to Parents and some survey tabulations, 1977-1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 21 | |
| 1978-1979 School Year -- Correspondence, 1978-1979 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 22 | |
| 1978-1979 School Year -- Minutes -- Executive Board and General Meeting, 1978-1979 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 23 | |
| 1978-1979 School Year -- Spring Fair -- Correspondence, 1978-1979 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 24 | |
| 1979-1980 School Year -- Book Fair-Fall 1979 -- Instructions, Letters and Schedule Lists, 1979-1980 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 1 | |
| 1979-1980 School Year -- Correspondence, 1979-1980 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 2 | |
| 1979-1980 School Year -- Landscape Committee -- Lists, Correspondence, Instructions and Financials, 1979-1980 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 3 | |
| 1979-1980 School Year -- Minutes -- Executive Board and General Meeting, 1979-1980 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 4 | |
| 1979-1980 School Year -- Tulip Bulb Sale -- Fall 1979 -- Letter to Parents and Class Lists, 1979-1980 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 5 | |
| 1979-1980 School Year -- Spring Concert -- Programs and Instructions, 1979-1980 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 6 | |
| 1979-1980 School Year -- Spring Fair -- Lists, Correspondence, Programs and Financials, 1979-1980 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 7 | |
| 1980-1981 School Year -- Correspondence, 1980-1981 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 8 | |
| 1980-1981 School Year -- Fundraisers -- Tulip Bulb Sale and Sport Clothing, 1980-1981 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 9 | |
| 1980-1981 School Year -- Minutes -- Executive Board and General Meeting, 1980-1981 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 10 | |
Series 2: Memorabilia, undated (1 item)
This series consists of one button with the label "Fine Arts Week Berwyn Heights Elementary."
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memorabilia | series 2 | box 1 | folder 1 | ||
| Button labeled "Fine Arts Week Berwyn Heights Elementary.", undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 1 | |
Related Material
The Archives and Manuscripts Department also holds the Prince George's County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations archives. For items related to the closing of Berwyn Heights Elementary, please see Series I, Box 10 of that collection.
For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.
Selected Search Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the University of Maryland Libraries' Catalog. Researchers desiring related materials about these topics, names, or places may search the Catalog using these headings.
Subjects
- Berwyn Heights Elementary School (Md.) -- Archives.
- Elementary schools -- Maryland -- Prince George's County -- History -- Sources.
- Parents' and teachers' associations -- Maryland -- Prince George's County -- Archives.
- Public school closings -- Maryland -- Prince George's County.
Names (Added Entries)
- Brewster, Daniel B. (Daniel Baugh), 1923-
- Machen, Hervey Gilbert, 1916-
- Tydings, Joseph D. (Joseph Davies), 1928-