Veronica Litrop Collection of Maplewood Junior High School Material

Bridgeport History Center, Bridgeport Public Library

Summary Information

Repository:
Bridgeport History Center, Bridgeport Public Library
Creator:
Litrop, Veronica
Title:
Veronica Litrop Collection of Maplewood Junior High School Material
ID:
BHC-MSS 0188
Date [inclusive]:
1900-1984
Physical Description:
1 Linear Feet
Language of the Material:
English .
Abstract:
Maplewood Junior High School began its life in 1893 as an elementary school to replace the Old South Schoolhouse. It was constructed to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population at the end of the 19th Century, and acts as a microcosm of changes in the Bridgeport educational system from the 1890s to 1984.

Preferred Citation

Veronica Litrop Collection of Maplewood Junior High School Material (BHC-MSS 0188), Bridgeport History Center, Bridgeport Public Library.

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Biographical / Historical

Maplewood Junior High School began its life in 1893 as an elementary school to replace the Old South Schoolhouse. Built by Longstaff and Hurd (responsible for the Barnum Museum and the Crescent Building among others), it was constructed to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population. At the end of the 19th Century, Bridgeport's population was booming, which meant more children and the need for more schools.

Over the years, numerous additions to the building were made to keep up with the pace of growth. The building became a junior high school in 1917.

Education experiments and changes in the status of teachers are reflected in the school's history in the collection, the Maplewood Journal. Included is information about special programs for students with disabilities since the 1920s, the debate over married teachers being required to retire, and the issues of integration during the 1960s.

The school closed in 1984.

This collection was curated by Veronica Litrop, who taught social studies at Mapelwood for 7th and 8th graders and wrote the school's history. Other material in the collection was donated to her by alumni.

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Scope and Contents

This collection represents Litrop's collecting and research, as well as the contributions of alumni. Most important to the collection is the "Maplewood Journal" which gives a full, unabridged history of the school written by Litrop herself. The scrapbooks created by alumni provide useful contemporary information about the school as well.

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Arrangement

Collection is divided into three series - yearbooks, PTA and alumni, and scrapbooks and clippings. Each is arranged chronologically.

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Administrative Information

Publication Statement

Bridgeport History Center, Bridgeport Public Library

Bridgeport History CenterBridgeport Public Library925 Broad StreetBridgeport, CT 06604Business Number: 203-576-7400 (Extension: #7)URL: https://bportlibrary.org/hc/

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Controlled Access Headings

  • Schools
  • Bridgeport (Conn.)

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Collection Inventory

Series I, Yearbooks

Title/DescriptionInstances
Yearbooks, 1923, 1977, 1980
Box 1 folder 1-3

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Series II, PTA and Alumni

Title/DescriptionInstances
National Congress of Parents and Teachers plaque, 1900
Box 1 folder 4
PTA certificate, 1934
Box 1 folder 5
Alumni day program, 1984
Box 1 folder 6
List of graduates, 1915
Box 1 folder 7
Photographs, 1960s-1977, undated
Box 1 folder 8
Maplewood Journal, 1984
Box 2 folder 3

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Series III, Scrapbooks

Title/DescriptionInstances
Clippings, 1930s-1950s, 1983
Box 1 folder 9-10
Scrapbooks, 1936-1940
Box 2 item 1-2

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Content Review Lists: