Archives West Finding Aid

Photographs of Oregon public schools and teachers, 1932-1962, compiled by Mary Finn Maples, an educator and guidance counselor. The collection includes 1,235 images, which date from 1932-1962; most were taken from 1948-1959. All Oregon counties are represented except Benton, Gilliam, Linn, and Wheeler. The majority of the images are exterior and interior views of elementary schools; many of these document inadequate facilities at small rural schools. Classroom scenes most often feature activities such as puppet shows and plays, science projects, and student-made posters, murals, clay and papier-mache figures. Some teachers are identified by name, but students are not. Most of the photographs are snapshots taken by unidentified photographers; there are also some prints made by professional photographers. Includes Polaroids. Markings on some images indicate they were used in publications.