| Repository: | Western Reserve Historical Society |
| Creator: | Martha Holden Jennings Foundation |
| Title: | Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Records, Series IV |
| Dates: | 1958-2000 |
| Extent: | 5.20 linear feet (6 containers) |
| Abstract: | The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation is an education foundation promoting elementary and secondary teaching, teacher training, curriculum development and school evaluation studies, including educational TV programs and in-service conferences and seminars. The collection is of interest to researchers exploring trends and developments in education in Ohio, 1963-1992. The records document the foundation's activities in teacher training and staff development, curriculum development, materials development and equipment purchase, information sharing, conferences and retreats, enrichment programs, scholarship and awards, and evaluation and research. The material also supports research into foundation management. The collection consists of agendas, articles of incorporation, bills, bylaws, certificates, correspondence, evaluations, financial statements, grant proposals, invitations, legal briefs, lists, meeting notes, memoranda, minutes, newspaper and journal clippings, photographs, press releases, programs, publications, receipts, reports, resolutions, speech notes, and tax records. |
| MS Number | MS 4829 |
| Location: | closed stacks |
| Language: | The records are in English |
The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation (f. 1958), one of Ohio's preeminent educational foundations, was created by Martha Holden Jennings (1873-1962) with an initial bequest of $5.5 million. Mrs. Jennings was the widow of Andrew R. Jennings (d. 1931), a co founder of International Business Machines (IBM). The purpose of the foundation is "to foster the development of individual capabilities of young people to the maximum possible intent through improving the quality of teaching in non denominational primary and secondary schools and by furnishing incentives with respect thereto, and by such means as the trustees shall determine." The objective of the Jennings Foundation is to promote excellence in Ohio's primary and secondary schools by funding projects that improve the quality of teaching, teacher training, curriculum development, and school evaluation studies. It also focuses on the creation of educational TV programs and provide for in-service educational conferences and seminars. The foundation's main interests are programs that promote more effective teaching in schools and explore new frontiers in education. Surveys have concluded that the Jennings Foundation may be the only foundation in the U.S. of substantial size and scope devoted exclusively to the needs of elementary and secondary education.
Foundation programming did not begin until 1963, and has since grown substantially in terms of numbers of grants, geographic areas of grants, and annual spending. The foundation has designed its own studies, developed unique programs, and supported other pro-active ventures while operating from five primary objectives: recognizing excellence in teaching in elementary and secondary schools; supporting educational programs that advance instruction or improve educational curricula in public schools; providing opportunity and incentive to teachers and students to improve their skills; improving teacher competency with workshops and seminars for pre-service and in-service education conducted by colleges, schools and other institutions; and establishing resources that provide for special needs of students, teachers, administrators and school systems.
Periodic surveys of those served by grants indicate that educators largely agree that the Jennings Foundation has remained true to its purpose though giving patterns have shifted slightly to reflect gradual shifting of the student population from the Cleveland area to statewide. The number of grants awarded and annual dollar amounts has grown, while the average amount of each individual grant has fallen. Enrichment programs have almost consistently ranked at the top of the list of foundation priorities. Arthur Holden, Jr., chairman of the The Martha Holden Jennings foundation, has headed the trustees since the foundation's inception and is primarily responsible for how it has grown and developed.
click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Martha Holden Jennings
The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Records, Series IV, 1958-2000 (1958-1987 and 1993-1995), consist of agendas, articles of incorporation, bills, bylaws, certificates, correspondence, evaluations, financial statements, grant proposals, invitations, legal briefs, lists, meeting notes, memoranda, minutes, newspaper and journal clippings, photographs, press releases, programs, publications, receipts, reports, resolutions, speech notes, and tax records.
This collection is of value to researchers studying the history of Cleveland, Ohio; trends in educational philanthropy; and elementary, secondary, and teacher education in Ohio during the late twentieth century. Researchers interested in the founding and early administrative history of the foundation will find these records valuable. The collection contains biographical information concerning Martha Holden Jennings and her husband Andrew Rawson Jennings (1870-1931) and records related to the disposition of the Jennings estate. These records also document individual funding decisions made by the foundation in 1994 and detailed documentation of those funded projects. The collection also documents the foundation's commitment to educational excellence and the foundation's interpretation of its mission. Researchers of educational endeavors of private organizations in Ohio and foundation and non-profit management and grant-writing will find these records valuable as well. Specific educational trends in Ohio public urban, suburban, and rural school districts are documented extensively through most of the grant files, as are educational enrichment projects of individual Ohio public school teachers and administrators. The teacher enrichment programs sponsored by the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation in 1994 are well documented in this collection.
Researchers interested in the primary and secondary educational projects of Baldwin-Wallace College, Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Children's Museum, the Cleveland Health Education Museum, the Cleveland Initiative for Education, the Cleveland Play House, the Educational Research Council of America, the Educational Television Association of Metropolitan Cleveland, the Fairmount Theatre of the Deaf, the Great Lakes Theater Festival, John Carroll University, Kent State University, the Lorain County Urban League, the Musical Arts Association, University Circle, Incorporated, and University School will also find these records useful. Trends in classroom computerization are well documented in this collection as is the Tax Reform Act of 1969 and the effects of this legislation on the foundation.
Access to folders 1 through 6 is restricted.
Related MaterialThe researcher should also consult MS 4688 Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Records; MS 4772 Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Records, Series II; MS 4798 Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Records, Series III; MS 4914 Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Records, Series V; and MS 5393 Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Records, Series VI .
Separated MaterialAll photographs have been retained with the collection. Two videotapes have removed to the audio-visual collection.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4829 Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Records, Series IV, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, 2000
Processed by Margaret Burzynski-Bays in 2000
Series I: Martha Holden Jennings Estate (access to this series is restricted; see Curator of Manuscripts for details) 1958-1966 |
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Sub-series A: Legal 1958-1966 |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1-4 | Correspondence, memoranda, newspaper clippings, and various legal documents 1958-1959 1962-1966 | |||||||||
Sub-series B: Financial 1962-1964 |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 5-6 | Correspondence, inventories, newspaper clippings, receipts, statements, and various legal documents 1962-1964 | |||||||||
Series II: Administrative Records 1958-1987 1990-1995 |
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Sub-series A: President's Files 1958-1987 |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 7 | Articles of incorporation, cancelled check, correspondence, legal briefs, minutes, receipts, and resolutions 1958-1959 1961 | |||||||||
| 1 | 8 | Correspondence, financial statements and reports, legal briefs, memoranda, newspaper clippings, reports, resolutions, and tax exemption application 1963-1964 | |||||||||
| 1 | 9 | Agendas, certificates, correspondence, financial statements and reports, invitations, journal clippings, lists, minutes, newspaper clippings, press releases, programs, resumes, reports, and tax return 1965 | |||||||||
| 1 | 10 | Correspondence, financial statements and reports, invitations, journal clippings, memoranda, minutes, newspaper clippings, program, reports, and speech notes January-June 1966 | |||||||||
| 1 | 11 | Correspondence, financial statements and reports, lists, minutes, and reports July-December 1966 | |||||||||
| 1 | 12 | Bills, budgets, correspondence, financial statements and reports, invitation, memoranda, minutes, newspaper clippings, program, receipts, resumes, reports, speech notes, and tax return January-June 1967 | |||||||||
| 1 | 13 | Agendas, correspondence, financial statements and reports, lists, memoranda, minutes, newspaper clippings, program, publications, and reports July-December 1967 | |||||||||
| 1 | 14 | Correspondence, financial statements and reports, memoranda, minutes, newspaper clippings, publications, and reports January-April 1968 | |||||||||
| 1 | 15 | Correspondence, financial statements and reports, lists, memoranda, minutes, newspaper clippings, photograph, program, speech notes, and tax return May-August 1968 | |||||||||
| 1 | 16 | Agendas, correspondence, financial statements and reports, memoranda, minutes, publications, and reports September-December 1968 | |||||||||
| 1 | 17 | Bills, correspondence, financial statements and reports, memoranda, minutes, reports, and tax return January-May 1969 | |||||||||
| 1 | 18 | Agendas, correspondence, financial statements and reports, lists, meeting notes, memoranda, newspaper clippings, press releases, and reports June-August 1969 | |||||||||
| 1 | 19 | Agendas, bills, correspondence, financial statements and reports, lists, memoranda, minutes, newspaper clippings, and reports September-December 1969 | |||||||||
| 1 | 20 | Certificates, correspondence, memoranda, newspaper clippings, publications, reports, resumes, speech notes, and tax return January-July 1970 | |||||||||
| 1 | 21 | Agendas, bills, certificates, correspondence, lists, memoranda, minutes, publications, and reports August 1970-April 1971 | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 22 | Bills, correspondence, financial statements and reports, memoranda, publications, and reports May 1971-January 1972 | |||||||||
| 2 | 23 | Agendas, correspondence, memoranda, minutes, and reports February-June 1972 | |||||||||
| 2 | 24 | Articles of incorporation (amended), bills, correspondence, financial statements and reports, lists, memoranda, reports, and speech notes July 1972-January 1973 | |||||||||
| 2 | 25 | Agendas, bills, correspondence, financial statements and reports, lists, memoranda, minutes, program, and reports February-May 1973 | |||||||||
| 2 | 26 | Bills, correspondence, financial statements and reports, grant proposal, memoranda, minutes, reports, and resume June-September 1973 | |||||||||
| 2 | 27 | Bills, correspondence, memoranda, minutes, newspaper clippings, photographs, and reports October-December 1973 | |||||||||
| 2 | 28 | Bills, correspondence, financial reports, memoranda, publications, and reports January-July 1974 | |||||||||
| 2 | 29 | Bills, correspondence, financial statements and reports, memoranda, newspaper clippings, publications, and reports August 1974-February 1975 | |||||||||
| 2 | 30 | Correspondence, lists, memoranda, and reports March-September 1975 | |||||||||
| 2 | 31 | Bills, correspondence, grant proposal, invitation, lists, meeting notes, memoranda, newspaper clippings, press release, program, publications, receipt, and reports October 1975-December 1976 | |||||||||
| 2 | 32 | Agendas, correspondence, financial reports, journal clippings, meeting notes, memoranda, reports, and speech notes January-May 1977 May-December 1978 1979 | |||||||||
| 2 | 33 | Correspondence, financial statements and reports, lists, memoranda, publications, reports, and resumes February-December 1980 March-December 1981 May 1982 | |||||||||
| 2 | 34 | Correspondence, financial statements and reports, lists, memoranda, newspaper clippings, publications, and reports January 1983-May 1984 | |||||||||
| 2 | 35 | Agendas, bills, correspondence, memoranda, and reports October-December 1986 | |||||||||
| 2 | 36 | Agendas, correspondence, financial reports, lists, memoranda, newspaper clippings, publications, reports, and resolution June-November 1987 | |||||||||
Sub-series B: Memoranda, Minutes, and Reports 1990-1995 |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 37 | Advisory and Distribution Committee memoranda 1994 | |||||||||
| 2 | 38-39 | Board of Trustees minutes 1994 | |||||||||
| 2 | 40 | Executive Director's Annual Reports to the Board of Trustees 1990 1993-1994 | |||||||||
| 2 | 41 | Lighthouse II Early Childhood Education Project site evaluations and foundation reports 1995 | |||||||||
Series III: Grant Proposals and Jennings Programs Funded in 1988 1994 |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 42 | Maumee City Schools 1994 | |||||||||
Series IV: Grant Proposals and Jennings Programs Funded in 1994 1993-1998 |
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Sub-series A: Funded Grant Proposals of the Open Grant Program 1993-1998 |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 43-66 | Akron Public Schools, American Community Service Network, Inc., Baldwin-Wallace College, Bowling Green State University, Buckeye Association of School Administrators Capital University, Case Western Reserve University, Center for Career Options, Inc., Chautauqua Institution, Child Guidance Center, Children's Concert Society of Akron, Ohio, Cincinnati Historical Society, City Club Forum Foundation, Cleveland Children's Museum, Cleveland College of Jewish Studies, Cleveland Development Foundation, Cleveland Health Education Museum, Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District, Cleveland Initiative for Education, Cleveland Initiative for Education, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland Public Schools, Cleveland Scholarship Programs, Inc., Cleveland State University Foundation, Inc., Cleveland Technical Societies Council, Close-Up Foundation, Columbus Museum of Art, Community Training and Assistance Center, Inc., Council on Foundations, Council on World Affairs, Dawson Bryant Local School District, Donors Forum of Ohio, East Cleveland City Schools, Edison Biotechnology Center, Inc., Educational Television Association of Metropolitan Cleveland, El Barrio, Inc., Fairmount Theatre of the Deaf, Franklin City Schools, Friends of the Cleveland School of the Arts, Foundation Center, 1994-1995, Great Lakes Theater Festival, Inc., Greater Cleveland Neighborhood Centers Association, Hamilton County Office on Education, Hathaway Brown School, Hillel Academy of Akron, Jennings Association Membership Fund, Jennings Educators' Retreat, Jennings Future Teacher Program, Jennings Grants-to-Administrators Program, Jennings Grants-to-Teachers Program, Jennings Master Teacher Program, Athens, Ohio, Jennings Master Teacher Program, Bowling Green, Ohio, Jennings Opportunity Grant Program, Jennings Scholar Alumni Workshop, Athens, Ohio, Jennings Scholar Alumni Workshop, Bowling Green, Ohio, Jennings Scholar Lecture Program, Athens, Ohio, Jennings Scholar Lecture Program, Bowling Green, Ohio, Jennings Summer Math Workshop, Jennings Summer Science Workshop, Karamu House, Kent State University Foundation, Inc., and Kenyon College 1993-1998 | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 67-83 | Lake County Chapter of the Archeological Society of Ohio's Indian Museum of Lake County, Lorain County Access to Higher Education Program, Inc., Lorain County Urban League, Inc., Lyric Opera, Cleveland, Mansfield Symphony Society, Inc., Miami University, Mount Vernon City Schools, Musical Arts Association, Muskingum County Board of Education, National Invention Center, Inc., New Cleveland Opera Company, North Olmsted City Schools, Northeastern Educational Television of Ohio, Inc., Nuclear Age Resource Center, Oberlin City School District, Oberlin College, Ohio Academic Decathlon Association, Inc., Ohio Boychoir, Inc., Ohio Congress of Parents and Teachers, Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Ohio Department of Education, Ohio Education Improvement Consortium, Inc., Ohio Energy Education Development Project, Ohio State University Development Fund, Ohio State University Research Foundation, Ohio University Foundation, Painesville City Local Schools, Playhouse Square Foundation, Playhouse Square Foundation, PM Foundation, Inc., Positive Education Program, Rio Grande College, Robert A. Taft Institute of Government, Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland, Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center, Solon City Schools, Southern Local Schools, Support for Talented Students, Inc., Toledo Ballet Association, Inc., Toledo Museum of Art, Trumbull County Board of Education, Twin Valley Community Local School District, University Circle, Inc., University Circle, Inc., University for Young Americans, University School, University School, Vocational Information Program, Inc., Washington County Board of Education, and Youngstown State University 1993-1997 | |||||||||
Sub-series B: Funded Grant Proposals of the Grants-to-Teachers program 1993-1997 |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 84-88 | Deborah Anderson, Evelyn Arthur, Tessy Baker, Lisa Barrett, Cheryl Bartone, Karen Bodner, Richard Boldon, Tamara Bovenizer, Connie Brandon, Ruth Brickley, Deborah Ramsey Burr, Corrine Buress, Sharon Ann Burson, Neil Carpathios, Janet Cash, Candace Clayton, Jeanne Constantino, Maria Cortright, Susan Coustillac, Paula Crew, Betty Davis, Cirilda Dean, Joan Dungey, and Jacqueline Dunn 1994-1996 | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 5 | 89-101 | Susan Durkin, Susanne Dziak, Albert Ehlert, Linda Emerson, Jeri Ernest, Joan Fenohr, Karen Ferguson, Charlotte Finley, Angela Frankmann, Stacy Franks, Gary Gardella, Marsha Gerhardt, Mimi Gingold, April Green, Patricia Herman, Michele Lynn Hicks, Mary Sue Hongosh, Teresa Hoskins, Michael Hubbell, Constance Jackson, Carolyn Jenkins, Mark Johnson, Jean Kafer, Barbara Mary Kapucinski, Barbara Mary Kapucinski, Jan Karl, Sandra Keir, Kathleen Kelly, Cherry King, Timothy Kohl, Beverly Kornack, Wendi Kaye Kral, Sally Kratochvil, Therese Marie Krol, Robert Laghetto, Ruth Little, Selene Loomis, Kathryn Loxley, Arthea Lucas, David Lucas, Marilyn Lujan, Maureen Canning Marshall, Karen Martin, Frederick Mayer, Deborah McArdle, Kenneth McCarthy, Delores McCollum, Cynthia Miller, Debra Murphy-Desling, Karen Myers, Ann-Marie O'Donnell, Pamela Offineer, Barry Orahood, Brian Panter, Paul Reble, Helen Redinger, Patsy Rice, Barbara Roeth, Renee Rose, Barbara Ross, Janet Rusnak, Rebecca Sauer, Joseph Schellentroger, Pamela Rae Schmieder, Pat Shafer-Shaw, Julia Shoup, Gail Shreiner, Janet Lee Shumaker, Harriette Skinner, Kim Slough, Karen Sprague, Patricia Spreng, Shanthi Sriram, Jennifer Thompson, Pamela Toon, Alix Travis, Shellie Waggoner, Deanna Walther, Marilyn Wegener, Mary Jo Weingart, Karen Wheeler, Linda White, Sharron Williams, Cynthia Winner, Beverly Yaman, and Christine Zechman 1993-1996 | |||||||||
Sub-series C: Funded Grant Proposals of the Opportunity Grant Program 1994-1996 |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 5 | 102-106 | Boardman Local School District, Bowling Green City Schools, Brunswick City School District, Camp Sue Osborn, Case Western Reserve University, Centerville City Schools, Cleveland Education Fund, Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District, Cleveland Public Schools, Cleveland Women's Orchestra, Cloverleaf Local Schools, Cuyahoga Valley Joint Vocational School District, 1994; Elyria City Schools, 1994; Euclid City Schools, 1994; and Garfield Heights City Schools, 1994.Hiram House, Lakewood City Schools, Lima City Schools, Lake County Young Men's Christian Association, Margaretta Local Board of Education, Mount Vernon City Schools, Nordonia Hills City School District, Northeastern Local School District, Northeastern Local School District, Northeastern Ohio Science and Engineering Fair, Perry Local Schools, Perry Local Schools, Rockefeller Park Cultural Arts Association, Inc., South Central Local Schools, Southeastern Local Schools, Stow City Schools, Tecumseh Local School District, Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools, Young Women's Christian Association of Cleveland, Ohio, and Youngstown State University 1994-1996 | |||||||||
Sub-series D: Funded Grant Proposals of the Grants-to-Administrators Program 1993-1996 |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 5 | 107-111 | Alliance City Schools, Aurora City Schools, Avon Local Board of Education, Barberton City Schools, Barberton City Schools, Belmont County Schools, Berea City School District, Bowling Green City Schools, Cambridge City Schools, Centerburg Local Schools, Claymont City Schools, Cleveland Public Schools, Crooksville Exempted Village School District, Dawson-Bryant Local School District, Diocese of Cleveland, Euclid Public Schools, Holmes County Schools, Hudson Local School District, 1994-1995; Huron County Schools, 1994-1995; Kenston Local Schools, Kent State University Foundation, Inc., Kent State University Foundation, Inc., Knox County Schools, Lakewood City Schools, Laurel School, Massillon City Schools, Mentor Public Schools, Mentor Public Schools, Mentor Public Schools, Miami County Schools, Miami University, New Lexington City Schools, and Ohio State University Development Fund 1993-1996 | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 6 | 112-113 | Orrville City Schools, Pymatuning Valley Local Schools, Pymatuning Valley Local Schools, Summit County Schools, University School, Ursuline College, Van Wert City Schools, Van Wert City Schools, Wapakoneta City Schools, West Geauga Local Schools, Westerville City Schools, Youngstown State University, and Youngstown State University 1994-1996 | |||||||||
Series V: Publications 1998-1999 |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 6 | 114 | Annual Report, 1998. Bulletin, March, May, and December, 1999. Criteria for Grants, undated. Martha and Andrew Jennings, chapter from an unknown publication, undated. 1998-99 Jennings Scholar Lectures. . | |||||||||
| 6 | 115 | Pro Excellentia and website printout 1998-1999 | |||||||||