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A day in the classroom in old Boston

School kids in old Boston

The folks at the Boston City Archives wonder if you can place this scene. See it larger.

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311 staff?

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Boston Development Authority.

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The kids are playing with wooden Froebel blocks. Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852) was a German educational theorist who invented the concept of "kindergarten" & developed educational toys to teach concepts of art, design, & mathematics. Elizabeth Palmer Peabody (1804-1894) visited Germany to study the kindergarten movement & started the first kindergarten in Boston in 1860 on Pinckney Street. The children's clothing looks more like the 1890s but it could be her school.

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Even though it looks like that's not the answer, I'm impressed with the sleuthing! Kind of wish you were right because it would have meant there was some sort of clue to go on.

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The girls are dressed like my mother so I'm guessing early to mid-1930s. Beyond that, some public school room in Boston?

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Adorable!

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It's not a school. It's some kind of settlement house or other kind of program for children. As for a date, I put it within 10 years of 1905.

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Thanks for playing, folks! This is the "Library Corner" at the Benjamin Pope School at O and 5th Street, circa 1918. The photo was printed in the 1919 Boston School Superintendent's report.

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was the stomping grounds for the Knights of Columbus, who sold out to developers, who converted it to luxury condos. Surprisingly they have plenty of parking considering it's close to a bus stop. Surprised?

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But I recognize those "flapper" bows, these innocent little girls will be tearing up the dancefloors and showing off their knees in 5 years or so. (Yes, the term "flapper" came from the bows they wore when they were younger.)

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I am not sure what school it is, but I am sure that the teacher bought the books, the rug, the chalk, and the hand sanitizer. . She probably also bought one or two of the chairs and all of the room decorations, including the pictures on the wall.

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They probably started before labor day in sweltering 98F heat and no ac, with the teachers not allowed to use fans because the electricity is not up to code.

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And I don't see how anyone who isn't a Boston archivist could possibly recognize this place. But the hair bows and dresses put the date in the 1915-1920 range.

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