Benner, Lorraine W.,
Benner Papers,
1956-1995.
Manuscript Collection: MS 0629
2
boxes
Agency History/Biographical note:
Lorraine Wineow Benner was born July 30, 1906 in Schenectedy, New
York, and served on the faculty of Mount Holyoke College from
1951-1972 in the Department of Psychology and Education. Benner
received her diploma from the Illman Kindergarten-Primary Training
School in Philadelphia, and taught kindergarten in Longmeadow,
Massachusetts from 1929-1943. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree
in Education in 1941 from Boston University and her Master of Arts
degree in Child Development in 1945 from Teachers College at Columbia
University. During her leave of absence in 1940-1941 from her
position as a kindergarten teacher in Longmeadow, Benner received the
one fellowship awarded annually by the Association for Childhood
Education International and worked as a staff member at its
headquarters in Washington, D.C. She remained actively involved with
the Association thereafter. Benner taught Education at Wheelock
College and Smith College between 1943 and 1951. In 1951 she was
hired to teach in the Psychology and Education Department and to
direct the Gorse Child Study Center at Mount Holyoke College. Benner
received a Fulbright grant in 1957 to be a visiting lecturer in Child
Development and Family Relations at Ochanomizu Women's University in
Tokyo, Japan. In 1964-1965, Benner taught at Women's Christian
College in Madras, India, as one of five American professors selected
to participate in the newly established US-India Women's College
Exchange Program. On sabbatical from Mount Holyoke College in 1966
and 1967, she used a faculty grant to study children in the Himalayan
Mountain Region. In addition to her responsibilities at Mount
Holyoke, Benner was involved with many communities and organizations
related to child development and early childhood education. She
consulted with Head Start, an early education teacher training
program, and lectured abroad and regionally. Following her
retirement in 1972, she remained active in local and regional
organizations relating to her academic field until her death on
February 10, 1995 in South Hadley, Massachusetts.
Scope and Content:
The Lorraine Wineow Benner papers are made up of correspondence,
travel diaries, biographical material, and photographs. Her
correspondence consists of several letters by Benner and numerous
letters from former host family and students at Ochanomizu Women's
University, Tokyo, Japan (1958-1960). Twelve diaries reflect her
experiences as a teacher and traveler in Europe (1956), Japan (1958),
Scandinavia (1961), India (1964-1967), Germany (1971), and Greece
(1973). Biographical material includes a resume, articles and
clippings, sketches, and documents relating to her memorial service.
The collection concludes with two undated photographs.
Cite as: Lorraine W. Benner Papers, Mount Holyoke College,
Archives and Special Collections, South Hadley,
MA
Access Restrictions: Unrestricted
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