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Barbara Cole Papers

 Collection 0091-MMC-NPBA

Barbara Cole served as a television teacher and research writer for the American Samoan Educational Television Program from 1966 to 1968. Early in 1961, the National Association of Educational Broadcasters (NAEB), with money from Congress, began studying methods for improving literacy in American Samoa. It was decided to use television to improve educational practices. Cole’s work for the project included curriculum development, writing lesson plans, writing scripts for televised instruction, and as an on-camera teacher for English as a Second Language courses.

The Barbara Cole Papers focuses on the curriculum developed for the Educational Television of American Samoa project.

Dates

  • 1962-1991, and undated
  • Majority of material found within 1966-1968

Use and Access to Collection

The collection is open for research use.

Duplication and Copyright Information

Photocopies of original materials may be provided for a fee and at the discretion of the curator. Queries regarding publication rights and copyright status of materials within this collection should be directed to the appropriate curator.

Extent

1.00 Linear Feet (2 Hollinger boxes)

Scope and Content of Collection

The Barbara Cole Papers covers the years 1962 to 1991 and also contain some undated material. The bulk of the materials, from 1966 to 1968, focus on the curriculum developed for the Educational Television of American Samoa project. Types of materials include correspondence, reports, maps, articles and slides.

Biography

Barbara Cole earned her M.A. in Speech Arts from the State University of California at San Diego and her B.A. in Socio-Economics from Mills College, Oakland, California. Cole specialized in English as a Second Language (ESL) and distance learning throughout her career. She served as a Television Teacher and Research Writer for the American Samoan Educational Television Program from 1966 to 1968. Her work for the project included curriculum development, writing lesson plans, writing scripts for televised instruction, and as an on-camera teacher for English as a Second Language courses.

The U. S. Congress and the National Association of Educational Broadcasters (NAEB)funded an effort to completely revise and modernize the American Samoan educational system with a television-based curriculum. Early in 1961, the National Association of Educational Broadcasters (NAEB), with money from Congress, began studying methods for improving literacy in American Samoa. It was decided to use television to improve educational practices. The new system went on the air in October 1964. By 1965, there were six TV channels being used for educational instruction in American Samoa and by 1966, two-thirds of elementary and secondary students were in newly constructed schools and nearly one-third of all instruction was conducted by TV. American teachers contracted to teach in American Samoa for two years. The teachers developed lesson plans that were filmed for broadcast to classrooms throughout American Samoa. Native Samoan teachers were in the actual classroom to facilitate instruction. NAEB ended its association with the Educational Television project in 1969. The project ceased local recording of educational programs in 1975.

Arrangement

Organized as one series

  1. Series 1: Educational Television of American Samoa
  2. Series 1: Educational Television of American Samoa

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

The Barbara Cole Papers was donated to the National Public Broadcasting Archives, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries, by Barbara Cole in September and October of 2001 and May of 2002

Title
The Barbara Cole Papers
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by Darryl L. Byrd, July 2004
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Revision Statements

  • 2010-06-01: EAD revised by Karen E. King, June 2010
  • 2010-05-21: EAD revised by Karen E. King, May 2010
  • 2010-07-20: EAD revised by Karen E. King, July 2010
  • 2021-08-20: Jim Baxter re-wrote the collection abstract.

Library Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives

Contact:
University of Maryland Libraries
Hornbake Library
4130 Campus Drive
College Park Maryland 20742
301-405-9212