- unitid
-
{"value"=>"20590", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"Sc MG 409", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"b11524023", "type"=>"local_b"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1971-1987", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1971/1987"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Alton Douglas Rison papers and additions"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"34 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"13.96 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear_feet"}]}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division</span>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"Alton Rison was principal of Junior High School 117 in Brooklyn, New York, from 1971 to 1985, where he implemented a series of modern corporate management methods with the goal of changing \"school chaos to achievement.\" This collection documents Rison's administration at Junior High School 117 and the methods he used to improve teaching methods and increase accountability of student achievement levels."}
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"English"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Rison, Alton Douglas, 1930-", "type"=>"persname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Alton Rison was principal of Junior High School 117 in Brooklyn, New York, from 1971 to 1985, where he implemented a series of modern corporate management methods with the goal of changing \"school chaos to achievement.\" Rison was born in Brooklyn and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, in 1953. from Huston-Tillotson College in Austin, Texas, and his Master of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Texas in 1958. He served in the United States Army as a psychiatric social worker and neuropsychiatric technician.</p> <p>Rison worked as a Junior High School teacher in Brooklyn (1958-1962) and Queens, New York (1962-1970), and as Assistant Principal of Junior High School #59 in Queens (1970) before becoming Principal of Junior High School #117 Francis Scott Key, in Brooklyn in February 1971. Rison's changes in the school system included requiring teacher accountability through a variety of methods such as classroom inspections and statistics on projected and actual student pass/fail rate, and the use of television coverage. He also established a think tank of teachers to create projects for all departments as well as the entire school, a \"report card for staff accountability\", and classroom ratings; and he encouraged parents to speak with teachers. Approximately forty schools in inner city areas adopted his method of teaching and administration. Although Rison's methods were controversial during his tenure, the school rose markedly in academic achievement and student involvement. To document the progress of his methods, Rison kept voluminous records and required teachers to prepare monthly progress reports and deposit copies of all examinations with him. Each department was required to produce a \"Materials of Management\" binder for display in the Administrative Offices, so other teachers at #117 could study their methods and results.</p> <p>In addition to his educational career, Rison was also an writer. An early member of the Harlem Writers Guild, he wrote and produced plays from novels and short stories in the 1960s.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>This collection documents Alton Rison's administration at Junior High School 117 and the methods he used to improve teaching methods and increase accountability of student achievement levels in this inner city school in Brooklyn, New York, in the 1970s-1980s. The papers contain faculty memoranda, curricula, school board policies and those designed by Rison, statistics on achievement and percentage of pass/fail students, and documents pertaining to the effectiveness of different teaching systems. His annual \"Daily Events\" files contain memoranda, schedules, and reports for each day of the school year and summer sessions. Additional materials include daily \"Cabinet Meeting\" minutes (1982-1984) and yearbooks (1971-1986). The collection also documents the teacher/union/administration clashes that occurred as Rison implemented his plan. Also in this collection are Rison's writings which include his unpublished autobiography, \"From School Chaos to Achievement (A True Story)\", and scripts for his unpublished plays such as \"In the Principal's Office\", \"In the Teacher's \", and \"Oh Brooklyn, You're My Home!\". Photocopies of reviews of his work as a principal and playwright, and posters from one of his plays, complete the collection.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Alton Douglas Rison papers and additions are arranged in seven series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20590#c1663663'>Daily events</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1975-1984</div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20590#c1663671'>Faculty memos</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1971-1986</div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20590#c1663675'>\"Management of materials\"</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1974-1987</div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20590#c1663696'>Statistics</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1971-1985</div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20590#c1663704'>Restricted</a></div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20590#c1663705'>Autobiography</a></div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20590#c1663708'>Additions</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1971-1986</div>\n</li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p>Arranged into 7 series: I. Daily events; II. Faculty memos; III. \"Management of materials\"; IV. Statistics; V. Restricted; VI. Autobiography; and VII. Additions.</p>", "supress_display"=>true}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Gift of Alton D. Rison, January 1987-1988.</p>"}
- separatedmaterial
-
{"value"=>"<p>Transferred to the Art and Artifacts Division: posters.</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Accessioned by Sule Greg Wilson, 1988.</p>"}
- accessrestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>Student discipline reports, grievances, and \"Principal's Opinions of Teacher's Performance\" (box 31) are restricted indefinitely. Researchers must sign confidentiality form to view box 33.</p>"}
- sponsor
-
{"value"=>"Schomburg NEH Automated Access to Special Collections Project"}
- revisiondesc
-
{"value"=>"Finding aid updated by Lauren Stark.", "date"=>"2022 January 6"}
- date_start
-
1971
- keydate
-
1971
- date_end
-
1987
- date_inclusive_start
-
1971
- date_inclusive_end
-
1987
- extent_statement
-
13.96 linear feet (34 boxes)
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"[Item], Alton Douglas Rison papers and additions, Sc MG 409, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library"}