Colorado's Mid-Century Schools, 1945-1970 MPDF
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NPS Form 10-900-b OMB No. 1024-0018 (Revised March 1992) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form This form is used for documenting multiple property groups relating to one or several historic contexts. See instructions in How to Complete the Multiple Property Documentation Form (National Register Bulletin 16B). Complete each item by entering the requested information. For additional space, use continuation sheets (Form 10-900-a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete all items. X New Submission Amended Submission A. Name of Multiple Property Listing Colorado’s Mid-Century Schools, 1945-1970 B. Associated Historic Contexts Education at Mid-Century (1945-1970) Building the Mid-Century School (1945-1970) C. Form Prepared by name/title Abigail Christman, Architectural Historian/ Consultant organization Center of Preservation Research, CU Denver date October 2016 street & number 1250 14th Street telephone 303-556-6502 city or town Denver state CO zip code 80202 D. Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, I hereby certify that this documentation form meets the National Register documentation standards and sets forth requirements for listing of related properties consistent with the National Register criteria. This submission meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60 and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation. (See continuation sheet for additional comments [ ].) State Historic Preservation Officer Signature and title of certifying official Date State Historic Preservation Office, Colorado Historical Society State or Federal agency and bureau I hereby certify that this multiple property documentation form has been approved by the National Register as a basis for evaluating related properties for listing in the National Register. Signature of the Keeper Date of Action Colorado’s Mid-Century Schools Colorado Name of Multiple Property Listing State Table of Contents for Written Narrative Provide the following information on continuation sheets. Cite the letter and the title before each section of the narrative. Assign page numbers according to the instructions for continuation sheet in How to Complete the Multiple Property Documentation Form (National Register Bulletin 16B). Fill in page numbers for each section in the space below. Page Numbers E. Statement of Historic Contexts Education at Mid-century Building the Mid-century School F. Associated Property Types G. Geographical Data H. Summary of Identification and Evaluation Methods I. Major Bibliographical References Primary location of additional data: [ ] State Historic Preservation Office [ ] Other State Agency [ ] Federal Agency [ ] Local Government [ ] University [ ] Other Name of repository: Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: This information is being collected for applications to the National Register of Historic Places to nominate properties for listing or determine eligibility for listing, to list properties, and to amend existing listings. Response to this request is required to obtain a benefit in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.). Estimated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 120 hours per response including time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the form. Direct comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of this form to the Chief, Administrative Services Division, National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127, Washington, DC 20013-7127; and the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reductions Projects (1024-0018), Washington, DC 20503. )NPS Form 10-900a OMB No. 1024-0018 (Rev. 8/86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number E Page 1 E. Statement of Historic Contexts In truth, the school plant is an integral part of the culture. It is part and parcel of the times. Typical buildings constructed in the decade of the fifties would have been out of place and could not have been built in the decade of the twenties. If one who has gone through all the stages of planning and constructing a school building—from the time need for it was envisioned until it became a reality in final form—were to ask himself, “Is there any other creation of men in this country that expressed in tangible form so many aspects of the culture as the American public school building?” he surely would be hard pressed to find a better example (American Association of School Administrators 1960, 3). The Multiple Property Documentation Form (MPDF) Colorado’s Mid-century Schools, 1945-1970 encompasses all school buildings constructed for K-12 public education. The MPDF provides a context for understanding the historical trends shaping school construction and design including the post-war baby boom, evolving educational philosophy, suburban growth, and the Cold War. It also provides an overview of the new architectural forms developed for education during this period. The MPDF has been organized into two primary contexts: Education at Mid-Century (1945-1970) and Building the Mid-Century School (1945-1970). The MPDF begins in 1945, when World War II ended and the planning of new schools began, and ends in 1970, which represents the end of the rise in school enrollments caused by the baby boom of the 1940s and early 1950s. The MPDF began with a windshield survey of all public school buildings in Colorado completed by Colorado Preservation, Inc. in 2010, which identified the need for a context on mid-century schools. This survey produced a database of all current public schools with construction dates. For the MPDF extensive primary source research of contemporary newspapers, magazines, journals, and architectural/education planning guides was conducted. Based on this research, the CPI inventory was expanded to include schools that had been demolished or sold and architect attributions were added whenever possible. A list of more than 750 public mid-century school buildings accompanies this MPDF. Architects were identified for more than half the schools. More than seventy Colorado architects and firms active in mid-century school design were identified. Only one out-of-state architect was identified. Schools are one of the most numerous and recognizable types of public buildings. Schools represent a huge investment of public funds and are often a source of civic pride, reflecting the character and achievements of a community. Schools are a reflection of the period in which they were created. They represent contemporary educational theories and curriculum as well as culture and design trends. Schools have been the focus of numerous reform movements, as new generations seek to reshape education to reflect contemporary concerns and priorities. Several ongoing questions have influenced school design since the nineteenth century: )NPS Form 10-900a OMB No. 1024-0018 (Rev. 8/86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number E Page 2 What is the most effective way to teach/learn? What is the most efficient organization of a school? What type of school design best facilitates education/learning? What is the best environment for learning? How can schools instill civic virtue/responsibility? What is the role of the school in creating good future citizens? How can education be made more relevant? How can school attendance be increased? Even though the concerns have remained similar, each era has had different ways of addressing these concerns with very different visions of what a successful school looked like. Several factors contributed to create an unprecedented demand for new schools in the mid-twentieth century. Due to the Great Depression and World War II, new construction and building maintenance had been limited since the 1920s. Many schools were dealing with increasing enrollments due to the post-war baby boom. Students were also staying in school longer, with dramatic increases in the number of students graduating from high school and going on to college. Schools also had to adapt to major enrollment shifts. Suburban areas were undergoing huge population growth, creating demand for new schools. For example, in Jefferson County the population grew from 30,725 in 1940 to 235,368 in 1970. In rural Colorado, school districts were being consolidated, leading to the construction of new school buildings to accommodate enlarged districts. The mid-twentieth century period was a time of significant social, cultural, demographic, and economic transformation in Colorado and across the nation. The new schools being constructed reflected not only the popularity of modern designs and technological innovations in materials, but also broader historical and educational trends. Classroom instruction became more informal, varied, and interactive. The school also took on a broader role, providing not only instruction in the reading, writing, and arithmetic, but also developing a well-rounded child who would be a good citizen. Methods varied as educators experimented with various ways to achieve these goals, ranging from the Life Adjustment Education of the early postwar period to a greater emphasis on math and science after