Finding aid for the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Records, Series IV
Title:
Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Records, Series IV
Repository:
Western Reserve Historical Society
Phone: 216-721-5722
http://www.wrhs.org
Creator:
Martha Holden Jennings Foundation
Dates:
1958-2000
Quantity:
5.20 linear feet (6 containers)
Abstract:
 The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation is an education foundation promoting elementary and secondary teaching, teacher training, curriculum development and school evaluation studies, including educational TV programs and in-service conferences and seminars. The collection is of interest to researchers exploring trends and developments in education in Ohio, 1963-1992. The records document the foundation's activities in teacher training and staff development, curriculum development, materials development and equipment purchase, information sharing, conferences and retreats, enrichment programs, scholarship and awards, and evaluation and research. The material also supports research into foundation management. The collection consists of agendas, articles of incorporation, bills, bylaws, certificates, correspondence, evaluations, financial statements, grant proposals, invitations, legal briefs, lists, meeting notes, memoranda, minutes, newspaper and journal clippings, photographs, press releases, programs, publications, receipts, reports, resolutions, speech notes, and tax records.
Identification:
MS 4829
Location:
closed stacks
Language:
The records are in English

History of the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation

The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation (f. 1958), one of Ohio's preeminent educational foundations, was created by Martha Holden Jennings (1873-1962) with an initial bequest of $5.5 million. Mrs. Jennings was the widow of Andrew R. Jennings (d. 1931), a co founder of International Business Machines (IBM). The purpose of the foundation is "to foster the development of individual capabilities of young people to the maximum possible intent through improving the quality of teaching in non denominational primary and secondary schools and by furnishing incentives with respect thereto, and by such means as the trustees shall determine." The objective of the Jennings Foundation is to promote excellence in Ohio's primary and secondary schools by funding projects that improve the quality of teaching, teacher training, curriculum development, and school evaluation studies. It also focuses on the creation of educational TV programs and provide for in-service educational conferences and seminars. The foundation's main interests are programs that promote more effective teaching in schools and explore new frontiers in education. Surveys have concluded that the Jennings Foundation may be the only foundation in the U.S. of substantial size and scope devoted exclusively to the needs of elementary and secondary education.

Foundation programming did not begin until 1963, and has since grown substantially in terms of numbers of grants, geographic areas of grants, and annual spending. The foundation has designed its own studies, developed unique programs, and supported other pro-active ventures while operating from five primary objectives: recognizing excellence in teaching in elementary and secondary schools; supporting educational programs that advance instruction or improve educational curricula in public schools; providing opportunity and incentive to teachers and students to improve their skills; improving teacher competency with workshops and seminars for pre-service and in-service education conducted by colleges, schools and other institutions; and establishing resources that provide for special needs of students, teachers, administrators and school systems.

Periodic surveys of those served by grants indicate that educators largely agree that the Jennings Foundation has remained true to its purpose though giving patterns have shifted slightly to reflect gradual shifting of the student population from the Cleveland area to statewide. The number of grants awarded and annual dollar amounts has grown, while the average amount of each individual grant has fallen. Enrichment programs have almost consistently ranked at the top of the list of foundation priorities. Arthur Holden, Jr., chairman of the The Martha Holden Jennings foundation, has headed the trustees since the foundation's inception and is primarily responsible for how it has grown and developed.


click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Martha Holden Jennings

Scope and Content

The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Records, Series IV, 1958-2000 (1958-1987 and 1993-1995), consist of agendas, articles of incorporation, bills, bylaws, certificates, correspondence, evaluations, financial statements, grant proposals, invitations, legal briefs, lists, meeting notes, memoranda, minutes, newspaper and journal clippings, photographs, press releases, programs, publications, receipts, reports, resolutions, speech notes, and tax records.

This collection is of value to researchers studying the history of Cleveland, Ohio; trends in educational philanthropy; and elementary, secondary, and teacher education in Ohio during the late twentieth century. Researchers interested in the founding and early administrative history of the foundation will find these records valuable. The collection contains biographical information concerning Martha Holden Jennings and her husband Andrew Rawson Jennings (1870-1931) and records related to the disposition of the Jennings estate. These records also document individual funding decisions made by the foundation in 1994 and detailed documentation of those funded projects. The collection also documents the foundation's commitment to educational excellence and the foundation's interpretation of its mission. Researchers of educational endeavors of private organizations in Ohio and foundation and non-profit management and grant-writing will find these records valuable as well. Specific educational trends in Ohio public urban, suburban, and rural school districts are documented extensively through most of the grant files, as are educational enrichment projects of individual Ohio public school teachers and administrators. The teacher enrichment programs sponsored by the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation in 1994 are well documented in this collection.

Researchers interested in the primary and secondary educational projects of Baldwin-Wallace College, Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Children's Museum, the Cleveland Health Education Museum, the Cleveland Initiative for Education, the Cleveland Play House, the Educational Research Council of America, the Educational Television Association of Metropolitan Cleveland, the Fairmount Theatre of the Deaf, the Great Lakes Theater Festival, John Carroll University, Kent State University, the Lorain County Urban League, the Musical Arts Association, University Circle, Incorporated, and University School will also find these records useful. Trends in classroom computerization are well documented in this collection as is the Tax Reform Act of 1969 and the effects of this legislation on the foundation.

Statement of Arrangement

The collection has been retained in original order and is arranged in five series.
Series I: Martha Holden Jennings Estate is arranged in two sub-series. This series is restricted. See the Curator of Manuscripts for details.
Sub-series A: Legal is arranged chronologically.
Sub-series B: Financial is arranged chronologically.
Series II: Administrative Records is arranged in two sub-series.
Sub-series A: President's Files contains the files of Arthur S. Holden, Jr., and is arranged chronologically.
Sub-series B: Memoranda, Minutes and Reports is arranged alphabetically by the creating office and then chronologically.
Series III: Grant Proposals and Jennings Programs Funded in 1988 contains correspondence related to one project funded in 1988 and completed in 1994. The documents within the grant file are arranged in chronological order.
Series IV: Grant Proposals and Jennings Programs Funded in 1994 is arranged in four sub-series. Each grant within each sub-series has been described individually.
Sub-series A: Funded Grant Proposals of the Open Grant Program is arranged alphabetically by grant recipient name and then chronologically. The documents within each grant file are arranged by document type as follows: award letter, grant proposal and att
Sub-series B: Funded Grant Proposals of the Grants-to-Teachers Program is arranged alphabetically by grant recipient name and then chronologically. Documents within each grant file are arranged by document type as follows: award letter, grant proposal and
Sub-series C: Funded Grant Proposals of the Opportunity Grants Program is arranged alphabetically by grant recipient name and then chronologically. Documents within each grant file are arranged by document type as follows: award letter, grant proposal and
Sub-series D: Funded Grant Proposals of the Grants-to-Administrators Program is arranged alphabetically by grant recipient name and then chronologically. Documents within each grant file are arranged by document type as follows: award letter, grant propos
Series V: Publications is arranged alphabetically by publication name and then chronologically.

Restrictions on Access

Access to folders 1 through 6 is restricted.

Related Material: Related Material

The researcher should also consult MS 4688 Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Records; MS 4772 Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Records, Series II; MS 4798 Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Records, Series III; MS 4914 Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Records, Series V; and MS 5393 Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Records, Series VI .


Separated Material: Separated Material

All photographs have been retained with the collection. Two videotapes have removed to the audio-visual collection.


Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Arts -- Ohio -- Cleveland Metropolitan Area.
Charitable uses, trusts, and foundations -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Charities -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Curriculum enrichment -- Ohio -- Cleveland Metropolitan Area.
Curriculum enrichment -- Ohio.
Education -- Ohio -- Cleveland Metropolitan Area.
Education -- Ohio.
Education -- Research -- Ohio -- Cleveland Metropolitan Area.
Education -- Research -- Ohio.
Educational evaluation -- Ohio -- Cleveland Metropolitan Area.
Educational evaluation -- Ohio.
Educational innovations -- Ohio -- Cleveland Metropolitan Area.
Educational innovations -- Ohio.
Educational surveys -- Ohio -- Cleveland Metropolitan Area.
Educational surveys -- Ohio.
Endowments -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Jennings, Andrew Rawson, 1870-1931.
Jennings, Martha Holden, 1873-1962.
Martha Holden Jennings Foundation.
School improvement programs -- Ohio -- Cleveland Metropolitan Area.
School improvement programs -- Ohio.
Teachers -- Training of -- Ohio -- Cleveland Metropolitan Area.
Teachers -- Training of -- Ohio.
Teachers' workshops -- Ohio -- Cleveland Metropolitan Area.
Teachers' workshops -- Ohio.

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4829 Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Records, Series IV, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, 2000

Processing Information

Processed by Margaret Burzynski-Bays in 2000


Detailed Description of The Collection



Series I: Martha Holden Jennings Estate (access to this series is restricted; see Curator of Manuscripts for details), 1958-1966




Sub-series A: Legal, 1958-1966

Box 1 / Folder 1-4
Correspondence, memoranda, newspaper clippings, and various legal documents, 1958-1959







Sub-series B: Financial, 1962-1964

Box 1 / Folder 5-6
Correspondence, inventories, newspaper clippings, receipts, statements, and various legal documents, 1962-1964





Series II: Administrative Records, 1958-1987; 1990-1995




Sub-series A: President's Files, 1958-1987

Box 1 / Folder 7
Articles of incorporation, cancelled check, correspondence, legal briefs, minutes, receipts, and resolutions, 1958-1959




Box 1 / Folder 8
Correspondence, financial statements and reports, legal briefs, memoranda, newspaper clippings, reports, resolutions, and tax exemption application, 1963-1964




Box 1 / Folder 9
Agendas, certificates, correspondence, financial statements and reports, invitations, journal clippings, lists, minutes, newspaper clippings, press releases, programs, resumes, reports, and tax return, 1965




Box 1 / Folder 10
Correspondence, financial statements and reports, invitations, journal clippings, memoranda, minutes, newspaper clippings, program, reports, and speech notes, January-June 1966




Box 1 / Folder 11
Correspondence, financial statements and reports, lists, minutes, and reports, July-December 1966




Box 1 / Folder 12
Bills, budgets, correspondence, financial statements and reports, invitation, memoranda, minutes, newspaper clippings, program, receipts, resumes, reports, speech notes, and tax return, January-June 1967




Box 1 / Folder 13
Agendas, correspondence, financial statements and reports, lists, memoranda, minutes, newspaper clippings, program, publications, and reports, July-December 1967




Box 1 / Folder 14
Correspondence, financial statements and reports, memoranda, minutes, newspaper clippings, publications, and reports, January-April 1968




Box 1 / Folder 15
Correspondence, financial statements and reports, lists, memoranda, minutes, newspaper clippings, photograph, program, speech notes, and tax return, May-August 1968




Box 1 / Folder 16
Agendas, correspondence, financial statements and reports, memoranda, minutes, publications, and reports, September-December 1968




Box 1 / Folder 17
Bills, correspondence, financial statements and reports, memoranda, minutes, reports, and tax return, January-May 1969




Box 1 / Folder 18
Agendas, correspondence, financial statements and reports, lists, meeting notes, memoranda, newspaper clippings, press releases, and reports, June-August 1969




Box 1 / Folder 19
Agendas, bills, correspondence, financial statements and reports, lists, memoranda, minutes, newspaper clippings, and reports, September-December 1969




Box 1 / Folder 20
Certificates, correspondence, memoranda, newspaper clippings, publications, reports, resumes, speech notes, and tax return, January-July 1970




Box 1 / Folder 21
Agendas, bills, certificates, correspondence, lists, memoranda, minutes, publications, and reports, August 1970-April 1971




Box 2 / Folder 22
Bills, correspondence, financial statements and reports, memoranda, publications, and reports, May 1971-January 1972




Box 2 / Folder 23
Agendas, correspondence, memoranda, minutes, and reports, February-June 1972




Box 2 / Folder 24
Articles of incorporation (amended), bills, correspondence, financial statements and reports, lists, memoranda, reports, and speech notes, July 1972-January 1973




Box 2 / Folder 25
Agendas, bills, correspondence, financial statements and reports, lists, memoranda, minutes, program, and reports, February-May 1973




Box 2 / Folder 26
Bills, correspondence, financial statements and reports, grant proposal, memoranda, minutes, reports, and resume, June-September 1973




Box 2 / Folder 27
Bills, correspondence, memoranda, minutes, newspaper clippings, photographs, and reports, October-December 1973




Box 2 / Folder 28
Bills, correspondence, financial reports, memoranda, publications, and reports, January-July 1974




Box 2 / Folder 29
Bills, correspondence, financial statements and reports, memoranda, newspaper clippings, publications, and reports, August 1974-February 1975




Box 2 / Folder 30
Correspondence, lists, memoranda, and reports, March-September 1975




Box 2 / Folder 31
Bills, correspondence, grant proposal, invitation, lists, meeting notes, memoranda, newspaper clippings, press release, program, publications, receipt, and reports, October 1975-December 1976




Box 2 / Folder 32
Agendas, correspondence, financial reports, journal clippings, meeting notes, memoranda, reports, and speech notes, January-May 1977




Box 2 / Folder 33
Correspondence, financial statements and reports, lists, memoranda, publications, reports, and resumes, February-December 1980




Box 2 / Folder 34
Correspondence, financial statements and reports, lists, memoranda, newspaper clippings, publications, and reports, January 1983-May 1984




Box 2 / Folder 35
Agendas, bills, correspondence, memoranda, and reports, October-December 1986




Box 2 / Folder 36
Agendas, correspondence, financial reports, lists, memoranda, newspaper clippings, publications, reports, and resolution, June-November 1987







Sub-series B: Memoranda, Minutes, and Reports, 1990-1995

Box 2 / Folder 37
Advisory and Distribution Committee memoranda, 1994




Box 2 / Folder 38-39
Board of Trustees minutes, 1994




Box 2 / Folder 40
Executive Director's Annual Reports to the Board of Trustees, 1990




Box 2 / Folder 41
Lighthouse II Early Childhood Education Project site evaluations and foundation reports, 1995





Series III: Grant Proposals and Jennings Programs Funded in 1988, 1994

Box 2 / Folder 42
Maumee City Schools, 1994





Series IV: Grant Proposals and Jennings Programs Funded in 1994, 1993-1998




Sub-series A: Funded Grant Proposals of the Open Grant Program, 1993-1998

Box 3 / Folder 43-66
Akron Public Schools, American Community Service Network, Inc., Baldwin-Wallace College, Bowling Green State University, Buckeye Association of School Administrators Capital University, Case Western Reserve University, Center for Career Options, Inc., Chautauqua Institution, Child Guidance Center, Children's Concert Society of Akron, Ohio, Cincinnati Historical Society, City Club Forum Foundation, Cleveland Children's Museum, Cleveland College of Jewish Studies, Cleveland Development Foundation, Cleveland Health Education Museum, Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District, Cleveland Initiative for Education, Cleveland Initiative for Education, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland Public Schools, Cleveland Scholarship Programs, Inc., Cleveland State University Foundation, Inc., Cleveland Technical Societies Council, Close-Up Foundation, Columbus Museum of Art, Community Training and Assistance Center, Inc., Council on Foundations, Council on World Affairs, Dawson Bryant Local School District, Donors Forum of Ohio, East Cleveland City Schools, Edison Biotechnology Center, Inc., Educational Television Association of Metropolitan Cleveland, El Barrio, Inc., Fairmount Theatre of the Deaf, Franklin City Schools, Friends of the Cleveland School of the Arts, Foundation Center, 1994-1995, Great Lakes Theater Festival, Inc., Greater Cleveland Neighborhood Centers Association, Hamilton County Office on Education, Hathaway Brown School, Hillel Academy of Akron, Jennings Association Membership Fund, Jennings Educators' Retreat, Jennings Future Teacher Program, Jennings Grants-to-Administrators Program, Jennings Grants-to-Teachers Program, Jennings Master Teacher Program, Athens, Ohio, Jennings Master Teacher Program, Bowling Green, Ohio, Jennings Opportunity Grant Program, Jennings Scholar Alumni Workshop, Athens, Ohio, Jennings Scholar Alumni Workshop, Bowling Green, Ohio, Jennings Scholar Lecture Program, Athens, Ohio, Jennings Scholar Lecture Program, Bowling Green, Ohio, Jennings Summer Math Workshop, Jennings Summer Science Workshop, Karamu House, Kent State University Foundation, Inc., and Kenyon College, 1993-1998




Box 4 / Folder 67-83
Lake County Chapter of the Archeological Society of Ohio's Indian Museum of Lake County, Lorain County Access to Higher Education Program, Inc., Lorain County Urban League, Inc., Lyric Opera, Cleveland, Mansfield Symphony Society, Inc., Miami University, Mount Vernon City Schools, Musical Arts Association, Muskingum County Board of Education, National Invention Center, Inc., New Cleveland Opera Company, North Olmsted City Schools, Northeastern Educational Television of Ohio, Inc., Nuclear Age Resource Center, Oberlin City School District, Oberlin College, Ohio Academic Decathlon Association, Inc., Ohio Boychoir, Inc., Ohio Congress of Parents and Teachers, Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Ohio Department of Education, Ohio Education Improvement Consortium, Inc., Ohio Energy Education Development Project, Ohio State University Development Fund, Ohio State University Research Foundation, Ohio University Foundation, Painesville City Local Schools, Playhouse Square Foundation, Playhouse Square Foundation, PM Foundation, Inc., Positive Education Program, Rio Grande College, Robert A. Taft Institute of Government, Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland, Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center, Solon City Schools, Southern Local Schools, Support for Talented Students, Inc., Toledo Ballet Association, Inc., Toledo Museum of Art, Trumbull County Board of Education, Twin Valley Community Local School District, University Circle, Inc., University Circle, Inc., University for Young Americans, University School, University School, Vocational Information Program, Inc., Washington County Board of Education, and Youngstown State University, 1993-1997







Sub-series B: Funded Grant Proposals of the Grants-to-Teachers program, 1993-1997

Box 4 / Folder 84-88
Deborah Anderson, Evelyn Arthur, Tessy Baker, Lisa Barrett, Cheryl Bartone, Karen Bodner, Richard Boldon, Tamara Bovenizer, Connie Brandon, Ruth Brickley, Deborah Ramsey Burr, Corrine Buress, Sharon Ann Burson, Neil Carpathios, Janet Cash, Candace Clayton, Jeanne Constantino, Maria Cortright, Susan Coustillac, Paula Crew, Betty Davis, Cirilda Dean, Joan Dungey, and Jacqueline Dunn, 1994-1996




Box 5 / Folder 89-101
Susan Durkin, Susanne Dziak, Albert Ehlert, Linda Emerson, Jeri Ernest, Joan Fenohr, Karen Ferguson, Charlotte Finley, Angela Frankmann, Stacy Franks, Gary Gardella, Marsha Gerhardt, Mimi Gingold, April Green, Patricia Herman, Michele Lynn Hicks, Mary Sue Hongosh, Teresa Hoskins, Michael Hubbell, Constance Jackson, Carolyn Jenkins, Mark Johnson, Jean Kafer, Barbara Mary Kapucinski, Barbara Mary Kapucinski, Jan Karl, Sandra Keir, Kathleen Kelly, Cherry King, Timothy Kohl, Beverly Kornack, Wendi Kaye Kral, Sally Kratochvil, Therese Marie Krol, Robert Laghetto, Ruth Little, Selene Loomis, Kathryn Loxley, Arthea Lucas, David Lucas, Marilyn Lujan, Maureen Canning Marshall, Karen Martin, Frederick Mayer, Deborah McArdle, Kenneth McCarthy, Delores McCollum, Cynthia Miller, Debra Murphy-Desling, Karen Myers, Ann-Marie O'Donnell, Pamela Offineer, Barry Orahood, Brian Panter, Paul Reble, Helen Redinger, Patsy Rice, Barbara Roeth, Renee Rose, Barbara Ross, Janet Rusnak, Rebecca Sauer, Joseph Schellentroger, Pamela Rae Schmieder, Pat Shafer-Shaw, Julia Shoup, Gail Shreiner, Janet Lee Shumaker, Harriette Skinner, Kim Slough, Karen Sprague, Patricia Spreng, Shanthi Sriram, Jennifer Thompson, Pamela Toon, Alix Travis, Shellie Waggoner, Deanna Walther, Marilyn Wegener, Mary Jo Weingart, Karen Wheeler, Linda White, Sharron Williams, Cynthia Winner, Beverly Yaman, and Christine Zechman, 1993-1996







Sub-series C: Funded Grant Proposals of the Opportunity Grant Program, 1994-1996

Box 5 / Folder 102-106
Boardman Local School District, Bowling Green City Schools, Brunswick City School District, Camp Sue Osborn, Case Western Reserve University, Centerville City Schools, Cleveland Education Fund, Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District, Cleveland Public Schools, Cleveland Women's Orchestra, Cloverleaf Local Schools, Cuyahoga Valley Joint Vocational School District, 1994; Elyria City Schools, 1994; Euclid City Schools, 1994; and Garfield Heights City Schools, 1994.Hiram House, Lakewood City Schools, Lima City Schools, Lake County Young Men's Christian Association, Margaretta Local Board of Education, Mount Vernon City Schools, Nordonia Hills City School District, Northeastern Local School District, Northeastern Local School District, Northeastern Ohio Science and Engineering Fair, Perry Local Schools, Perry Local Schools, Rockefeller Park Cultural Arts Association, Inc., South Central Local Schools, Southeastern Local Schools, Stow City Schools, Tecumseh Local School District, Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools, Young Women's Christian Association of Cleveland, Ohio, and Youngstown State University, 1994-1996







Sub-series D: Funded Grant Proposals of the Grants-to-Administrators Program, 1993-1996

Box 5 / Folder 107-111
Alliance City Schools, Aurora City Schools, Avon Local Board of Education, Barberton City Schools, Barberton City Schools, Belmont County Schools, Berea City School District, Bowling Green City Schools, Cambridge City Schools, Centerburg Local Schools, Claymont City Schools, Cleveland Public Schools, Crooksville Exempted Village School District, Dawson-Bryant Local School District, Diocese of Cleveland, Euclid Public Schools, Holmes County Schools, Hudson Local School District, 1994-1995; Huron County Schools, 1994-1995; Kenston Local Schools, Kent State University Foundation, Inc., Kent State University Foundation, Inc., Knox County Schools, Lakewood City Schools, Laurel School, Massillon City Schools, Mentor Public Schools, Mentor Public Schools, Mentor Public Schools, Miami County Schools, Miami University, New Lexington City Schools, and Ohio State University Development Fund, 1993-1996




Box 6 / Folder 112-113
Orrville City Schools, Pymatuning Valley Local Schools, Pymatuning Valley Local Schools, Summit County Schools, University School, Ursuline College, Van Wert City Schools, Van Wert City Schools, Wapakoneta City Schools, West Geauga Local Schools, Westerville City Schools, Youngstown State University, and Youngstown State University, 1994-1996





Series V: Publications, 1998-1999

Box 6 / Folder 114
Annual Report, 1998. Bulletin, March, May, and December, 1999. Criteria for Grants, undated. Martha and Andrew Jennings, chapter from an unknown publication, undated. 1998-99 Jennings Scholar Lectures., .




Box 6 / Folder 115
Pro Excellentia and website printout, 1998-1999