Howard A. Seckerson Papers

Collection

Identifier: 1990-0043

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The Seckerson Papers contain personal correspondence, clippings and campus related memorabilia, as well as academic lecture notes and class preparations.

Dates

undated, 1921-1961

Access

The collection is open and available for research.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish from these Papers must be obtained in writing from the owner(s) of the copyright.

Biography

Howard A. Seckerson was born 3 May 1877 in Brooklyn, NY. He attended Wesleyan University (A.B., 1907) and Yale University (M.A.). His teaching experience, prior to coming to C.A.C. included one year as head of the English Department at Miami Military Institute (Germantown, OH), eight years as department head at Lynchburg High School (Lynchburg, VA) and one year as an English instructor at the University of Texas at Austin. In 1921, Seckerson was offered the position of Department Head at C.A.C. His development of the department assisted in the conversion of the institution from a vocational college into a state university. His management of the dramatic club laid the foundation for the future Department of Speech and Drama. In addition to teaching, Mr. Seckerson was an ordained minister and returned to pastoral duties after retiring from the University. At the tie of his retirement on 14 August 1946, the English Department was the largest department on the UConn campus.

Howard Seckerson married Unade Barnes (22 May 1884, Middletown, CT) a graduate of Wesleyan University (A.B., 1908). She was also an instructor at Connecticut Agricultural College, teaching German and English. The Seckersons had one daughter, Elizabeth.

Howard Seckerson died on 1 March 1970 at the age of 92.

Extent

1.5 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Seckerson became head of the English Department at Connecticut Agricultural College in 1921. His development of the department assisted in the conversion from a vocational college into a state university in 1939. His management of the dramatic club laid the foundation for the future Department of Speech and Drama. In addition to teaching, Mr. Seckerson was an ordained minister and returned to pastoral duties after retiring from the University in 1946. At the time of his retirement, the English Department was the largest department on the UConn campus.

Arrangement

Series I: Personal Papers (1921-1961) contains personal correspondence with colleagues, former students and friends. Some of the correspondence concerns the change of name from Connecticut Agricultural College to Connecticut State College (1933) and then to the University of Connecticut (1939). Also included are a campus songbook (1940), campus publications, newspaper clippings, reports and speeches. The series is arranged alphabetically.

Series II: Teaching Materials (undated) contains lecture notes and class aids for English courses taught by Seckerson at the one and two hundred levels. The series is arranged alphabetically.