PREFATORY NOTE THIS History may be said to itself have a bit of history. Twenty-five years ago certain studies for it were begun. In making these studies my wife, Carrie F. Butler Thwing, and I worked together. Subject to interruptions, these studies were from time to time continued, and their results put aside for incorporation in the proposed book. In the later years of the period which has passed since her death in 1898, the writing of the history has gone forward. But the completed book represents a labor covering more than twenty-five years. In its writing I have also received much help from many men. I cannot name all, but I wish to say I am especially grateful to the librarians of Harvard, of Yale, of Brown, and of Dartmouth for aid graciously given. If several of my own official associates were not so near to me, I should like also to express to them my deep sense of gratitude. The Index is the work of my daughter, Mary B. Thwing. It may not be unfitting to add that I have already begun a "History of Education" of all grades in this country for the last forty years. This work will treat with greater fullness certain subjects which are briefly considered in the present volume. WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY, CLEVELAND, June 14, 1906. C. F. T. |