Object Details
- Description
- Melvin E. Haggerty (1875-1937) of the University of Minnesota and Margaret E. Noonan (1884-1926) of the Harris Teachers College St. Louis published this test of reading in 1920. Haggerty was born in Indiana and received both a B.A. (1902) and an M.A. (1907) from Indiana University. He then went on to Harvard University, where he earned another M.A. (1909) and a PhD. (1910). Between 1915 and 1920, he arranged to have children in grades three through eight in twenty Indiana cities take a reading test developed by Edward L. Thorndike of Columbia University. Haggerty moved to the University of Minnesota in 1915, first as a professor and then, from 1920 until his death in 1937, as dean of the College of Education. Noonan, who received her B.S. from Columbia University in 1915, taught for a time at Harris Teacher’s College in St. Louis, taught education at Columbia during World War I, and received her PhD. from Teachers College in 1919, publishing the dissertation in 1926. She would become a Professor of Elementary Education at New York University and participate in the publication of arithmetic textbooks.
- The test was published by the World Book Company in 1920. The Sigma 1 form of the test, of which this is an example, is for grades one to three. There also was a Sigma 2 form for grades three to eight and a Sigma 3 form for grades five to twelve.
- For related tests, see MA.316371.016.
- References:
- Haggerty, Melvin E. The Ability to Read: Its Measurement and Some Factors Conditioning It, Bloomington, Indiana: [Indiana University], 1917. [See https://babel-hathitrust-org.smithsonian.idm.oclc.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89097625016&view=1up&seq=16]
- Lewis, Ervin E., Scales for Measuring Special Types of English Composition, Yonkers, New York: World Book Company, 1921. This volume has advertisements for several tests published by World Book Company, including this one. The advertisement describes Noonan as associated with Harris Teacher’s College in St. Louis.
- Noonan, Margaret E. Influence of the Summer Vacation on the Abilities of Fifth and Sixth Grade Children, New York, Bureau of Publications, Teachers College, Columbia University, 1926. This publication is based on Noonan’s 1919 dissertation.
- “News Items and Communications,” Journal of Educational Research, 1926, 14 #5, p. 396. This includes brief announcement of Noonan’s death.
- “Obituary,” New York Times, September 5, 1926, p. E5.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
- author
- Haggerty, Melvin E.
- Noonan, Margaret E.
- maker
- World Book Company
- date made
- 1920
- Credit Line
- Gift of Samuel Kavruck
- Physical Description
- paper (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: .1 cm x 18 cm x 21.8 cm; 1/32 in x 7 3/32 in x 8 19/32 in
- Object Name
- Psychological Test With Manual And Key
